NEW Horizons
DEI Efforts Start With You BY S A R A H A LT E R
Sarah Alter is president and CEO of the Network of Executive Women, a nonprofit learning, leadership and gender equality advocacy organization of 13,500 members (representing nearly 900 organizations), 300plus national and regional corporate partners, and 22 regional groups in the United States and Canada.
Any right-thinking person can acknowledge that individuals deserve equity in all parts of life, including in our workplaces. Employees deserve to feel they can bring their full selves to work, and no one should be discriminated against or experience bias in the workplace. Acknowledging that truth, though, is just the first step.
STARTING AT THE TOP Whether your organization has employees around the globe or just a few in your hometown, a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) matters to the people who work for you. At the Network of Executive Women, we strive daily to provide solutions for our corporate partners that help them build a workplace where everyone gets a fair shake. That can’t happen without complete buy-in and confidence from those at the top of the leadership ladder. You must walk the walk for DEI efforts to reach their full potential. Stated DEI goals and transparent reporting are a great way to hold everyone accountable to workplace progress. While it can be hard at first, being honest about where you are earns the trust of your employees – and
customers. Be transparent about where you are now to show you’re doing the hard work.
CHANGING THE GAME Accountability breeds confidence and ensures everyone is on board with making strides toward equity. Then it’s time to change the game. Acknowledging privilege is a great place to start. For example, we know that women, particularly women of color, are underrepresented in corporate leadership positions. Removing names and identifying information from resumes corrects for the possibility that unconscious bias – and the tendency for human beings to identify with those that most resemble themselves – is creating a homogenous workforce that isn’t inclusive. That’s one small change that could make all the difference.
A BETTER FUTURE DEI efforts may start small, but they have an outsized impact on your employees. When you build equity
Educating yourself is a powerful step. Dozens of articles have been written listing the resources those with privilege can leverage to educate themselves. Take a look at a few. Educating yourself is another powerful step. Dozens of articles have been written listing the resources those with privilege can leverage to educate themselves. Take a look at a few and set yourself a reading list. It’s not the responsibility of marginalized groups to educate others. It’s the responsibility of those who want to do right by others to educate themselves.
NO TOLERANCE FOR INTOLERANCE One of the strongest steps you can take is something every employee, from the most junior to a CEO, can put into practice:
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speaking up. There is no more powerful show of support than backing up a colleague when you witness bias and intolerance. Show your employees by example that they work in an environment where all are welcome. Embrace awkward conversations. While it’s important to speak up, be willing to listen to others when something you yourself have said is brought to your attention. React with openness to criticism and a willingness to listen, and you will continue to set a model of trust and safety for those around you.
into your business model, you’ll be rewarded with a happier workplace, improved retention, and the trust and confidence of your employees and customers. At NEW, “advancing all women” is what we do every day. But any organization can make DEI a key tenet of their business, and reap the rewards that come with it. IQ
More at P2PI.org
Members can access dozens of profiles of female executives on the Institute’s website.
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