Will Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) go away?
DEI programs have been around for some time.
But we can see challenges, especially from the US:
🔹 Cries on “anti-wokeism” are heard.
🔹 Legislative challenges targeting affirmative action.
🔹 Executives becoming more careful in their language.
Are the challenges fair? Should we hunker down?
Let’s be quite clear:
👉 A diverse workforce combined with an inclusive culture does drive tangible business benefits.
👉 There is no contradiction in believing in capitalism and promoting diversity.
I know it from my own experience as a CEO, and there’s plenty of evidence around.
Are you not convinced?
Jamie Dimon, CEO at JP Morgan, said at the World Economic Forum in Davos a few weeks ago:
🔹 “I’m going to start by telling you that I’m a full-throated, red-blooded, patriotic, unwoke, capitalist CEO.”
🔹 Then Dimon explains JP Morgan’s program in promoting diversity - “We don’t give it lip service and we’re quite serious about it.”
But DEI needs to evolve to be effective long term.
It’s not good enough to hire a DEI officer in HR to run programs, publish a colorful sustainability report, and believe you are home free. That was admittedly my own thinking as a fresh CEO some eight years ago.
Instead,
✔ Make DEI part of your company’s DNA
✔ Treat DEI as a governance issue
✔ Train inclusion as a core leadership trait
✔ In the end, it’s all about execution
Practicing inclusion and employing a diverse workforce is the path to the future as it drives business results and is in the interests of shareholders.
How committed are you?
Photo: Andreas Beck/Lederstof.dk
Accountant
3moCongratulations!! Super happy for you!