To say that the demand for diversity in the workplace has never been greater feels insincere. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) are not about filling quotas or scoring brownie points with “diversity-friendly” PR pieces. There is a genuine need for, and value in, diversifying commercial teams for a multitude of reasons. We spoke to a panel of ten DE&I champions from industries across the global spectrum, from toys and games to international banking, to gauge their thoughts on the importance of diversity - both within their businesses, and to themselves as individuals.
The key takeaway from our conversations with these global experts is that diversity of all kinds - race and gender, culture and creed - is not just about diversity of representation, but about diversity of thought. But what does that mean, exactly? Diversity of thought is about bringing fresh eyes and new perspectives to all facets of the workplace. Understanding one’s target demographic is a core element of sales and marketing functions. A more diverse and inclusive commercial team enables understanding and connecting with communities.
The greater demand for DE&I has in part been met, thanks to vastly increased opportunities for inclusive employment off the back of the Covid-19 pandemic. The proliferation of remote working has expanded the “recruitment radius” of many businesses – in some cases, to an international level. With this expansion, naturally, comes an encompassing of greater diversity of employment candidates. Businesses suddenly finding themselves on the global stage are faced with new markets and new opportunities, which a greater diversity of talent is required to leverage.
The modern age of business is multicultural and endlessly diverse. Our panel of experts agree that DE&I is here to stay, and the tired stereotypes of white male led business aren’t sustainable moving forward.
To read more about the topic and to hear what experts had to say, follow the link to download section three of our whitepaper, The importance of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in commercial capability teams.
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