Diversity Secrets

#010 This episode, we continue to uncover why DEI is important to business, including in the B2B sector, with Luisa Boaretto, Regional I&D and Employee Experience at Dow, an American material science global company.

Luisa starts by explaining the business case for DEI at Dow. And it’s a strong one. Dow’s business and relevance relies on bringing ever more innovative solutions. From that standpoint, diversity, equity and inclusion are essential for employees to thrive, reach their full potential, and bring about the innovation Dow needs. And so, today, inclusion is actually part of Dow’s mission statement. In fact, Luisa tells us that DEI is treated with the same regard as any other business strategy in the company: and results are showing. This impeccable business case has allowed Dow to develop a strong DEI strategy impacting both the workplace, the value chain, and the communities in which they work.

However, Luisa reminds us that human minds both have a rational and irrational side. In that sense, a strong business case may appeal to the rational mind, but a strong purpose and moral case are also key to building the right arguments for DEI in the workplace. This is all the more true as businesses are now expected to perform on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria, of which DEI KPIs and metrics form a part of.

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

Do not hesitate to follow Luisa Boaretto on Twitter (@luisa_boaretto) to continue following her journey as a DEI leader. To learn more about Dow’s DEI strategy, and initiatives, you can visit their website, and be sure to check out their 2021 ESG Report, as well as their corporate Twitter account(@DowNewsroom). You can also follow Dow’s Chief Inclusion Officer, @KarenS_Carter, Dow's CEO @JimFitterling and @H_Ungerleider Dow’s CFO, who regularly post about these issues.

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the first digital HR solution for assessing, managing and promoting D&I in businesses of all lines and sizes. Mixity gives you a 360-degree view of your D&I footprint on 5 dimensions: gender equality, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, cultural and social origins, and age. Be sure to check out their website for more information: https://www.mixity.co/

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#009 For our second episode of our “Why it Really Matters” season, we are extremely pleased to be joined Eric Howard Way, Global Head of Inclusion, Diversity & CSR at Schindler Group, a Swiss multinational company that manufactures escalators, moving walkways, and elevators worldwide.

Eric started his career as an engineer in the heavy truck manufacture industry. A long way from D&I, we could say. However, being an engineer himself helped Eric make a compelling case for D&I that other engineers could understand. Eric explains the importance of adapting ones language, and arguments when building the case for DEI, depending on the public being addressed. Problem solving and logical thinking exercises were key to demonstrating to his peers the efficiency and innovation gains that come out of more diverse and inclusive teams. Eric shares with us how to build the right rationale and the necessary sense of urgency for D&I in the traditionally male-ridden manufacturing and engineering world, that you can also apply to your organization.

Finally, Eric reminds us that DEI is a competitive sport for companies who want to stay relevant in our day and age. Building a business case for it just around the numbers and potential performance gains is not enough: an emphasis on equity, social justice, as well as empathy are key elements to gathering support and momentum for DEI in your organization.

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

Do not hesitate to follow Eric Howard Way on LinkedIn (@Eric Way) to continue following his journey as a DEI leader. To learn more about Schindler’s DEI strategy, please visit their website.

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the first digital HR solution for assessing, managing and promoting D&I in businesses of all lines and sizes. Mixity gives you a 360-degree view of your D&I footprint on 5 dimensions: gender equality, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, cultural and social origins, and age. Be sure to check out their website for more information: https://www.mixity.co/

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#008 For our first episode of Season 2 “Why it Really Matters”, we are thrilled to welcome a very exciting guest: Dr. Jonathan Ashong-Lamptey, PhD, founder and Managing Director of Element of Inclusion. In his mission to make companies more diverse and inclusive, Dr. Jonathan applies academic theory to business practice.

This episode, he keeps us on our toes as he helps us understand what exactly we mean by ‘business case’ when talking about DEI. He tells us that mainstream studies that have made this so-called business case popular may have mislead us: the correlation between diversity and economic performance isn’t as simple as it seems. And so we discuss how to build the right business case for your organization, as well as the missing keys to make DEI deliver on their economic promise. Finally, Dr. Jonathan reminds us that this business case is underpinned by the Friedman Doctrine, that states that the primary responsibility of an organisation is to its shareholders and that the primary goal of an organisation is to maximize returns to the shareholders. We question this doctrine and ask ourselves whether it is still relevant today, especially given the rise of interest in social justice for which companies are being held accountable for. Will the social justice case replace the business case?

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the first digital HR solution for assessing, managing and promoting D&I in businesses of all lines and sizes. Mixity gives you a 360-degree view of your D&I footprint on 5 dimensions: gender equality, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, cultural and social origins, and age.
Be sure to check out their website for more information: https://www.mixity.co/

Resources cited in this episode:

• Read Getting Serious about Diversity: Enough Already with the Business Case”, by R.J.Eli and D.A.Thomas on the Harvard Business Review.
• Listen to Dr.Jonathan’s analysis of the article on his podcast
• Listen to his podcast on the social justice case. business case for DEI.
• Visit Dr. Jonathan’s website for more resources and information about his work: https://elementofinclusion.com/
• You can follow Dr. Jonathan on LinkedIn (@Dr. Jonathan Ashong-Lamptey)and Twitter (@JALamptey).

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#007 Welcome back to Diversity Secrets Podcast!
 
We’re excited to be back with a brand new season called “Why it really matters”. We ask ourselves: why should companies care about DEI?

In this new series of interviews, we will explore the business case for DEI, as well as the social justice imperatives that push companies to act. Recent and prominent studies have reaffirmed that diversity and inclusion are good for business. So why is the corporate world making such sluggish progress towards diverse, equitable and inclusive work places despite DEI being correlated with such clear wins? Is the business case robust enough to drive real change? Baring in mind recent social protests across the globe, is DEI today a business must, or simply the right thing to do?

We have a very exciting line-up with guests coming from the academic and the NGO world, as well as speakers who lead DEI in a wide variety of firms such as Schindler, Dow, Volvo, Disney, Pfizer, and more!
So be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and tune-in next week for our first episode!

This season, we’re partnering with Mixity.co, the first digital HR solution for assessing, managing and promoting D&I in businesses of all lines and sizes. Mixity gives you a 360-degree view of your D&I footprint on 5 dimensions: gender equality, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, cultural and social origins, and age.
Be sure to check out their website for more information: https://www.mixity.co/

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
Your feedback helps us grow: add a review wherever you’re listening to this podcast!
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#006 This episode marks the end of Season 1. We’ll be back with new episodes next month, but we wanted to go over what we’ve learnt this season and give you a sneak preview of what you can expect from Diversity Secrets Season 2.

This first season was called “On The Job”, as we asked DEI professionals what it really means to work in DEI. Our guests shared their insights and expertise to successfully drive DEI in organizations, as well as the unique, and sometimes difficult, journeys that brought them to the work that they do today.

Season 2 is called “Why It Really Matters”. We’ll ask ourselves: Why should companies even care about DEI?
Through a new series of interviews with DEI professionals and leaders, we will explore the business case for DEI, as well as the social justice imperatives that push companies to act. Recent and prominent studies have reaffirmed the strong business case for diversity in corporate leadership and teams—and shown that this business case continues to strengthen.
So why is the corporate world making such sluggish progress towards diverse equitable and inclusive work places despite DEI being correlated with such clear wins?
We’ll hear from the researchers that have established the business case for DEI, as well as from the DEI leaders in the corporate world that are applying it to their reality. We’ll also talk to the activists and organizations raising awareness around the social imperatives to act now for DEI in the corporate world. We’ll apply theory to practice to find out what will trigger real, and sustainable change. 

So don’t forget to subscribe to not miss out on Season 2!
If you'd like to get in touch, let's connect on LinkedIn or via e-mail : louise.moulie@outlook.com

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#005 For our 5th and final interview of the “On the Job” season, we are very pleased to welcome Aurélie Uricher, as she completes her first year as Global D&I Manager at L’Occitane Group, a global manufacturer and retailer of natural cosmetics and well-being products.

This was an exciting first year on the job for Aurélie, as, with her nomination, L’Occitane is just getting started with their DEI journey. The Group is rolling out its Global Inclusive Parental Leave Policy, gender equity in senior management is reaching new levels, and Aurélie collaborated with teams across the company to co-construct and kick-off L’Occitane’s very first Global DEI Survey. Before stepping in to her DEI role, Aurélie Uricher had worked in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and HR departments of L’Occitane. She tells us how this path has shaped her vision for a holistic approach to DEI, linking the group’s social impact strategy to diversity, equity and inclusion. Seeing DEI through not only an HR, but also a CSR lens, requires working with all stakeholders up and down the value chain and supply chain, as well as keeping consumers in mind in order to offer inclusive products.

Finally, Aurélie tells us about the big challenges that you face when you’re just getting started, but also the big steps that are already being taken, as well as the journey that she looks forward to in order to build a more inclusive and diverse workplace.

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

Do not hesitate to follow Aurélie Uricher on LinkedIn to continue following her journey as a DEI leader. To learn more about L’Occitane’s DEI strategy, take a look at their 2021 ESG report.

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#004 In today’s episode, we welcome one of the pioneers of DEI: Kim Weaver. Kim has been leading Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for over 20 years in a great variety of global firms such as Uber, Sodexo, McCormick&Co, and more. Today, Kim Weaver leads global DEI at Aveva, a global leader in industrial software.

Kim’s DEI story is both a personal battle and a professional journey. She tells us about growing up in the Deep South of the USA and experiencing racism from a very young age, as well as the discrimination and harassment she experienced in her career. This journey, although a painful one at times, has taught her the transformations that need to happen to make the workplace a safe space for all employees. As Kim leads Aveva into its first year of its DEI Strategy, we discuss the business case behind DEI in the B2B and Tech sectors. She explains the productivity gains that come from making work environments safe for employees to be themselves and deliver the best that they have to offer. We talk about engaging leaders right from the onset as part of what Kim calls a “top-down, bottom-up, and across the middle” strategy. We discuss the challenges of measuring demographics across different countries and different legal set-ups. Finally, Kim calls on companies to cease the moment and start a real, profound, dialogue around race, namely in the US.

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

Do not hesitate to follow Kim Weaver on LinkedIn to continue following her journey as a DEI leader. To learn more about Aveva’s DEI strategy, please visit: https://www.aveva.com/en/about/about-aveva/diversity-equity-inclusion/

Kim Weaver references Isabel Wilkerson’s ‘Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents’, a book about racism in the USA.

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#003 Today, we’re extremely pleased to welcome Heidi Robertson, Group Head of D&I at ABB, a leading Global 500 technology company driving digital transformation through industrial automation, robotics and electrification.

As a matter of fact, 2021 was an important year for DEI at ABB : it marked the first year of rolling out their 2030 D&I Strategy. And so we take a deep dive with Heidi as she takes us on a pragmatic step-by-step tour of how to set up and roll-out a 10-year D&I strategy.
From stakeholder management in setting up the strategy, to measuring progress and ensuring accountability and ownership for reaching the newly-set goals, we discuss how to meet global goals while promoting local and grassroot initiatives.
Honesty and transparency about the progress already been made and the journey that remains are two of the key criteria that Heidi shares with us for an efficient and reliable strategy.

On a more personal level, we talk about the concept of privilege and the sense of duty that comes with it.
When we asked Heidi what the hardest part of the job was for her, she answered: “being patient: there is no quick fix or fast solutions in DEI”. Luckily for Heidi, reaching 2030 goals starts with taking action today!

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

Do not hesitate to follow Heidi Robertson on LinkedIn to continue following her journey as a DEI leader.
To learn more about ABB’s DEI strategy, please visit: https://global.abb/group/en/about/diversity-and-inclusion

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#002 In our second episode, we’re very honored to be welcoming renowned diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) thought-leader, and former SVP Corporate Responsibility and Global Chief Diversity Officer for Sodexo, Dr. Rohini Anand.
 
She comes to speak to us about her newly published book: Leading Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This is not an additional academic book on the matter of DEI, it is a view from the trenches, based on the lived experiences of the author. This practical guide offers five proven principles for multinational companies to advance DEI transformation with a nuanced understanding of local contexts across countries and cultures.

Listen to this episode for a sneak peak into Rohini’s learnings and teachings, as she combines them to the story of her personal journey going from being part of the majority in her native India, to part of the minority in the USA where she pursued her studies and career.
Rohini also shares with us her missteps and the lessons she’s learnt along the way, as challenges on the road have proven to be the most frustrating, yet the most rewarding aspects of the job.
Finally, Rohini Anand shares with us her call to action for both individuals and organizations: be disruptive, and do it boldly!

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

To purchase Rohini Anand’s book, visit: https://www.rohinianand.com/
Do not hesitate to follow Rohini Anand on LinkedIn and on Twitter (@rohinianandphd) to continue following her journey as a DEI leader.

Fact-check note: It was mentioned in this episode that France erased the word “race” from the first article of its constitution in 2018. While Members of Parliament unanimously voted for that change in 2018, the constitutional reform bill never fully went through Parliament, and France’s Constitution remains unchanged to this date.

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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#001 In our first episode we’re very excited to welcome Putri Realita, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Danone, a a multinational food-products corporation based in Paris.
Putri took on this role in 2016 to build the firm’s DEI programs from the ground up. She tells us how her personal identity as an Indonesian citizen, and her background in operations and corporate affairs, have shaped her vision for Danone’s DEI strategy. Putri shares with us how she and her teams initiated and spearheaded the global #ActInclusive movement across all functions and regions in the company. We discuss how to build shared accountability and ownership for all employees to commit to building an inclusive company. Beyond building an inclusive workplace and brands at Danone, Putri makes a point of making sure that Danone’s DEI programs have an impact within the communities they serve and work with, by partnering with key actors in the field. Finally, Putri tells us what are the most rewarding parts of the job, as well as the most challenging.

Tune in today, and subscribe to not miss our next episode next week!

Do not hesitate to follow Putri Realita on LinkedIn to continue following her journey as a DEI leader.
To learn more about Danone DEI programs, please visit: https://www.danone.com/impact/people-communities.html#INCLUSIVE

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
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Welcome to the Diversity Secrets podcast, the podcast that explores the secrets behind leading authentic, impactful and successful diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. Through meaningful dialogue with leaders in the field, we aim to help organizations build, accelerate and promote DEI in the workplace and in our communities.

In our first season, “On the Job”, we focus on DEI practitioners themselves, because behind every impactful DEI program, lies a team of people. We’ll ask ourselves: What does it really mean to work in DEI? We'll talk about their accomplishments, the structures they've evolved in and how those have impacted their leverage in accomplishing their mission. We'll discuss the challenges and lessons along the way, as well as the little pieces of advice they can now share. But most importantly, we’ll hear about their personal journeys and DEI stories: what has brought them to the work they do today?

We have a very exciting line-up with guests that have lead DEI in large firms across the globe, such as Uber, Sodexo, Aveva, ABB, Danone, LinkedIn, and more so be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and tune-in next week for our first episode!

Curious to learn more about Diversity Secrets Agency Training & Consulting services? Get in touch: louise@diversitysecrets.co
Your feedback helps us grow: add a review wherever you’re listening to this podcast!
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