Making a Case for Diversity & Inclusion: Knowing the Business Value
Diversity & Inclusion as a discussion has been amplified recently far more than it has been in the past. While it still remains a challenging conversation to have in many workplaces, more and more C-suite executives are making D&I practices a high priority. According to a research study by Deloitte, 96 percent of CEOs assert that D&I has become a ‘personal strategic priority’ for them.
Working across 5 continents and travelling to 40 countries has given me some of the most precious experiences in my life, including exposure to different cultures and diverse groups of people. I love people, I care for people, and I wanted to make an impact on people’s professional lives. At the same time, I also had aspirations of becoming an entrepreneur. This led me to build a brand for the D&I fraternity. I called it DIFEST; Diversity Inclusion Festival.
When I stated interacting with D&I professionals, my first reaction was ‘THIS IS AMAZING!’ Here was a winning department that’s responsible for remaking the company culture. It is difficult to keep people happy, motivated, engaged, and yet build a profitable enterprise. D&I Heads have it all.
More importantly, when it comes to innovation, diversity clearly WINS! Businesses with diverse backgrounds have unique experiences and perceptions that strengthen productivity and fuel innovative thinking. There’s enough evidence to show that diverse companies outperform their competitors. A diverse workforce represents a forward-thinking business. In fact, an increasing number of large organizations and investors want to work with partners who have a diverse workforce. Did you know, according to a study by the Harvard Business Review, A team with a member who shares a client’s ethnicity is 152% more likely to understand that client?
Even though we are seeing progress, reinventing company culture is an ongoing practice. Employee Resource Groups and Allies need to continue to create safe and supportive spaces for employees to work, and contribute to their teams at their fullest potential.
D&I has to be a top-to-bottom approach. It must come from the boardroom. Therefore, it is time to look at diversity as a CELEBRATION; a SOLUTION; and moreover, a mainstream business practice.
Launched in San Francisco in 2019, DIFEST GLOBAL this May 4-8, will be a virtual experience that will feature business leaders who will address how organizations and companies can raise their standards and shift approaches to D&I to make a case for its business value. To learn more, please visit www.difest.co. To learn more, please visit www.difest.co. There is also a special offer for Indiaspora. If you are interested in participating in this event, please contact us at contact@indiaspora.org for a discount code.
Rudinov is the Founder & CEO of DIFEST GLOBAL. He has spent the last 20 years, bringing business communities together by building brands in the form of conference experiences. He has worked in the area of HR, Diversity, Technology, Energy, Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Mining, Oil & Gas, Utilities, Investments, Branding, and Retailing. He has been responsible for leading the strategy, developing content and creating experiences in new and emerging markets.
A recipient of 3 awards, Rudinov has a Master’s Degree in Strategic Marketing from University of Wollongong Australia. Rudinov also serves as a Senior Advisor with the National Organization on Disability. An Indian-Canadian, he is currently based in Toronto with his wife and twins; a boy and girl. Rudinov has a vision of touching as many professional lives as possible by forming the largest and most respected community for D&I practitioners globally.
