Diversity as a key differentiator in transformation

Global, Mar 15, 2022

Logicalis, Cisco and Microsoft discuss the impact of diversity and inclusion on business success

Research from Gartner has shown that in a diverse workforce performance improves by 12% and intent to stay by 20%. With nearly 8 out of 10 executives reporting that diversity is increasingly important in helping them achieve business goals, it’s clear that there is a desire to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces. However, for many organisations, despite long-term investment and commitment to the concept of diversity, not much progress has been made. As a result, businesses are missing out on the benefits that diversity can bring to the table, acting as a key differentiator in transformation and business success.

Celebrating International Women’s Day, Logicalis Group CEO Bob Bailkoski sat down with Head of Responsible Business at Logicalis, Charissa Jaganath, Chief Inclusion and Collaboration Officer and Senior VP of Inclusive Future and Strategy at Cisco, Shari Slate, and VP of Solution Strategy and Go-To-Market at Microsoft, Julie Sanford, to discuss what we can learn by creating a diverse and inclusive working environment.

Panellists shared their views on what businesses can do to take meaningful steps towards creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace.

Get buy-in and active involvement from senior leaders

Senior leaders, especially those at C-Suite level, need to create clear accountability and direction in their businesses when it comes to diversity and inclusion. By being transparent about creating a more diverse culture, encouraging two-way communication across all levels of the business and critically tying a diverse approach to business success, businesses will quickly start to see the benefits of diversity in business success.

Charissa Jaganath, Head of Responsible Business at Logicalis, commented, “I think having board members and senior leaders that truly understand the importance of this work, and get behind it, is imperative for achieving success.”

Shared company values are critical

Leaders need to live and breathe shared organisational values to really embed organisational culture. It is no longer enough to just talk about them, leaders need to be brave and call out when values are not being lived up to. The most successful companies are captained by leaders who go out of their way to communicate their own cultural identities, beliefs and values which fully align to shared company values. Being able to inspire, empower and instil these in others is the key to success.

Shari Slate, Chief Inclusion and Collaboration Officer and Senior VP of Inclusive Future and Strategy at Cisco, said, “We’ve got to make sure that we use and leverage inspiration as currency to partner with our employees, customers, partners and suppliers to work together to solve challenges that have been long-standing in the world. Ultimately, your beliefs as a company matter, and give you the ability to show up at any moment, at any time for your entire stakeholder stack.”

Everyone can be a catalyst for change

Empowering employees by helping them realise they can be a catalyst for positive change is key to adopting a successful diversity and inclusion approach. By empowering them to live shared values, take care of each other and their environment, inclusion and collaboration quickly become a foundation for how an organisation operates. It can also stimulate a grass-roots approach when they see the direct positive impact they have on the world.

Julie Sanford, VP of Solutions Strategy and Go-To-Market at Microsoft, noted, “I don’t have to wait for a funded, large initiative from the company to make a difference. I can lean in now and actually start being a catalyst for change. It’s all about feeling empowered to go and lead with your authentic voice and being open to change. If you’re a senior leader in your business, being able to be authentic, share stories and lean in, even if it’s a daunting topic, people will want to share, talk and learn.”

Ultimately diversity and inclusion truly matter for businesses that want to succeed. Offering a key differentiator in transformation, it has wide-reaching effects from creating a more positive, collaborative culture to bringing about business success and even competitive advantage by creating new connections. 

To learn more from two titans in the technology industry, Cisco and Microsoft, and peek behind the curtain on their mature diversity and inclusion programmes and the resulting success they experienced, watch the full webinar now. There is so much potential to be unlocked in taking a more diverse approach to business and we all look forward to contributing to a more diverse and inclusive future.

 

Topic

Related Insights