Thoughts on Diversity & Inclusion

Written by Jae C. Henderson July 2019

As I’m gearing up for our panel discussion next week at Tales of the Cocktails in New Orleans, I can’t help but to read and think more deeply about diversity and what it truly means for companies. 

So what is diversity? Well, to me, diversity is going beyond attempting to hire the woman-identified person, the person of color, the queer person, or the person over 40 years old. True diversity is in diversity of thought, diversity of experience, and diversity of perspective. As a black transgender man from South Central Los Angeles, I would bring diversity into most boardrooms I walk into. However what good is that diversity, and my presence in that space, if that boardroom doesn’t provide a space where dissent, wild ideas, and challenge of the status quo are not only accepted or tolerated, but encouraged. If we hold that in our minds as we think about diversity, then we can begin thinking about inclusion. 

Where diversity is opening the door and letting folks of differing backgrounds in, inclusion is welcoming them to bring their entire selves to the space, seeing them, and taking them and their existence into consideration when making decisions. Inclusion requires a level of emotional intelligence and awareness that is much more difficult than many leaders expect or seem ready to admit. Diversity and Inclusion are not easy to successfully foster and require more than a mandatory sensitivity training session or two. Yet, the companies that can capitalize on the diversity of their workforce have, and will continue, to grow and innovate in our highly connected, globalized society.  

So, the million-dollar question is: how do you create an environment of thoughtful inclusion in order to optimize the talents of a diverse team? What are your policies and procedures around restrooms? Pronouns? Active listening? Group discussions? Boundaries? The culture we create as leaders directly impacts the success of D&I initiatives. 

If you’d consider yourself a leader within your organization, I challenge you to take a step back and evaluate whether or not you’re creating and championing a culture for incubating true diversity. And if in that exploration you discover that it is not, I challenge you to do something about it. Diversity is more than a checklist or a picture on a brochure.