Rethinking Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Moving Beyond the Business Case Approach

Jamillah Williams, BiGS Fellow at Harvard Business School, delves into the complexities of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within organizations. She challenges the prevalent approach of framing diversity solely in terms of its business benefits, highlighting its limitations in truly fostering an inclusive culture. As accountability becomes increasingly paramount in today's landscape, Jamillah urges CEOs to reevaluate their DEI strategies and move towards initiatives that foster meaningful connections and address systemic inequalities. This insightful talk serves as a call to action for organizations to embrace a more holistic and authentic approach to diversity and inclusion.

[TulemarBeach]

You can tell they have ZERO real wireless experience.

[jeffvanbibber]

How about the best person for the job.

[StephenDurnan-we]

Merit is not based on gender, race, creed, of any other physical or character orientation. for individuals to best themselves is within themselves, not imposed from societal constructs such as DEI policies or practices. the only role is not for equity of outcomes, but equality of access to the opportunities' of individuals to Quality of Education, health support, social support, and employment.
All the rest is for the Individual to apply himself to fulfilling himself for his personal perceived goals, not to promote a equity of outcomes. In any society it is individuals and their choices that include others or exclude themselves, unify or divide into groups or sub-groupings; it is dynamic and forever in flux. It can only be encouraged not through regulatory or legal frameworks of ideological enforcement, but though long term social spiritual and ethical growth in each individual, not through government mandates or use of exterior force. Persuasion not rhetoric.

[normgustafson]

How would you change culture? Crickets.
Not presenting the change strategy creates too many questions. People "fill in" those means as worst-case.
That's why there's been push-back, as past (current) solutions include certain groups as "the problem" -- an unbalanced approach.

[voiceofreason]

A business' goal is to generate profit for the owners/providers of capital - they are NOT a charity. If there is no "business case" for diversity & inclusion, then why should a business (or any of its stakeholders) care? As a faculty member of a BUSINESS school, your research and efforts should be directed towards proving the case of "profit maximization" via DEI. Otherwise, you're a social activist.

[frankzaccari]

As Peter Drucker said years ago - culture eats strategy for breakfast. It starts with a safe culture and inclusion.