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DAGIT: “Diversity includes those things we can see that make us
unique, as well as a whole host of things that are not immediately apparent, whether we are talking about hidden disabilities or diversity in thinking styles and talents. As a woman with a disability, over the past 20-plus
years, I’ve faced many barriers. Early on in my corporate career, I personally experienced or directly observed intolerance, disrespect and discrimination. These situations prompted me to leave the corporate world for
awhile, to lead a nonprofit organization that provided job-placement assistance to persons with disabilities. At the same point in time, I played an
active role in shaping public policy and was instrumental in the passage of
the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“Upon returning to the corporate arena, I was able to draw upon these
experiences, to push—sometimes quite passionately—for the integration
of diversity in all business initiatives and workplace practices. Most recently, I’ve started considering issues related to global inclusion, and there’s a
lot of work to do. While various cultures may dictate different solutions to
marginalization and intolerance, the dynamics of power, and how it is
used, are remarkably similar to what I’ve seen in the United States.”
Avid Modjtabai
Director of Human Resources,
Wells Fargo
MODJTABAI: “When I moved to the United States at the age of 17
from Iran, I experienced firsthand what it was like to become a minority. The experience gave me insight into the importance of diversity
before it even became a workplace term. Over the course of my career,
I’ve grown to understand and appreciate the power of diversity and how
a wide range of thinking can lead to better solutions than ideas generated by a homogenous group.”
SIMMONS: “Some years ago, I had a client tell someone that he did
not want me to manage a merger transaction for his company because he
had a black MBA do some work once and it wasn’t high quality. When
my own PricewaterhouseCoopers partner, Larry Stevens, heard about this,
he stated that our firm simply would not do work for or with this company. That experience showed me that there are white males who are principled on these matters and that we need to reach out to more of them and
get them involved in the diversity effort.”
Chris Simmons
Chief Diversity Officer, PwC
LEE: “As a result of diversity opportunities in a previous location that I
worked, I received the opportunity to head a diversity initiative called
Consulting Pairs, which required certification through extensive training.
That training experience was life-changing, which provided me the foundation for understanding bias in the organization and how to address it.
The experience allowed me to carry critical skills back to the workplace
and effectively demonstrate in positions that I subsequently held. Those
skills clearly were a catalyst for a career change and career success.” DI
