DiversityInc - October 2008

editor’s letter

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You Can’t Win If
You’re Not in the Game

We recently met with two very different companies that had a few similarities: Both were beginning to benchmark their diversity-management initiatives and both had inclusive corporate cultures.

Both companies initially were hesitant to participate in The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity® survey because they feared poor performance would reflect negatively on the diversity department. Both purchased DiversityInc Benchmarking, knowing they needed to thoroughly assess strengths and weaknesses, especially against industry competitors and the best in class (the DiversityInc Top 50).

Here’s where the major differences come in and why I think Company A—and not Company B—is poised to become a DiversityInc Top 50 company.

Company A has some real diversity challenges; while the CEO is supportive of diversity, no one has yet explained to him its critical connection to the business objectives and competitive success. This company, in the tech industry, is heavily overrepresented with Asians and has real gaps in its representation of Blacks, Latinos and women, especially in management.

When we met with senior executives at this company—and asked why the CEO was not invited to the meeting—they didn’t cross their arms, roll their eyes or flinch. They talked honestly and openly about what they needed to do and how to change public perception so

their company could be branded as a place where everyone wanted to work. They invited us to stay and participate in their strategy session, and they’ve followed up with us as they implement their plans and share their data with everyone at the highest levels, especially the CEO. They also decided to participate in the DiversityInc Top 50, knowing that if they don’t make the list, we won’t publicize their participation. By sharing their data, they are helping us provide better industry and general benchmarks. And they know that for that reason, we only write in this magazine and on www.DiversityInc.com about companies participating in the DiversityInc Top 50.

Company B also professes to be eager to improve its diversity management but is unwilling to go the extra mile. This financial-services company is limiting who sees its data and is wary about shaking anything up. The CEO and his top team are being kept in the dark. The company has so far declined to participate in the DiversityInc Top 50, saying “we’re not ready yet.”

You can’t win unless you’re in the game. You can’t become a diversity leader unless you compete, see where your challenges are and address them. That means letting everyone in on the “secret” that things have to change—and getting the CEO on board.