At this point, most leaders recognize that diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) must be at the forefront of every initiative. COVID-19 and our years of cultural reckoning are shining a much-needed spotlight on these discussions, and even the highest-ranking executives are taking note. In fact, nearly 50% of CEOs now count building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce as one of their top challenges.
But while many organizations are releasing statements and conducting surveys, only a small number are going beyond the exploration stage by taking action. There’s still a lot of uncertainty about what it takes to drive meaningful change—which is why we decided to reach out to Linkedin’s top DEI influencer, Netta Jenkins, for her advice on what leaders can do to level the playing field.
In addition to her Linkedin fame, Jenkins is the VP of Global Inclusion at Unqork, the founder of Holistic Inclusion Consulting, and the co-founder of Dipper, an online community and safe space for professionals of color to share their workplace experiences. We sat down with her to get our most pressing DEI questions answered, and we’re sharing the top takeaways below: