We were pioneers in inclusion work. I founded InclusionINC in 2001. Our name reflects our focus on inclusion—not diversity—as the critical driver for business success. Inclusion works. Companies with …
The word “hug” conjures up images of friendly affection, warmth and security. Most people like hugs. They’re joyous at a wedding and comforting at a funeral. Our smartphones even have emojis for huggi …
In our book, “Becoming an Inclusive Leader: How to Navigate the 21st Century Global Workforce,” we offer insights on critical traits that inclusive leaders need to have, or should develop, to ensure t …
The glass ceiling is a well-known phenomenon in the American workplace. Women have been historically, and consistently, underrepresented in top tier positions in corporate America. While many attempts …
The #MeToo movement has brought a high level of attention to allegations of sexual misconduct in the workplace. The movement has important implications not only for alleged victims and perpetrators, b …
There are a wide range of tools that leaders can use to boost inclusion in their organizations. Some have existed for some time; others have emerged through technological advances and demographic dema …
Earlier this month, the business world saw a pioneer of both women and minority business leadership step down from the company she helped transform after over more than a decade at the helm. On Octobe …
We frequently talk about how changing demographics have an impact on the business world and require businesses to rethink how they present themselves to demographic groups as they grow larger and more …
A couple of years ago, Camille Sweeney and Josh Gosfield wrote an interesting article for The New York Times titled “Secret Ingredient for Success.” The article starts with a story about the early str …
It’s trite, but true. The only thing constant about change is that it’s constant! Particularly in the environment we currently live in where market forces, political and economic policies and technolo …
We’ve written frequently about unconscious bias. It’s a factor that impacts our relationships with others in both personal and professional ways—and it’s pervasive. We often think about unconscious bi …
When people talk about diversity and inclusion, the implicit assumption is typically that they are talking about the inclusion of traditionally marginalized groups, like women and minorities. But incl …
We’ve made the case for years that companies should put effort into improving the diversity and inclusion in their workforces, from top to bottom. And we’ve made that case based on business reasons, n …
Facebook has been in the news quite a bit lately over alleged wrongdoing in the social media giant’s business practices. There have been allegations surrounding the 2016 US Presidential Election that …
There is certainly a distinction between a company and its employees, but that distinction can become blurred depending on the seniority and public profile of the individual. The more prominent the em …
The #MeToo movement has seen prominent men in professional spheres ranging from sports and entertainment to politics and business laid low by revelations of past inappropriate behavior. Starting with …
Unconscious bias has been prominent in the news recently. In April, Starbucks faced harsh criticism after one of its employees called the police on two black men for “trespassing” in one of its stores …
Writing for Food & Wine, Mike Pomranz reports that 25-year beer industry veteran Maggie Timoney has broken barriers by becoming the first female CEO of a major US beer company. Any time women achi …
What does it mean to become aware of the next generation? For many readers, it may be hard to believe that we’re already talking about the growing importance of Generation Z. It doesn’t seem like that …
Facebook has been in the news quite a bit lately over alleged wrongdoing in the social media giant’s business practices. There have been allegations surrounding the 2016 presidential electio …
Unconscious bias is increasingly in the news lately. Whether it’s the arrest of two innocent young black men for “trespassing” at a Philadelphia Starbucks or police being called on a black Y …
Unconscious bias is present in our everyday lives, whether we realize it or not. Even the most well-intentioned of us harbor biases we are largely, if not entirely, unaware of. These biases can impact …
In an article for Harvard Business Review, Stefanie K. Johnson discusses a recent decision by Amazon to not update its board hiring processes for board of director positi …
Women and people of color frequently report feeling marginalized, even blatantly discriminated against in the workplace. Data on income levels and roles in executive and board positions in companies a …
From mid-May to mid-June this year, over one billion people worldwide will be observing the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The date is fluid and depends on when the new moon is sighted. As noted b …
As a diversity and inclusion consulting company, we spend a lot of time talking about the importance of having a strong representation of traditionally underrepresented groups in the workplace, i.e., …
In an article for CNN, Lisa Respers France discusses a recent interview with prolific “Simpsons” voice actor Hank Azaria on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Recently there has been a great d …
Earlier this month, Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, both 23, entered a Starbucks coffee shop in Philadelphia to meet with a third person to discuss a potential real-estate project. Nelson …
Diversity has been a hot topic for decades, and — as you know if you’ve been keeping up with our blog and social media posts — we’ve been focused on diversity for some time now. But, what yo …
One of the best ways to be inclusive of diversity in the workplace is to hear the thoughts, ideas, and feedback of others. This ensures that your business stays fresh and innovative when creating new …
Inclusion, we like to say, is a business imperative. Not something that is the right thing to do (although it is), or a nice thing to do (although that’s true too). We’re in business to be successful …
A couple of months ago we came across an article in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) titled “How Most Leadership Training Programs Fail Women.” The article begins, “The list of reasons more women do …
Women are often faced with a bit of a conundrum in the workplace: failing to show confidence and assertiveness can leave them behind when it comes time for handing out promotions and recognition. …
When it comes to discrimination in the workplace, it can be difficult to ferret out root causes. Much of what we see in statistics on the levels of women and minorities on corporate boards, or in exec …
Many companies are focused—and rightfully so—on ensuring that they are recruiting and hiring staff members who reflect their markets. As we continually stress, this focus goes well beyond the t …
We’ve often said that putting traditionally underrepresented groups in positions of authority within organizations can be a huge boost to a company’s success by bringing in diverse perspectives and ba …
Millennials may seem like a relatively new addition to the workforce to some, but as early as 2015, they made up a full one-third of the American workforce, when they overtook baby boomers to claim th …
For years, we’ve been making the case that diversity and inclusion are worthwhile goals for any business, not just because they are feel-good goals, but because they are sound business goals. N …
Unconscious bias is one of the most daunting challenges facing proponents of diversity and inclusion. We’ve come a long way from the days of blatant stereotypes permeating the recruitment proce …
The gender pay gap—the difference between median male and female yearly earnings when looking at full-time, year-round workers—is one of the most recognizable impacts of gender discrimination. There a …
Workplace discrimination remains a significant problem for a large segment of the workplace, according to recent data. Regardless of policies that may be in place to prevent gender discriminati …
The term “activist investor” might conjure up images of an altruistic billionaire using her financial clout to push companies towards greener technologies or improving conditions for workers, but the …
Did you miss this one? In late October, the NAACP issued a warning to African Americans to avoid traveling on American Airlines. According to an NAACP press release: “The NAACP for several …
Recently, Roy Maurer covered a SHRM survey of recruiters that revealed some interesting insights into differences between male and female recruiters in terms of how they evaluate candidates …
The increasing use of social media means that, more than ever, celebrities, politicians and corporations are under the spotlight from millions of observers with a potentially global platform. S …
In our book, “Becoming an Inclusive Leader: How to Navigate the 21st Century Global Workforce,” we offer insights on critical traits that inclusive leaders need to have, or should deve …
It’s no secret that corporate boards of directors are somewhat lacking in diversity. According to data from Spencer Stuart, only 15 percent of board seats at the top 200 S&P 500 compan …
There are many hurdles in the way of increasing diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Some are based on historic inequalities in income, role models and education for minority groups. Some …
Being a well-established organization can be a double-edged sword. While name recognition and a firmly-entrenched reputation are attributes desired by many organizations, it also means it can be diffi …
We’ve written previously about some of the differences and similarities between Generation Z and millennials. As time goes by, that topic is becoming increasingly relevant as more and more members of …
We’ve long touted the benefits of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Inclusion isn’t simply something that’s “nice to do,” or even “the right thing to do.” Inclusion, we’ve been saying f …
Just one day after Cam Newton made what were largely interpreted to be sexist comments towards a female sports reporter, he lost out on a major sponsorship deal. This, combined with h …
There are a wide range of tools that leaders can use to boost inclusion in their organizations. Some have existed for some time; others have emerged through technological advances and demographic dema …
The big news out of Saudi Arabia in September wasn’t ongoing conflict in Yemen or the transition to power of new, young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (“MBS”). Rather, it was the decision …
Apple has been in the news recently. Not just for the introduction of the latest versions of its iPhone—iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, but for the appointment of Denise Young Smith as Apple’s new Vice …
There are a wide range of tools that leaders can use to boost inclusion in their organizations. Some have existed for some time; others have emerged through technological advances and demographic dema …
In a recent article for Harvard Business Review, Henrik Bresman and Vinika D. Rao looked at a 19-country survey to analyze the differences and similarities between Generations X, Y and Z. As …
The business media is continually reporting the unemployment rate is falling. In early August, the rate fell to around 4.3 percent. The demand for employees is high, and yet many people – …
A recently published “manifesto” by a Google software engineer has once again placed the issue of women in the tech industry in the spotlight. The 10-page paper argues, among other things, that w …
New Zealand has a long history of progressive culture and politics. As the country’s government website proudly boasts, this sparsely populated island at the far end of the world “became the firs …
Millennials are the largest cohort in the U.S. labor market, surpassing Generation X as of Q1, 2015, according to the Pew Research Center. And hot on their heels is Generation Z, those born betwe …
When most people think about diversity and inclusion, they tend to think primarily – although certainly not exclusively – in terms of visually identifiable characteristics, such as race and gender. Th …
When it comes to diversity and inclusion, we’ve made the argument over and over again that the purpose of encouraging these two key values within an organization is not an altruistic but a strategic i …
The shift from focusing on diversity to focusing on inclusion is in process. Not because it’s “nice” to do, but because in this increasingly global and increasingly diverse world, it is ne …
Diversity and inclusion are goals we’ve obviously promoted heavily over the years, and we’re always happy to see companies not only recognize the importance of those complementary goals, but also to t …
We’ve written frequently about unconscious bias. It’s a factor that impacts our relationships with others in both personal and professional ways—and it’s pervasive. We often think about unconscious bi …
In a segment on National Public Radio’s Hidden Brain, Rachel Martin interviewed NPR’s social science correspondent Shankar Vedantam on research behind efforts to get more low-income students …
As the business world is increasingly recognizing the importance of a diverse and inclusive workplace – both in terms of corporate image as well as concrete business advantages, quotas have become a p …
Last month, Claire Zillman wrote an article for Forbe’s titled “Ruth Bader Ginsburg Used This Simple Trick to Cut Down on ‘Manterrupting.’” Zillman cites a new study of oral arguments from resear …
Women in leadership positions often find themselves faced with a cognitive conundrum. How to be themselves, and leverage some of the big benefits of effective communication that women tend to demonstr …
Women in leadership positions often find themselves faced with a cognitive conundrum. How to be themselves, and leverage some of the big benefits of effective communication that women tend to demonstr …
Globalization has been in the news a great deal since the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Candidates like Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders railed against the destructive side effects of globalization …
Generation Z is on the cusp of making a big impact on the American workforce. According to Pamela Shadrick, writing last year for the ITA group, “While they’re currently only about 2% of the …
The generational changing of the guard is a fact of life as old as time. Young replaces old in responsibility, importance, control and culture. Outside of the family, the workplace is perhaps where th …
There has been a great deal of discussion on the topic of fake news recently, particularly in the leadup and aftermath of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. In November 2016, the BBC publishe …
We’ve come along way in terms of closing the gender gap in America. Gone are the days when men are doctors and women are nurses, men are pilots and women stewardesses. Well, maybe. Accordi …
Inclusion, we like to say, is a business imperative. Not something that is the right thing to do (although it is), or a nice thing to do (although that’s true to). We’re in business to be successful a …
What event or events would you say have had the greatest impact on the United States during YOUR lifetime? The Pew Research Center asked that question to 2,025 adult survey respondents in a June– …
Companies have gotten wise to the idea that their customers want to see diversity in their organizations, both within their employee ranks and incorporated into their public messages, such as advertis …
Andrew Ross Sorkin, writing for the New York Times, recently covered Starbucks’ board of directors, which — thanks to three newly announced additions — is set to be one of the nation’s most diver …
We’ve written a great deal about the impact that unconscious bias can have on important decisions. Biases that we are completely unaware of can push us to make sub-optimal choices. That means we may n …
After a confrontational presidential election and the recent inauguration of the nation’s 45th president, employees have flooded their leaders with questions about diversity and inclusion efforts. …
As readers of our articles know, we spend a lot of time considering the implications of unconscious bias — its impacts on how we treat others as well as new research into the concept — which is still …
A variety of companies and organizations are looking back at 2016 in terms of diversity and inclusion. Was progress made? It depends on who you ask and where you look. In some cases, the results are m …
In a recent infographic by Randstad USA called “Managing Gen Y and Z in the Workplace,” Randstad looks at an emerging employment environment in which “the oldest members of generation Z (or iGen) have …
As a reader of my articles, you’re likely a believer in the concept of inclusion, or you’re researching aspects of diversity and inclusion. One aspect of inclusion that deserves some attention …
Companies work very hard to manage and protect their brands. That involves monitoring a lot of moving parts, including what others are saying about your organization. Sometimes what they’re saying can …
It’s hard to avoid social media, even if you decided to take a break before, or in the aftermath of, the most divisive presidential election in recent history. Tweets and Facebook posts range from “do …
National Public Radio’s Morning Addition aired a story on Oct. 19 about the nation’s first jobs program for transgender people. The story begins with a chain of El Pollo Loc …
In the 1990s, Subaru’s sales were stagnating. An attempt to break into the luxury market and to compete directly with the likes of Ford, Toyota and others had fallen short. After failed partner …
A woman struggles to open a pickle jar, and a strong man comes to her rescue. Although it’s a cliché, there’s some underlying truth to it, according to a Sept. 9 Harvard Business Review re …
Members of the Thirty Percent Coalition know that the pace of gender diversity in the boardroom is that of a glacier: exceedingly slow. The Coalition, formed in 2011, is committed to …
About 20 years ago, students learning in school that women hadn’t earned the right to vote until the 19th Amendment was ratified and became effective in 1920, were likely “horrified” and “indigna …
Who makes the money in your household, and how happy are they? Your assumptions might be wrong, according to a study by Christin Munsch, a professor of sociology at the University of Connecticu …
Diversity has been a hot topic for decades, and — as you know if you’ve been keeping up with our articles — we’ve been focused on diversity for some time now. But, what you’ll also know is that …
Hillary Clinton famously shattered the glass ceiling as the first female to be nominated for president by any major political party. You might say: “It’s about time!” It’s certainly encouraging …
A newly released book about Barbra Streisand, singer, actress, movie director and Hollywood star, is drawing attention to trailblazers who opened paths for career women. The book’s author, Neal Gabler …
Oftentimes, HR departments face an uphill battle in driving home the message of inclusion and its importance. A radio station host in a major U.S. city even made jokes on the air about attending “dive …
Most people are familiar with the concept of the glass ceiling. Many women use this metaphor as a way to describe how difficult it is to advance their careers in comparison to men. They can see where …
Millennials (also referred to as Generation Y) have been perceived as elusive and mysterious ever since they started filtering into the workplace. Businesses have been trying to figure out just how to …
We’ve all seen them: the corny commercials, the advertisements that are more embarrassing than they are informative. It’s difficult to create a marketing and advertising campaign that’s effective. It’ …
Depending on who you talk to, meetings are either the worst or best part of the day. While some enjoy the collaborative productiveness of meetings, others feel that meetings waste time, and that whate …
Unconscious bias proliferates in all walks of life and, certainly, in corporate America. Despite plenty of coverage in the media and plenty of attention paid by companies that truly do wish to be incl …
Closing the gender gap in the workforce is a big task for any inclusive leader. There are a range of considerations. Where do we start? Do we try to tackle the wage gap first? Or should we first addre …
The year 2015 was a huge year for the LGBT community. Although the community and its allies ecstatically welcomed the Obergefell v. Hodges decision that effectively made gay marriage legal thro …
It’s probably no surprise to most that women earn less on average than men; however, one interesting element of this disparity is the impact of having children. According to Michelle Budig’s re …
Michigan Radio recently carried a story about Judge Peter O’Connell, a judge suing the state Bureau of Elections claiming age discrimination. The judge, currently 67 years old, would be too old to run …
Men around the world have more self-esteem than women, according to a study of age and gender differences in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The study cited two prev …
It’s no secret to those of us following trends in inclusion and inequality that women continue to make significantly less money than men while doing, basically, the same jobs. It may come as a surpris …
It’s 2016, and the workforce has become more diverse to include people of different genders, races, sexual orientations and abilities. While this is increasingly true, there’s obviously still room for …
It’s easy to get caught up in our unconscious biases — so easy that, most of the time, we don’t even realize it’s happening. We tend to gravitate toward those who have similar viewpoints, worldviews, …
When it comes to diversity in the workplace, the technology industry has a long way to go. While some of the big technology firms are making attempts to become more inclusive, they still have a long w …
In response to recent controversy over this year’s Oscar nominees — celebrities such as Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee have both declared their intention to boycott an Oscar ceremony they …
The workplace still favors male employees. While certain industries are taking steps toward adjusting their cultures to be more inclusive of women, there are still some that don’t seem to understand t …
Anyone who has applied to a job on a company website in the last few years has probably had their resume passed through a resume-screening program. Whether the applicant knows it or not, these program …
Though women have been in the workforce for a long time, they’re still operating at a disadvantage when compared to men. It’s a competitive world out there. It’s time to recognize the value that women …
The 21st century workplace is different. It’s different in many ways, not the least of which is the growing levels of diversity that we’re seeing across all geographies and in all industries. But …
While it seems more acceptable to identify as a feminist now than in the past, there’s no doubt that feminism still makes some people uncomfortable. In many cases, it’s because people don’t understand …
When the media talks about millennials, Gen-X and baby boomers in the workplace, most of the article titles pit them against each other. Baby boomers are frustrated by the entitlement and technology d …
People have the unique ability to empathize with those around them. Whether it’s a coworker facing a layoff, or a close friend getting married, we have the ability to put ourselves in their shoes and …
Working in modestly-sized space, in a texting-driven age, many of us experience a daily slew of e-mails consisting of “thx,” “see me,” or “let’s discuss,” often from a colleague five feet away. Needle …
One of the best ways to be inclusive of diversity in the workplace is to hear the thoughts, ideas, and feedback of others. This ensures that your business stays fresh and innovative when creating new …
The demographic evolution that has been taking place in America, and elsewhere, over the past several years has had an irrevocable impact on the types of leaders needed to move businesses forward succ …
Work-life balance is a hot issue these days, particularly when businesses don’t offer enough time for employees to be with their families. Many organizations, however, are proactively creating flexibi …
Silicon Valley is top-of-mind when it comes to great examples of the impacts and effects of bias in technology circles. The lack of women and minorities in key leadership roles at big tech companies b …
Leaders are often called upon to make presentations for groups large and small, both internal and external to their organizations. Inclusive leaders need to be mindful of their audiences when presenti …
Last year, the Harvard Business Review (HBR) posted an interactive feature on its website called “What We’ll Be Doing in 2022.” The post discusses the industries projected to grow the most in the next …
Generational diversity is alive and well in the workplace today. Though baby boomers and Gen-X employees may struggle to understand millennials, and vice versa, the number of generations in the workpl …
“Diversity” is a word that gets bandied about quite a bit and there is no question that diversity is important. But, it’s just a starting point. Diversity without inclusion is meaningless. Unfortunate …
It’s a fast-paced world that we live and work in. That fast pace requires leaders—and, in particular, inclusive leaders—to be continually alert to what’s going on around them. No longer is it possible …
Where do you get your input? If you consistently rely on the same group of people, the same publications, the same web sites, chances are you’re missing out on key insights that can lead to greater in …
We often focus on the difficulties women face as they try to balance motherhood and their careers at the same time. It’s why companies offer maternity leave; they want to try to help mothers ease into …
In The Washington Post article “How the Boy Scouts changed their stance on gay leaders,” Robert Gates, president of the Boy Scouts of America, said the organization’s survival depended on it …
In a Huffington Post article “Corporate America Should Be Embarrassed About This Chart,” authors Emily Peck, Alissa Scheller and Andrew Lord reveal that less than 5 percent of CEOs at Fortune 500 comp …
“No man is an island…” said English poet John Donne back in 1624 and his wisdom certainly resonates today. In an era of information overload, inclusive leaders must realize that their best ideas can b …
Work-life balance is a great idea, but the pressure of working around the clock makes this concept an illusion for many employees. When it comes to work-life balance, much of the focus has been on wom …
Sometimes the best lessons we can learn about how to make our offices more inclusive of others, is to look outside of the office. I think this point is especially true when we look at unconscious bias …
What does it mean to be a good leader? Many say that good leaders must be organized, confident, knowledgeable and great listeners. All of these qualities impact a trait we posted about recently: …
The government of Norway is reeling from the recent media attention it has received over an equal pay discrimination suit recently decided in favor of plaintiff Ellen Ewald who was hired in …
What does it mean to be a good leader? Organized, confident, knowledgeable, and good listeners are some commonly listed leadership traits. All of these traits funnel into one word: self-awareness. Sel …
We’ve talked a lot about unconscious bias over the last several months, and we’re not the only ones who have been doing so. While the headlines are full of stories about the effects of unconscious bia …
As we’ve discussed, your company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives need to be sustainable efforts in order to be successful. You might be asking “Why? What’s in it for my company?” The answer is s …
Our mantra that “inclusion is a business imperative” is an important one. Many times the argument is made that being inclusive of others is simply the right thing to do if you’re a moral hum …
We talk a lot about being inclusive of those in your workplace—it’s the best way to increase productivity and create a strong culture. But, inclusivity extends beyond your workforce to your customers, …
The workplace is a healthy mix of many generations. We have Baby Boomers who are nearing the ends of their careers and Millennials—or Generation Y— whose careers are just beginning. But, these are not …
We’ve discussed in previous posts how unconscious bias can harm your talent pool when it manifests itself ever so subtly in the hiring process. Certainly there’s a cost, albeit difficult to …
