Changing diversity and inclusion practices

Innovations are deep-rooted in the thoughts of Indians. Companies are continually seeking to broaden their diversity to take advantage of new markets, new sources of innovation and new pathways to success.

The Global Diversity and Inclusion Summit 2018 was hosted by Ask Insights and BW Businessworld. The summit brought together some of the most recognized people including Kanta Singh (State Project , UNDP), Anant Garg (India HR Director, Elli Lilly ), Harshita Chaudhary  (Corporate Talent Manager South Asia Region , Nestle) and Rohini Seth (VP National HR Operations, Personnel and HR Diageo India). The panel was moderated by Shriram Venkatraman (Assistant Professor IITD).

Ask Insights and Dr. Niru Kumar were the first to start this conversation in India, 10
years back and have impacted several organisations and individuals since then.

The speakers at the summit spoke about what companies that doing towards diversity and inclusion.

Kanta Singh emphasised on women role in the workforce. Companies need to commit to hiring, nurturing, mentoring and promoting women at all the levels if they are serious about diversity and inclusion. Disha is a unique project being supported by IKEA foundation and implemented by UNDP and IDF. The project aims to empower young women in terms of being self-reliance.

Harshita Chaudhary claimed about innovative ways to abstract talent. Nestle ensures improved diversity and better work environment for women. It has revised the maternity policy, critical interventions for women in field force, changed recruitment process for better representation across levels and project Harmony.

Anant Garg added that the first and the most critical diversity and inclusion are to get leadership commitment, across levels, from the very top to the first line leaders. Leaders need to walk the talk when they hire, develop or promote, in their own teams and for their direct reports. They need to put diversity and inclusion on the same slide where they put revenue, profit, market share etc and not just as another good looking thing they do.

Rohini Seth remarked that they say that when one is in a position of relative privilege its time to play one’s role in lowering the fences and lengthening the table. Let’s make own positions work to “normalise” our workplace, our society, and our country/world. Change is upon us. The choice is to lead or be led. What will you do?

At the end it was concluded that everyone needs to be valued, everyone needs to be included, and everyone can reach their peak.