Pushing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Into the Business Mainstream

Pyle emphasized that HR is a critical partner particularly in having quotthe right objectives and best practicesquot across talent recruitment development and retention What39s more DEI programs that are businessdriven provide one of the most effective means to improve upward mobility in the economy according to the 2020 Josh Bersin reportHarvard Business Review reported this back in 2016 as wellPyle brought this up in a panel discussion at the recent Advertising Week New York conference During the conversation it was noted that there are three factors that determine employee engagement revolving around their connection to their direct manager belief in the company39s purpose and a deep sense of belonging Research has shown that a company39s leadership and culture have a significant role in creating more equitable and diverse workforcesAccording to the Bersin report less than one third 32 of companies require any form of DEI training for workers and 34 offer managers such training DEI is treated as more of a compliance issue according to the panel and this is supported by research that shows 75 of companies do not include DEI in leadership development or overall learning and development An estimated 80 of companies are just going through the motions and not holding themselves accountablePyle pointed out that one of the underlying factors driving The Great Resignation which reached a recordbreaking 11 million open jobs as of the end of July is employee disengagement She highlighted that highperforming companies quotdefine the business through DEI and have done so for many yearsquot Importantly they quotlive by the culture and not just the metricsquotThe Bersin report also reveals that the highest performing companies Accenture ADP AstraZeneca IBM Johnson ampamp Johnson and Target take a businesscentered and macro view of engagement which goes beyond the DEI or HR office The companies connect DEI to culture in a deep meaningful and actionable wayAn essential strategy is to listen hear and act Companies that do so are 12 times more likely to engage and retain employees 84 times more likely to inspire a sense of belongingamp160and 85 times more likely to satisfy and retain customers the report foundMore insights came from Anita Patil Sayed Executive Vice President Commercial Operations dentsu who spoke on a different Ad Week panel that was focused on the future of work According to Sayed companies can adopt other strategies to accelerate cultural transformation including strengthening HR capabilities in all rolesamp160clearly defining DEI39s mandateamp160securing senior leadership commitmentamp160setting goals and measurementsamp160and creating accountability for tangible resultsPyle noted dentsu39s relentless focus on transparency and how their first dedicated DEI report took a holistic approach around four pillars transparency and accountabilityamp160representation and sponsorshipamp160education and continuous learningamp160and client and community impact These success pillars created an urgent call to action for diverse representation at all levelsamp160by quotcreating an even stronger culture of inclusion for all employees and producing powerful representative campaigns with and for clientsquotThe dentsu DEI report is very intentional in being both the first public record of accountabilityamp160and a way to highlight gaps and to celebrate the tremendous progress that has been made over the past year recognizing mistakes with full vulnerability According to Pyle dentsu operates from the principle of quotcollaboration and transparency and is willing to share its best practices with no firewalls or IP restrictions as we are committed to advancing the industryquotThis openness is reflected in the ecosystem of partners and strategic programs that dentsu has forged with organizations such as the 4A39s Multicultural Advertising Intern Program MAIP and the American Advertising Federation39s AAF39s Most Promising Multicultural StudentsDentsu39s strategic Navigator series keeps clients at the cutting edge of how multicultural consumers39 needs behaviors perceptions and preferences are evolving This impact is further accelerated through the agency39s investment arm that assesses opportunities through the lens of equityThrough its own creative and media work dentsu has launched awardwinning campaigns such as Oreo Proud Parentamp160and the audio series More Than That with Gia Peppers and the Sports Emmynominated The Cost of Winningamp160to showcase the stories of underrepresented communitiesBy exposing the failures of the past and the structural inequities that still plague our industry dentsu is working towards an inclusive and equitable culture inside the agency and then using that impetus to accelerate systemic change through brands partnerships and its talentamp160amp160amp160

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Pushing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Into the Business Mainstream

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Raquelle Zuzarte

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Pushing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Into the Business Mainstream

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