In today’s world, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are critical components of organisational culture, and it’s about time. However, from small to large, private and public organisations are in need of rethinking their global leadership agenda to promote cultures that embrace equity.
Why Is Equity Important
As we celebrate International Women’s Day this year with the theme of #embraceequity, it becomes important to answer the question how do we create a culture of equity within our organisations. Embracing equity means creating an environment where individuals, regardless of their background, can thrive and succeed. It means not only recognising and addressing biases but also taking proactive steps to promote inclusivity and to create a sense of belonging for all individuals.
A culture of equity is one that empowers individuals, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation, to feel a sense of belonging and achieve their full potential. According to research, embracing equity can lead to a more productive and successful organisation.
A report by mckinsey & company (2015) showed that organisations with more diverse leadership teams in senior management are more likely to have above-average financial returns. Additionally, when companies embrace equity, it creates a sense of community and belonging for all employees, which can lead to increased engagement and job satisfaction.
How to Implement Equity Within Your Organization
Implementing DEI initiatives and programmes within organisations can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Delivering engaging and scalable learning and mentoring programmes on an individual and large scale is now possible through HR SaaS solutions such as stellarup. Engaging communities is a differentiating factor of StellarUp that makes it easier for organisations to foster a culture of equity.
“One of our clients came to us struggling with creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Together, we launched a branded interactive learning and mentoring programme that not only attracts new talent but is also empowers employees to become mentors and mentees. Our solution breaks down barriers and encourages people to open up, share their experiences and learn from others. Ultimately, that’s what a culture of equity and belonging is all about” – StellarUp co-founder and CEO Estelle Roux.
There is no doubt that to embrace equity, large and small organisations must create purposeful environments where individuals feel comfortable sharing their experiences and challenges. Much in line with what renowned researcher and author Brene Brown says, only by creating a culture that encourages vulnerability, people feel safe to share their authentic selves, leading to stronger relationships and higher levels of creativity and innovation.
On this International Women’s Day, let’s commit to creating workplaces that value and celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Want to embrace equity in the workplace? Connect, learn and grow with stellarup.
