Comments on: 1st Blog: The Beginning of a Continuing Conversation

By: Andres

Andres — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:01:44 +0000

The current crisis, and its legacy, means that businesses are going to be demanding greater due diligence, more refined arguments, deeper ROI analysis from all parties asking for money and resources. D&I practitioners will have to become highly adept at this. Not only on its own merits but in order to overcome an even higher bar that is set for work that still has many resistors.

By: Gloria Castillo

Gloria Castillo — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:53:45 +0000

Let me echo other readers thanking you for your inclusion insights.

For so many the uncertainty we have experienced over the last year has bred increased corporate risk aversion. Each change feels like new risk. I think in many ways encountering and understanding those who resist change present us with the greatest opportunity.

D&I professionals are consistently looking for ways to highlight the value of new thinking and the value of diverse ideas. This economic climate will be more demanding of this skill than ever. What I have started to see is that the audience for the message is shifting …and that is positive. Corporate managers have new responsibilities. Some tied to short term goals and some tied to the sustainability of the corporation. D&I professionals are delivering their messages to different audiences after years of honing their skills. With a strong understanding of the increased risk aversion, we can add one more pillar holding up the value of D&I strategies.

Looking forward to your thoughts as well Andres.

Gloria

By: Sara Meyer Davis

Sara Meyer Davis — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:14:07 +0000

The brightest minds of our age have indicated that this is not simply a predicted downturn in the business cycle, but rather a fundamental shift the magnitude of the industrial revolution.

To navigate the challenges that lie ahead, we need all parties collaborating and fully engaged on the same end goal. Since diversity breeds innovation, this is the ideal moment in time for advancing diversity and inclusion for it is only when all our differences come together that the best solutions are created.

Sara Meyer Davis
Managing Partner, Strategic Diversity Advisors

By: Robert (Bob) Ingram

Robert (Bob) Ingram — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:19:10 +0000

Andres,

The pat response of corporations during an economic crisis is to constrict and cut budgets while often cutting back on headcount. Often this impacts DandI adversely. One positive opportunity that is often needed and missed is to actively and creatively let all high potential and high performing diverse executives know that they are valued and appreciated! They truly are an integral part of an organization’s most valuable resource.

I am blessed to be a part of an organization that assists companies in demonstrating their appreciation of their top diverse talent everyday–especially now. In tough times, retention is the watchword. All of the best on your new book.

Bob

By: Melissa Giovagnoli

Melissa Giovagnoli — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:30:13 +0000

As a consultant and a change agent I find the question you ask very powerful and, if one chooses, a “game-changer.” If we did not get that life was changing in 2002 during our last recession, I do have hope we will this time. This means that there is a strong likelihood that the majority of leaders in the business world today will take the technology tools never available to the degree they are today and use them to create more independent careers–careers that allow them more thought leadership, more strength in numbers, more ability to lead in unique and powerful ways.

To this end, tools like LinkedIn, for example, can help grow the platforms of change agents, uniting their voices and choices to include and leverage a diverse and powerful assemblage of unique talent that can achieve results much better and faster than ever before. I believe smaller companies that get this unique time will rise up and grow alliance networks (something we have spent the last year working on) and other unique, diverse networks. Here, the axiom, “necessity is the mother of invention” really plays out.

By: Marjee Righeimer

Marjee Righeimer — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:20:37 +0000

The economic crisis is a real problem. I believe in the power of collective intelligence to solve a problem of this magnitude. The most meaningful and sustainable solutions are designed and implemented by teams of people who see the problem from many different viewpoints, with differing opinions, experiences and backgrounds. The challenge we face is giving all people access, exposure and influence so all can particpate.

By: Lance Perry

Lance Perry — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:01:49 +0000

First let me thank you for your insights on diversity. Andres, I find them to be the most spot on I’ve seen anywhere. I’ll be brief tonight. I have worked for three brilliant leaders in the last fifteen years. First a brilliant primarily left brain thinking male. Then a brilliant primarily right brain thinking male. Now I work for a brilliant female who uses both sides of her brain equally well!

One other point. I’ve been involved with diversity in the workplace for most of my 30 year career in IT. Early I thought , “treat everyone the same, that’s treating folks equally”. My wife helped teach me that most folks are pretty different and you have to understand that and think about it. I look forward to continued dialog and the release of your book.

Cheers,

Lance