Diversity
A big part of C21 leaders running C21 organisations.
But what does it mean?
Does it mean “Headlines” like making sure that there are 50% women on a board?
Or the current discussion that I see about with First Nations fashion designers saying that collaboration is not enough, and more is required… https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-07/conscious-consumers-indigenous-first-nations-fashion-brands/100189036
To me, a better term is Diversity of Thought.
Different to the Headline Diversity measures that are easy to do, it is about establishing a culture that understands and celebrates difference but does not get hung up on the headline measures.
Ideally, the makeup of our boards should reflect the makeup of the stakeholders, or the make up of wider society – gender, race, ability, culture.
Because appointing boards 50% women – or any other quota – to leadership is not going to guarantee anything.
After all, it is very possible to appoint female versions of existing male board members and get no further past the risks than before.
If we do go down the Headline measures path, it is important that those who are put up have Diversity-of-Thought-DNA.
Because quotas are not guarantees…
Happy to talk about this and other interesting thought leadership issues, call me and we can talk!
