5 Things / Outside of HR

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Last year we had a client choose not to renew their contract with us because DEI lived in Human Resources, had no protected budget, and they “had to prioritize employee salaries.” Well, when you put it that way…

I recently caught up with someone I’ve known for years now. Six months into their new role as VP of DEI, they were positively giddy about the amount of support they had. They report to the CDO who reports to the CEO. While they have to take baby steps, they’re accomplishing a lot.

As this person shared with me, it’s a huge advantage when DEI is not part of Human Resources. Not only is their budget protected, but they’re able to think strategically about the way DEI fits into other business objectives. With a near direct line to the CEO, they’re in a position to keep forward momentum.

That’s how you do it (and ICYMI my book and our DEI consulting methodology is called Inclusive 360 for that very reason!)

This Week’s Good Vibes:

  1. Charlotte Tilbury Promotes Women in Motorsports

  2. Walmart Creates a Pipeline for AI Talent

  3. Unilever Hires People With Disabilities Behind the Camera

    • Last year, Unilever launched its "Believe in Talent" initiative, mandating disability representation behind the camera, and addressing a longstanding lack of diversity in advertising. With only 1% of ads featuring disabled individuals, Unilever's move aims to reshape industry norms by committing to hiring people with disabilities behind the camera on every ad over $107k. Unilever also developed an open-source toolkit for creating inclusive production spaces. It’s all part of Unilever's broader "Act 2 Unstereotype" initiative, driving structural changes in marketing to combat prejudice and promote diversity.

  4. Historic Donation to Albert Einstein College of Medicine

  5. New Jersey to Recognize LGBTQ+ Businesses

This Week’s Call to Action:

Learn about Nex Benedict, a nonbinary teen in Oklahoma who was bullied and beaten by classmates and later died. Oklahoma legislators are currently considering 54 anti-LGBTQ bills. It’s a really tough time to be a young trans person.

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