Inclusion is a moral and business imperative

18 June 2020 | Rebekah Steele and Alison Maitland

Originally published on LinkedIN

"If your company profits from targeting products at underserved populations, does it also take a stand when public discourse singles out those same populations for violent physical or verbal attack?" #INdivisiblebook with Alison Maitland

#Inclusion is a moral and business imperative. Leaving people out shatters lives and undermines conditions for businesses to thrive. Bringing everyone in means individuals flourish and a full mix of people collaborate for a better society and more sustainable businesses.

Companies impact, and are impacted by, what happens beyond their walls. And inclusion strategies are incomplete if they don’t address inequities in external systems like education, justice and healthcare.

#Leadership can raise these issues in their Environmental, Social and Governance discussions with investors, governments and regulators. Managers can seek input from underserved customers and suppliers about their needs and solutions. Individuals can flag opportunities for their businesses to address local inequities.

Beyond these actions, businesses must have a comprehensive strategy for lasting, systemic change, internally and externally.

How are you advancing inclusion externally to address ingrained injustices highlighted by #blacklivesmatter and the pandemic?