On December 4, 2019, dedicated advocates for workplace Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) gathered in Toronto for a breakfast roundtable with Dr. Susan Black, President and CEO of The Conference Board of Canada, at the Board’s 2019 Inclusive Workplaces Conference. Participants represented organizations at varying stages of D&I implementation. Through their discussion, the participants both identified challenges to advancing D&I efforts and shared strategies for success. These strategies include a focus on the positive impacts of D&I as motivation for buy-in from senior leadership and the implementation of both awareness efforts and strategies for action.
Dr. Black then spoke to the architecture required for a fulsome D&I practice: an evidence base, champions, a strategy, clear and effective communications, and organizational accountability. At the end of the roundtable, participants shared the research insights they are seeking and their actionable needs for moving forward on their D&I practice.