Getting Started: Racism, Whiteness, and the Path toward Racial Equity in the Workplace

Organizational development experts and social scientists have been making the business case for racially diverse workplaces for decades. We know that, in a global economy and with a US population that has always been racially diverse, equitable workplaces truly open to all are critical for achieving innovation and creativity, acquiring and retaining talent, and understanding diverse markets and business opportunities. We also know that sophisticated consumers and business customers are scrutinizing the diversity profile of companies with which they do business, creating significant pressure on businesses to demonstrate successful racial equity initiatives. But many organizations struggle to identify and implement -- much less achieve – racial equity goals. 

Recent events have underscored the need to address the effects and complexity of racism and its continued impact on businesses and consumers in the US. Many business leaders have responded to this call by committing to do the work necessary within their workplaces to build a lasting culture of racial equity.  We have seen strong support for this work in many organizations. On the other hand, we have also seen strong objections by employees and employers alike to concepts such as white privilege, white fragility, and systemic racism, which are often at the heart of racial equity training.    

Against this backdrop, it is harder than ever to know how to get started – or even whether to get started – with implementing a robust racial equity initiative. The goal of this calendar friendly 4-part virtual series is to help senior leaders think about racial equity in the workplace – why it matters, what it looks like, and how to design a path toward racial equity that can be achieved, measured, and sustained. We are thrilled to partner with experts in the field to address the topics below. Click here to read about our speakers.