Racial diversity is a personal story

“To put it bluntly: there aren’t enough black senior executives.”

One of the nicest compliments I’ve ever received is that I’m “colour blind”. It was from a fellow student at university, a Ghanian German, who said he liked how I never referred to the fact he was black, nor even appeared to notice he was.

Does that sound odd? I wish it did, but we are still a long way from that being the case because it is, and always has been, “normal” to notice—and therefore react to—the colour of someone’s skin.

On becoming the editor of a magazine that focuses on Bermuda, I realised that being colour blind isn’t helpful: wishing things were a certain way doesn’t make them so. That’s why, when I interviewed the founders of the Association for Corporate Racial Equity, I felt uncomfortable. It was like imposter’s syndrome because, although it’s nice to know I’m “colour blind”, it doesn’t change anything.

It’s true of any company with a diversity strategy on paper but a lack of diversity in practice. That deficiency is stark in Bermuda, where black people make up the majority of the population, but are least well represented by the international business community. To put it bluntly: there aren’t enough black senior executives.

I learned a lot from that interview, including that “people of colour” is not an appropriate tag with which to label black Bermudians. If you read only one article in this issue, please make it: “Racial equality needs all of us”.

It all boils down to opportunity and this issue examines that word in all its metaphorical colours.

First, education. We have our annual feature on talent which this year focuses on the Association of Bermuda International Companies Education Awards.

Second, the new generation. We’ve selected seven young professionals for our Rising Stars feature. All but one of them is a Millennial. The seventh one? Generation Z.

Third, the veterans, who have turned their experience into opportunities for not merely their own companies and the re/insurance sector, but for the wider world.

I hope you enjoy our September issue.