The global pandemic, the economic recession, and the “continued acts of systemic racism” that have prompted civil unrest and protest around the world have caused an alarm to be sounded, said Trisch Smith, Global Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Edelman (US), during her Capsule Keynote: Diversity & Inclusion yesterday, November 17.

“This call has caused a question to be raised: what should be done, not only in our society, but within our firms and organizations? Social movements such as #MeToo and Time’s Up have amplified the call and the emphasis on gender equality,” said Ms. Smith.

This year in particular has shone a light on racial and social injustices and inequalities, increasing the profile of campaign groups such as Black Lives Matter, which has called for attention and action to address systemic and specific instances of racial oppression.

Edelman’s own research, two Trust Barometer reports released earlier this year, focus on brands and racial justice in the United States. According to the reports, 61 percent of respondents from the general U.S. population said they want corporations to publicly speak out against systemic racism and racial injustice. When doing so, organizations are 4.5 times more likely to gain trust than lose it.

Edelman surveyed 2,000 respondents for these two studies, one during the week of August 14–21, then again after the police shooting of Jacob Blake, on August 28–31. The largest group (37%) of respondents were aged 55 and over, while 33 percent of respondents were 35 to 54 years old, and 30 percent were 18 to 24 years old.

“While we know people want brands and companies to speak out, businesses are failing horribly to act. There are huge gaps between expectation and actual performance,” Ms. Smith said. “There is a universal demand for systemic change, and it has to be led by business.”

Credible and Meaningful Actions

“Diversity, equity, and inclusion are more than just trends or buzzwords. To achieve a meaningful shift in the evolution of this work, from a check-the-box exercise to a foundational competence within yourself and your organization, we have to intentionally work to recognize and understand the world in which we live and work,” Ms. Smith explained.

While noting that every organization is different, Ms. Smith said that there are some strategic overarching imperatives for companies looking to navigate the diversity, equity, and inclusion journey.

First, organizations must understand the language being used. “I often say diversity is inviting someone to the party, inclusion is asking them to dance, and belonging is learning each other’s moves,” she said.

An additional—and essential—step for organizations is knowing where they are in the diversity, equity, and inclusion journey, and recognizing its value.

While it is commonly repeated that companies need to “walk the talk” when it comes to diversity and inclusion (D&I), the mantra stands true, said Ms. Smith.

“Credible and meaningful actions are essential. It is not just repeating company jargon or policies, or catchy messages,” she explained, adding that organizations must also talk about what they are doing in this regard.

Ms. Smith stated that D&I must be a vital part of the entire organization, becoming “woven into the inner workings of your company.”