2022 was another year where DEI leaders worked tirelessly to fulfill their ever-changing role. We recognize that it can be a hard, lonely position to be in — which is why we value our members so much in this community. It has been DEI Board members who have helped their peers navigate the toughest challenges in the industry.
All of their contributions this past year have been particularly outstanding. There was a range of thought-provoking conversations covering a variety of topics:
- Dr. Devin Carbado as our first guest speaker on Critical Race Theory, the Starbucks lawsuit, and DEI risk mitigation.
- Industry-specific huddles for manufacturing, talent, Canadian brands, and financial services.
- Board Chair-only conversations for those of you leading your DEI programs.
- Show & Share and How It Got Made conversations to give you a sneak peek into members’ most successful programs and campaigns — on topics such as DEI annual reporting, mergers and acquisitions, DEI analytics tools, and more.
In addition to our scheduled conversations, it was the urgent discussions to benchmark real-time happenings like mass shootings and Roe v. Wade that really proved the value of this community in times of crisis.
Our members’ input also directly helped DEI peers. They were there for each other in Fast Feedback to help answer questions and share nearly 100 documents on everything from DEI scorecards, to transgender support materials, to ERG performance metrics. Direct connections also gave our members and fellow DEI leaders an avenue to talk strategy in-depth — like when seven brands got together to discuss DEI strategy specifically focused on restaurant models, as well as diverse talent attraction and acquisition.
Overall, we’re glad our members built a community where DEI leaders can feel less alone in their role. All these conversations were directly sourced from our members. On behalf of the entire team at the DEI Board, thank you for all of your contributions. Here’s to all the great things ahead of us in 2023.
