Why is DEI Important? feat. Dr. Stephanie Leonard

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has become a major buzzword in the workplace. It intends to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in the office, but how to make it successful depends on several factors. 

According to a recent Pew Research Center study, 56% say having DEI in the workplace is a good thing. But to make sure a workplace DEI program makes people feel diverse, equal, and included takes a lot more than just checking off some boxes. 

Our guest today is Dr. Stephanie R. Leonard. She is an Assistant Professor of Management in the School of Business at Howard University. Her research focuses on diversity and inclusion phenomena such as organizational rationales for diversity, antecedents for inclusive climates, race-based trauma implications for workplaces, and micro-generational differences. In addition to academia, she has experience working in Human Resources.

In this episode, Dr. Leonard and host Monica Lewis cover the importance and benefits of DEI, exploring both surface-level and deep-level diversity dimensions, and the moral and business cases for DEI. Dr. Leonard provides insights into the challenges and strategies for implementing DEI programs, highlighting the necessity of an inclusive environment for leveraging the full benefits of diversity. We’ll also touch on common obstacles, the current adolescent phase of incorporating DEI into the workplace, and practical advice for individuals and organizations to advocate for and foster DEI. 

From HU2U is a production of Howard University and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

How can a workplace still offer a DEI friendly environment, even if the actual number of diverse individuals is low?

15:20: Why should we care about diversity and inclusion if there aren't too many diverse employees here? For me, we still need to celebrate deep-level diversity. These are the dimensions that we cannot see: our differences in personalities, our differences in values, and our different religions. And celebrate what you can celebrate. For instance, if there is a flexible work schedule program that's working well because women are allowed to, there's childcare or things like that. Celebrate that because it's going well. And I also think it's important to plan for the arrival of your diverse employees. You may not have them now, but you still have to plan for them to come.

Treating DEI as an investment in the workplace

36:51: That's how you have to treat diversity and inclusion: this is an investment. If we fail, we're going to assess what went wrong, and we're going to get back on the saddle and try it again until we get it right. And that's what you do when it's important to you, when it's at the core of your vision for the company.

Neglecting diversity crisis management can lead to a downfall of an organization 

19:32: Diversity crisis management: people don't know how to handle a diversity crisis. We know how to handle all kinds of crises, but when it comes to diversity crises, it takes companies weeks to come back and present to the public what is going to be done. And it's just unacceptable. And so all of those things will lead to a downfall and a failure for the organization.

Guest Profile:

• Stephanie Leonard | Howard Profiles