Free Newsletter
Listen to this articleIn this issue, Black Lives Matter takes center stage as a major force behind the new wave of D&I officers. Even so, D&I has a ways to go; learn more about the challenges faced by CDOs. Don’t miss the latest inclusion news from Biden’s administration, NBCUniversal, or Amazon’s (former) D&I lead.
Black Lives Matter Ushers in New Era for Diversity Officers
As reported in the Financial Times on Jan. 26, data published by Glassdoor points to an increase in diversity priorities. In the first half of 2020, diversity and inclusion-related job openings slumped. One month after George Floyd’s killing the number of positions listed increased 55% from their low; by the end of November, the increase was 245%, with nearly 1,500 openings way above pre-coronavirus levels.
Black Introvert Week, 2/8 – 2/15
HushLoudly Introduces Black Introvert Week
To celebrate Black Introverts during Black History Month HushLoudly, the podcast and brand dedicated to redefining society’s misperception of introverts has announced February 8 – 15 as Black Introvert Week. On Tuesday, February 9th, HushLoudly founder Jeri Bingham will host and moderate the “Black First, Introverted Second” Panel discussion with thought leaders Kenny Anderson, Keni Dominguez, Darrious Hilmon, and Christina Steed. Register to learn how they navigate through the misperceptions and misunderstandings to lead successfully.
WILMINGTON, DE – SEPTEMBER 24: Democratic candidate for president, former Vice President Joe Biden makes remarks about the DNI Whistleblower Report as well as (former) President Trump’s then-ongoing abuse of power at the Hotel DuPont on September 24, 2019 in Wilmington, Delaware. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)
President Biden’s early executive actions reflect an unprecedented effort by a presidential administration to address diversity and equity comprehensively. Some examples are orders that:
- Prevent and Combat Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation
- Advance Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government
Source: Getty Images
Chief Diversity Officer Shouldn’t Be Dead-End Job
Denise Hamilton, CEO of WatchHerWork writes that without the resources to fulfill their goals and too often siloed away from the company’s business strategy, diversity leaders often hit a dead end.
- Ensure that D&I is central to the overall business strategy
- Have the CDO report directly to the CEO and board chairman rather than to the CHRO
- Every unit should have part of its budget dedicated to D&I efforts
- Assure diversity leaders get to share the credit for corporate successes
- When it’s time to hire a new CEO, be sure to consider the CDO for the top spot
Elizabeth Nieto at Amazon’s Global Diversity Equity and Inclusion Summit in January 2020. (Source: Amazon Photo)
Amazon’s Diversity and Inclusion Leader, Elizabeth Nieto, Leaving For Job At Spotify
Elizabeth Nieto, the leader of Amazon’s Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team, is leaving the Seattle tech giant unexpectedly for a new job at Spotify, it was reported Jan. 29. Nieto, who joined Amazon in April 2019, previously worked as a human resources and DEI leader at MetLife for almost seven years, and Citigroup for nearly 20 years.