THE D&I Roundup from COLOR – November Edition Part I

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In this issue, Flagging Racial Bias costs CDO his job, Bloomberg Law shares it’s vision for diversity in legal practice, Ana Limon talks sponsor and stakeholder investment in D&I, University of Michigan begins its search for a CDO, and we announce the 2021 All-Inclusive Award Winners.

Access your D&I news below: 


Hospital System in Houston Rescinds Job Offer to Chief Diversity Officer

Memorial Hermann Health System rescinded a job offer to Joseph B. Hill as vice president, chief equity, diversity and inclusion officer 4 days prior to his start date. After detecting racial insensitivity Hill’s lawyer allegedly was told that Hill “was not a good fit” and he was “too sensitive about race issues” according to NBC News. Hill has been a diversity executive for more than 20 years, including at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Law Firm Diversity—How It’s Going, and a Way Forward

Bloomberg Law debuted, the week of Oct. 25, its DEI Framework, a listing of law firms that meet or exceed an established threshold of diversity, equity, and inclusion in their firm. Data from this year’s submission process gives some insight into how the legal industry is doing in the DEI space. Spoiler alert … not great. Not terrible, either, but there is definitely room to grow—and we have at least one idea on a way to propel diversity initiatives forward. The short summary is that like other industries diverse recruitment is working, but leadership lags.

To Improve Diversity, Sponsors Must Have Skin in The Game

According to Ana Limon, a director of coaching at Carson Group, sponsorship is a necessary step for the financial services profession to become more diverse and inclusive to the next generation — whether new college graduates or career changers. Limon authored an op-ed in Investment News saying it’s necessary to give diverse talent exposure to the people, places, education and jobs they need to succeed. Coqual, formerly the Center for Talent Innovation, notes that sponsors are different from mentors because among the core purposes of sponsorship is to advocate for a protégé. Sponsorship is a necessary step for the financial services profession to become more diverse and inclusive to the next generation — whether new college graduates or career changers. It’s necessary to give diverse talent exposure to the people, places, education and jobs they need to succeed.

University of Michigan Searches for New CDO

The University of Michigan is presently searching for its next chief diversity officer, and is looking for community feedback before moving forward. Robert Sellers, vice provost for equity and inclusion, will step down in August, 2022.


Announcing the 2021 All-Inclusive Award Winners!

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Leadership Individual Award

Deisha Barnett  Vice President of Strategic Communications  UPS 

Leadership Organization Award

CIC Health

Change Agent Individual Award

Indhira Arrington
Global Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
Ares Management

Change Agent Organization Award

Diversity@Workplace

ERG Leader Individual Award

Edgar Gill  Senior Deputy Commissioner  California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation

ERG Leader Organization Award

Citizens Bank


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