Various experts say that diversity is the key to many, if not all, goals we set on a daily level. They’ll claim that work is essential, but so is rest; that you should look at both the screen and the sunset; eat what you prefer, but diversely. When searching for creativity, we should choose different paths to the desired goal – and get a new and utterly unexpected idea in perceiving our surroundings.
Diversity as a concept permeates almost every aspect of life and work, and it’s typically referred to as something beneficial to success in any domain. But why is this the case?
If we observe business concepts and their models, we may notice that collaboration, teamwork, creativity, and a certain X-factor are especially important. These features help us reach the right idea, the perfect product, and, eventually, the loyal customer. The entire process, from the beginning to the end, includes a series of steps that we commonly don’t take alone. On the contrary.
Importance of Diversity and Why Is Everyone Talking About It?
Great things don’t happen in our comfort zone or in perfect little bubbles. Grand ideas, explosions of creativity, and innovative solutions come up when we keep all our windows and doors wide open, and all those different minds sit at the same table.
Diversity in education, knowledge, experience, life opportunities and world views are the key to unlocking a colorful palette of solutions. It’s also an excellent pole position for potential issues and challenges. If everyone within one team has the same knowledge, skills, world views, and prejudice, we’ll inevitably come to the same conclusions. Diversity is the only way to dodge this trap.
Numerous studies on diversity and inclusion have been conducted in the last ten years. Many show that companies in which diversity is nurtured as a substantial value have significantly increased customer and employee satisfaction, profit surge, and, naturally, more innovative solutions. As the global population is moving more than ever, diversity has become vital in most companies. The World Economic Forum has announced that some of the most successful global business centers, such as Dubai, New York, London, and Singapore, have one characteristic in common – they all boast a high level of diversity.
Why Is the Absence of Diversity Alarming?
There are many examples of how diversity is beneficial in the IT industry. For instance, a solution being developed by a homogenous team will be designed for and aligned with their particular knowledge, experiences, and needs. Let’s imagine, for example, a solution being developed by a team of experienced white Swedes for, say, the Indian market. This very concept may function perfectly in one context, only to end in a complete fiasco in a different market.
Let’s think about a menstruation or pregnancy app developed solely by a team of men. Formal education and expertise in this domain might be as impeccable as it gets, but if such a project doesn’t include women – everything might be in vain.
Contrarily, companies that nurture and advocate diversity only on paper – or not even there – will inevitably experience issues such as stagnation, status quo, and eventually come to self-destruction. If a company is homogeneous, with people of the same ‘kind,’ the conclusions, concepts, and solutions will inexorably be the same. You’ll agree that this is not where revolutionary things thrive.
Revolution, development, and success thrive in different minds, ideas, and world views, gathered in the same place with the same goal. As the generators of common success, they need to be seen and respected equally. The same salaries must be provided to everyone doing the same job with equal productivity – regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, capabilities, sexual orientation, education, age, or different background altogether.
Lack of Diversity in Numbers
Even though diversity yields countless benefits for business, there are still many issues in society and the business world alike. For instance, if we look at the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, we can see that only 4.1% are women (Business Harvard Review), and just 4 CEOs are from the LGBTQIA+ population (McKinsey & Company). Also, 13% of transgender persons lose their jobs because of their gender identity, and 77% are still cautious with their status to avoid workplace harassment, including hiding, transition postponement, or quitting a job (National Center for Transgender Equality). Although 8 out of 10 men feel comfortable expressing an opposing opinion at work, only 2/3 of women think they can do it without facing certain consequences (CultureAmp).
In terms of the decision-making process within organizations, 70% of men say that they’re satisfied with the procedure within their company, but only 40% of women feel the same (CultureAmp). It’s essential to highlight that no matter if the employment manager is male or female, the possibility that they’ll hire a male candidate is twice as big (PNAS). African American candidates are 50% less likely to receive a response to their job application if they have names that sound “black,” even when their qualifications are entirely the same as those of Caucasian candidates (National Bureau of Economic Research)
Diversity and inclusion in the workplace (and every other) are essential to cut prejudice (we all have them, and we hardly overcome them on our own). Such work environments give employees a chance to feel the differences in a positive and safe environment, to accept them just like they need to be perceived – as something ordinary, even desirable.
BrightMarbles Standing Behind Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
For all the above, at BrightMarbles, we respect diversity, inclusion, equal opportunities, and justice for all. We invest equally in all our employees and give them the same opportunities. We’re deeply convinced that there should be no borders, nations, or any other obstacles. We fight prejudice by discussing taboos and letting people notice the specific uniqueness and individuality of every single teammate or client, enabling them to broaden their horizons. At BrightMarbles, it’s of utmost importance that everyone feels accepted, and no one’s afraid at work; that we fight to hear the voice of the silent ones and lend a hand to those who want to get out of their little bubbles, their comfort zones, and their closets. Our central policy is a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of discrimination.
Our supreme goal is a better world where companies develop and progress freely. Let’s all work on it every single day – let’s educate, promote solidarity, equality, and justice in practice in everything we do.