2020 was a turning point for many organisations. Society demanded that more investment in and accountability around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) became a top priority for organisations – on the whole we have seen a positive response, with organisations moving from simply ticking a box and empty gestures to action-focused and authentic DEI practices. Whilst more and more organisations are making commitments and participating in DEI discourse, there is so much more that needs to change.  

Imagine you’ve been invited to a party. No one talks to you, you don’t get asked to dance and you find out you were only invited to fill out numbers. This is a far too common experience for diverse talent.

‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ is an adage that resonates with me on a personal level. As a visual learner, and someone who is dyslexic and dyspraxic, I navigate many things through imagery and visuals. Photography plays an important role in how we perceive the world around us. The media has used photography to influence and portray what is considered ‘normal’, defining what representation should be. On the whole, we see visually appealing, white, (binary) gendered people, but is this really representing the world we live and work in? For me, this is where many campaigns and brand identities fall short – the ‘thousand words’ their photography screams are that of tokenism and misrepresentation. Their choice of photography often feels like a tick-box exercise.

Whilst it’s true that we hear about diversity, equity and inclusion often, do organisations really understand what these terms mean? These words are often interchangeable with many different variations. That’s fine, but only if organisations can clearly express what each term means to them with clear communicated definitions. It’s great to start off with the fundamental meaning of each term but they need to be explored further with leadership teams and employees to make them unique to their organisation.

DEI isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution; it’s personal to you and your organization.

Creating an inclusive and diverse business culture was vital before the pandemic, but has become urgent for success in a post-Covid world, according to a new study on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) conducted by Forty1, the employee experience division of The Creative Engagement Group (TCEG).