Corporate America’s recent revelations about social equity (insert shake of the head here) led to a number of people of color being asked to join corporate boards in recent years — as proven by many of the people on the 2023 ROI Influencers: People of Color list.
It was a good start. But the job is far from done.
In fact, a study released earlier this year by Institutional Shareholder Services — one of the world’s leading providers of corporate governance and responsible investment solutions — showed that those who self-identify as being a member of a racial or ethnic minority accounted for more than 20% of all board members from studies in the Russell 3000.
Those who did the study called it a watershed moment. We ask this: Are we supposed to be happy with 1 in 5?
Sure, any milestone is nice (can’t wait to get to 25%), but, in a country where people of color will be the majority in a generation — and in a state that reached majority-minority status in the 2020 census — can’t we do better?
After all, consider this: Every study ever done has shown that companies with boards with a more diverse makeup (sadly, this means anything other than a white male) are more profitable.
Fortunately for those who still don’t understand, ROI-NJ has named approximately 225 influential people of color on this year’s list. All were carefully selected — and all would make a good board member (or executive) at your company.
In fact, we challenge you to go through the list and find someone who is not worthy of your attention.
And we ask that you do this while paying attention to what is going on around you.
Recent rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court have led some to believe that diversity, equity & inclusion initiatives are no longer required — let alone needed.
That opinion couldn’t be further from the truth.
Diversity, inclusiveness, equity and — most importantly — opportunity are everything in the workplace.
Just ask your employees: The ones you are trying to attract — and ones you are working so hard to retain.
This isn’t a phase. It isn’t even the future. It is today.
