Navigating DEIB: Insights from Collabry's Journey to Inclusion
What Business Leaders Can Learn from Our DEIB Journey So Far
At Collabry, our journey toward diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) is deeply intertwined with our purpose—doing good and being good to one another. However, recognizing that it’s one thing to have the best intentions and another to have true impact, we embarked on a profound exploration of our recent DEIB survey. We viewed the survey not just as a snapshot of where we are, but also as a milestone in our ongoing evolution. By sharing our insights on the progress we’ve made—and how we plan to move forward—we aim to help illuminate a path for fellow business leaders who are navigating victories and challenges on their own DEIB journeys.
Gratifying Numbers, But Challenges Remain
The November 2023 survey was a follow-up to our May 2022 survey and was given to all of Collabry’s consultants. It was gratifying to see that Collabry’s DEIB efforts ranked as either “extremely important” or “very important” to our consultants. In addition, ratings remained high or significantly improved on key questions, including:
I feel my voice will be heard and my opinion valued.
I feel respected and valued by my colleagues and the organization.
And yet . . . six percent of respondents said they “mildly agree” (versus “agree”) with both of those questions. While “mild” agreement is by no means a failure, it does indicate that there’s room for improvement. Also, when asked if they felt they could “comfortably discuss cultural differences, ask questions, and share experiences,” a small number of respondents said they only “mildly” agreed or “didn’t know.”
“Six percent may seem like a very small number,” says Collabry’s DEIB facilitator Valencia Gibson. “But if you are one of those six percent who feels less valued or uncomfortable, this can be distressing.”
“We want to do better,” says CEO Rachel Formaro. “While it’s gratifying to know that a vast majority of responses were wholly positive and that we’re making progress on our journey, it was necessary for us to learn that there could be times—even if it’s rare—when someone doesn’t entirely feel OK being fully themselves or perhaps they feel unrecognized. Our goal is to create a place where every single person can flourish. These numbers help point the way.”