Session Focus: A “Fireside Chat” with Lynnette Collins exploring her efforts at Amway, plus a roundtable discussion for sharing your practices around starting and growing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts – and addressing challenges to it.
In this enlightening "Fireside Chat," Lynnette Collins, former head of DEI at Amway, shared her experiences and insights on starting and growing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts from scratch. The session, which included a roundtable discussion, offered valuable perspectives on addressing challenges and implementing effective DEI strategies.
Key Takeaways:
- Leadership Engagement is Crucial: The success of DEI initiatives heavily depends on active involvement and vulnerability from top executives. When leaders model openness to learning and acknowledge their mistakes, it creates a safe environment for others to engage in DEI work.
- Balanced Approach of Data and Empathy: Effective DEI strategies require both a strong business case (data-driven approach) and emotional engagement. Connecting DEI to personal experiences and stories helps create buy-in and sustain commitment throughout the organization.
- Creating Safe Spaces for Dialogue: Implementing structured opportunities for open, honest conversations (like Amway's "Real Talk" sessions) is vital. These spaces allow for learning, sharing experiences, and addressing uncomfortable topics in a supportive environment, which is essential for building an inclusive culture.
A powerful quote from Lynnette underscored the importance of creating an inclusive workplace:
"20% of somebody's time is an entire workday lost in a week where they can't be productive because they're trying to fit in. That's a shame because then that person's performance suffers."
This statement highlights the significant impact that lack of inclusion can have on both individual performance and overall organizational success.
The session explored various strategies employed by Amway, including focusing on talent pipeline diversity, implementing business resource groups, and engaging executives as active sponsors of DEI initiatives. Participants also shared their own experiences and practices, fostering a rich discussion on overcoming challenges and driving meaningful change in their organizations.
By emphasizing the combination of data-driven approaches and emotional engagement, this session provided attendees with practical insights for building and growing DEI efforts from the ground up, regardless of their organization's current stage in the DEI journey.
