Discover why embracing diversity and inclusion is vital in today's workplace.
Do you consider yourself a people person? Are you fascinated by different cultures? Do you respect other people’s perspectives? A career in diversity and inclusion means you’ll work with and for people. You’ll help companies and organisations provide equal opportunities and treat people fairly.
In today’s world of work, you’d be hard pressed to find an employer across the public, private or third sector without some form of Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) policy. Over and above adhering to workplace legislation, companies and organisations of all shapes and sizes, in every industry, are recognising the benefits a diverse workforce can bring. But what exactly is D&I, why is it important, and what does it have to do with you?
What is diversity and inclusion?
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the leading global professional body for HR and people development, provides the following definitions of diversity and inclusion.
“Diversity is the differences in colour, ethnicity, abilities, age, gender, beliefs, interests, socioeconomic (class), marital or partnership status, sexual orientation, geographic, academic/professional backgrounds, opinions, backgrounds, thinking, experiences and many other characteristics. Diversity recognises that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, valued, promoted and celebrated. They may include, but are not limited to, differences protected by equalities law.”
“Inclusion is the practice of including people in a way that is fair for all, values everyone’s differences, and empowers and enables each person to be themselves and achieve their full potential and thrive at work. An inclusive workplace culture is one in which everyone feels that they belong through feeling safe in being themselves, that their contribution matters, policies and practices are fair and diverse range of people are supported to work together effectively.”
Put simply, diversity creates opportunities for people with differences, while inclusion appreciates those differences, ensuring everyone feels welcomed, valued, and that they work well together.
When were diversity and inclusion practices first introduced?
The evolution of diversity and inclusion in the United States dates to the mid-60s with the call for equal rights for all and the introduction of policies including affirmative action. Here in the UK, you could argue it goes back even further to the early 1900s when the Suffragette movement protested for women’s right to vote.
From the mid-70s, a range of anti-discrimination laws were introduced in the UK, namely the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, Race Relations Act 1976, and Disability Discrimination Act 1995. These were replaced by the 2010 Equality Act which provides legal protection for nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
More recently, in 2022, the Government launched its Inclusive Britain Strategy, designed to tackle racial and ethnic disparities and ensure fairness in the UK. This followed on from its Levelling Up White Paper, which set targets to spread opportunity more equally across the UK in activities such as pay, employment, home ownership, education and wellbeing.
Why is diversity and inclusion important?
Research repeatedly proves that that bringing together people with different backgrounds, experiences, and skills fosters greater innovation and encourages more creative problem solving in the workplace. McKinsey’s Diversity Matters Even More report (2023), for example, found that diversity in leadership increased performance by 39%. In contrast, companies lacking diverse representation were more likely to be 30% lower in performance than their industry peers.
But diversity alone is not enough. To create genuine inclusion, empowerment and reap the benefits, D&I must be central to the practices, operations and strategies of a business and organisation rather than just an HR policy.
A 2020 report found that companies that have this focus and prioritise D&I are 12 times more likely to engage and retain employees, 8.4 times more likely to inspire a sense of belonging, and 8.5 times more likely to satisfy and retain customers.
What does a career in diversity and inclusion look like?
Pursuing a career in D&I, you’ll be responsible for promoting inclusive environments and practices where employees are valued for their differences and supported to achieve their full potential. You may lead on developing and monitoring policy and strategy across an organisation, helping to uncover and remedy bias, unconscious or otherwise.
Alternatively, you could be responsible for specific activities related to D&I, for instance, focusing on employee engagement and wellbeing or recruitment and talent acquisition. Similarly, you might focus on an area of expertise, such as race relations or gender equality.
You’ll find employment opportunities in every kind of business and organisation, anywhere in the world. Everything from local authorities, health or educational establishments to the criminal justice system and emergency services. You could also find work within professional bodies, community support organisations, charities, government, research institutes, and think tanks.
Typical job titles include:
- director of diversity
- diversity consultant
- diversity, inclusion, equity, and talent manager
- diversity partner
- employee experience specialist
- HR diversity manager
- inclusion analyst
- people operations manager
- support worker
How can this Global Cultures MA prepare you to lead diversity and inclusion in the workplace?
The Global Cultures MA aims to deepen your understanding of different cultures so you’ll be better placed to engage, lead and motivate individuals from diverse backgrounds. Covering issues such as race, cultural identity, and gender, you will be introduced to contemporary global cultural practices, including D&I, intercultural communication, creativity, ethical awareness, and culturally sensitive leadership.
Through course content and your learning experience, you will also develop some of the essential skills required for D&I roles. These include: communication, leadership, critical thinking, teamwork, creativity, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.
Are you ready to be a more effective global leader and team player? Understanding and promoting diversity and inclusion are among the many relevant skills you’ll learn on the part-time, online Global Cultures MA.
