The Role of Leadership in Advancing DEI Initiatives

Kiara Butler
2 min readApr 19, 2023
Photo by Edho Pratama on Unsplash

In today’s society, the absence of prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives can perpetuate harmful practices and create barriers for people with marginalized identities. Leaders play a critical role in setting the tone for the organization and creating a culture that values DEI. Here are 4 ways leaders can advance DEI initiatives within their organizations:

Set the Tone for the Organization

Leaders should acknowledge the importance of DEI and actively communicate this to their team.

Create an Inclusive Workplace Culture

Leaders should prioritize implementing policies and practices that promote diversity and inclusion. This can include DEI training, diversity recruitment efforts, and affinity groups.

Lead by Example

Leaders should work to model behaviors that speak to the value of DEI initiatives. This includes actively seeking out diverse perspectives, creating opportunities for diverse voices to be heard, and promoting diversity in decision-making processes.

Develop the Necessary Skills

Leaders should seek and engage in professional development opportunities to ensure they have the necessary skills to create and sustain an inclusive workplace.

At Unscripted Consult, we provide leaders with the skills and knowledge they need to sustain DEI initiatives in the workplace. Through our Anti-Racism Certification Program, leaders learn how to facilitate conversations about race and privilege and understand how to recognize and address systemic racism. Learn more about our work at: https://unscriptedconsult.com/resourcesforleaders

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Kiara Butler

CEO + Founder of Unscripted Consult | Founder of Diversity Talks | Forbes 30 Under 30 | TEDx Speaker | Author