Development, Implementation + Measurement of DEI Strategy

In the third session of the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Beginning Your Inclusion Journey series, Sanjita Pradhan, director of diversity and inclusion at The Partnership, spoke about building a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategy, outlining different steps in the process, including:

Step 1: Leadership Commitment
Step 2: Finding the Business Case
Step 3: Assessment and Diagnosis
Step 4: Designing Your DEI Strategy

Leadership Commitment

Pradhan shared about the importance of finding your ‘why’ and communicating with your employees, leaders and stakeholders. She gave 10 tips for leaders that included staying involved, supporting employees through DEI resources and initiatives and building authentic relationships with those who are different from you.

Finding the Business Case

Pradhan advised businesses to think about and ensure that they are serving all populations or communities. Think about how you can build relationships and change language to increase connection and whether there are untapped markets that you should be reaching out to or selling to. Whose money are you leaving on the table?

Assessment + Diagnosis

Leadership must assess who is missing from being represented within their organizations. By collecting information through listening sessions, focus groups and more, you’ll find out what employees are feeling so they can contribute to their full potential, increasing innovation and productivity.

Designing Your DEI Strategy

Once you’ve completed the steps above, you can build a DEI committee and/or hire a consultant to build out your strategy with your committee. This should include creating a diversity statement to formalize your intention and make your organization accountable to internal and external stakeholders with whom you share the statement.

Pradhan also discussed workplace and marketplace strategies, as well as community.

Watch the first Beginning Your DEI Journey sessions here and here. Don’t miss the Inclusion Summit coming up on Wednesday, November 10. Other upcoming inclusion events will be held Tuesday, Oct. 12 (Building a Disability Inclusive Workplace) and Wednesday, Oct. 13. (Experiential Learning, Disability Inclusion).

Watch the entire webinar below:

Greater Des Moines (DSM) welcomes diverse talent to the region. As one of the fastest growing business communities, inclusion and attracting diverse talent in the workplace is a key strategy of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Learn more here.

Greater Des Moines Partnership

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the largest regional business, economic development and talent development organization in Iowa and the second-largest regional chamber of commerce in the country, serving 12 counties in Greater Des Moines: Adair, Clarke, Dallas, Guthrie, Jasper, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek and Warren. Together with more than 400 Investors and an Affiliate Chamber of Commerce network of more than 7,200 Regional Business Members, The Partnership helps businesses grow and advances quality of life in Greater Des Moines with one voice, one mission and as one region, contributing to a vibrant regional economy. 