Taking stock of a company’s DEI approach

In a recent conversation with HR Leader, Kylie Fuller – the managing director of Fuller Potential – we discussed the need for companies across the country to realise that, whether they have set out to become diverse or not, they almost certainly are by now.

The conversation with Fuller came ahead of her appearance at Bold Ideas in HR, being hosted by Captivate Q, in Sydney on 15 September. To learn more about that event, click here.

Such evaluations of the success or otherwise of DEI practices, she explained, are necessary because companies “have come to realise that they are diverse, whether or not [they] intended to become so”.

“They employ people of different genders, sexualities and ages,cultural backgrounds and religions. People who are neurodivergent or living with disabilities So, the reality is that workplaces are diverse, like the customers and communities we serve. So, the question is, how do we create an environment where all our diverse employees can contribute and thrive, can feel valued, and can help us to respond to changes? Because we’re living through a time of unprecedented change,” Fuller said.

“When you think about political disruption, economic disruption, technological disruption, the rise of artificial intelligence, all of these things are changing around us, and so, right now is a moment in time when we need innovation more than ever before.”

“We need fresh ideas, we need a range of perspectives, and the best way to get a range of perspectives is to make sure that all your people feel that they belong, that their views are valued, that they can speak up and contribute.”

To this end, she said, companies “absolutely” must ensure that their DEI practices are “fit for purpose”.

“If we are seeing resistance, and we are hearing that some people are finding it difficult to buy into the concept of DEI, it’s really important that we listen to that, because we don’t want a paradigm where only people from underrepresented or marginalised groups are buying into this,” she said.

“DEI has always been reliant on allies so it's a good time to think about our language, think about whether we have been approaching this in an inclusive way that encourages people to be allies. The next iteration is very much about making sure that all voices are heard.”

Australia, Fuller observed, has a “completely different context” to that of the United States, where there is significant pushback against DEI, being led by the Trump Administration. Down Under, we have ASX corporate governance guidelines, a Workplace Gender Equality Agency, and a suite of anti-discrimination laws.

However, she added, “I think what the media coverage of the American context has done is emboldened people who don’t agree with DEI.”

“So, there’s certainly a segment of Australia, people who have felt frustrated with DEI or excluded from the conversation, or even somewhat threatened, saying that this evolution of DEI may have taken away opportunities for themselves in their careers,” she said.

“The US changes have emboldened some people who have been against DEI to be a little more overt and open about that.”

When asked how optimistic she is that Australian companies will be able to have constructive and meaningful conversations about what the future of DEI should look like, Fuller responded: “I’m very confident and optimistic that we are mature enough in Australia to have productive conversations.”

“I think that it is important that we listen to a range of perspectives and that we make sure that we’re not just defending the way things have always been done. It’s fine to acknowledge that there have been some mistakes along the way that, in our efforts to include and listen to marginalised groups, there may have been times when we haven’t included and listened enough to people in majority groups, which is where some of the resistance is now coming from.”

“So, I do think it’s an important inflection point, and I am very optimistic that the conversation can be more productive and more inclusive moving forward.”

Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of Momentum Media’s professional services suite, encompassing Lawyers Weekly, HR Leader, Accountants Daily, and Accounting Times. He has worked as a journalist and podcast host at Momentum Media since February 2018. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.