PBN summit: Diversity, inclusion go far beyond hiring practices

SIX ORGANIZATIONS and one individual were honored at the PBN Diversity & Inclusion Summit & Awards Program in Warwick on Thursday. The program included a panel discussion on diversity and inclusion in the workplace. / PBN PHOTO/PAMELA BHATIA
SIX ORGANIZATIONS and one individual were honored at the PBN Diversity & Inclusion Summit & Awards Program in Warwick on Thursday. The program included a panel discussion on diversity and inclusion in the workplace. / PBN PHOTO/PAMELA BHATIA

WARWICK – In the business world, diversity and inclusion mean more than simply hiring more people of color and women. It’s about creating pathways to success for everyone and, perhaps most importantly, giving all employees a sense of belonging.

Panelists discussed the growing import of diversity and inclusion Thursday morning at the Providence Business News Diversity & Inclusion Summit and Awards at the Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick hotel Thursday morning.

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The panelists consisted of Guillaume Bagal, lead diversity and inclusion consultant for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island; Nirva LaFortune, Providence City Council member and assistant director of scholars programs and university initiatives at Brown University; Kim Lee, vice president of diversity and inclusion at IGT Inc.; and Marianne Monte, chief people officer at Shawmut Design and Construction.

“Diversity means you are invited to the party,” said Lee. “We want employees to be able to bring their best self, without judgment.”

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Panelists agreed that diversity has to mean more than lip service from the human resources departments and an hourlong “check the box” training program. There needs to be commitment at the institutional level, with infrastructure in place to ensure that, for example, there are career pathways in place for women and minorities.

As a practical matter, panelists agreed, management needs to be aware that incorporating diversity and inclusion into a corporate culture is both good for business and the right thing to do.

An audience member asked what happens if there is resistance from management to supporting diversity initiatives.

“It can be very difficult for you as an employee without leadership support,” Lee said.

She said it’s important to find out whether upper-level resistance is due to a failure to understand the importance of inclusion, or whether there is more active resistance. If it’s the latter, she said, perhaps it is time to reexamine the values of the company.

Of course, sometimes the little things can make a difference. Bagal said the Christmas display at Blue Cross & Blue Shield showed the three kings visiting the baby Jesus. All the kings were white.

But according to legend, one of the three kings, Balthazar, was black. Someone at BSCBS pointed that out, and the display was quickly changed.

Following the summit, PBN presented this year’s Diversity & Inclusion Award winners. This year’s recipients are:

Education — Roger Williams University, accepted by Dr. Zoila Quezada, director of international diversity, equity & inclusion, and Lorraine Lalli, dean of students at RWU School of Law.

Financial Services — Fidelity Investments, accepted by platform specialist Tiffany Williams, Associate Analyst Meaghan Bishop and Research Analyst Ed Paik.

Health Care — CVS Health, accepted by Senior Analyst for Strategic Diversity Management Joni Bouley.

Insurance — MetLife Auto & Home, accepted by VP for Business & Product Enablement Rachel Downing.

Legal Services — Nixon Peabody, accepted by Managing Partner Andrew Prescott.

Social Services — Amos House, accepted by President and CEO Eileen Hayes.

Finally, PBN’s Diversity Champion Award went to Linda Holmes Newton. An employee of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island for more than 30 years, she went on to found Diversity and Inclusion Professionals, which seeks to advance equity and inclusion as critical elements for business and community success.

“It’s surreal to be recognized as a Diversity Champion when there is so much work still left to do,” Newton said in her acceptance remarks.

She closed with a favorite quote, although she couldn’t remember who said it first: “If you don’t intentionally include, you unintentionally exclude.”

Andy Smith is a PBN contributing writer.

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