Working abroad in an international inclusive company
International companies invest more and more to create a truly diverse workplace. Several studies published in the Harvard Business review have shown the potential benefits of more gender and race heterogeneity in organizations. In this article we would like to talk about our experiences as young professionals working in international companies, in particular related to how the latter are evolving towards inclusiveness.
As a member of the diversity and inclusion board for a multinational company in France, I see every day how companies are not only eager to recruit a more diverse workforce but also committed to do everything possible to make diversities more at ease in work interactions. Nevertheless, I admit that this issue is far to be considered achieved.
Different challenges are currently being addressed to make sure all these good intentions will be translated tomorrow in a truly diverse workplace.
Express the team’s full potential
Firstly, companies are training all the employees to create a culture of diversity where a more inclusive management will be applied at all organizational levels. This is achieved by collaborating with specialized international bodies, providing training and sharing best practices.
Managers are being trained to ensure they will not be biased in the recruitment process and in everyday management, thus creating a positive culture of diversity in their team. More than that, managers have the duty to empower minorities in order to enable them to be themselves at work and express their full potential.
Diversity is an asset
Secondly, companies are increasing collaborations with schools and universities to spread the message that being different in their companies is an asset. This encouragement effort has the purpose of fighting the stereotype according to which certain professions are “less welcoming” towards minority groups.
Illustrations of this include young female students doubting whether to work or study in science or people from the LGBT community who fear to face a “macho environment” when working in finance.
Talking to young students is surely an important step to ensure that the inclusive companies of tomorrow will have enough young professionals coming from minority groups ready to be employed.
Now is the moment to be brave, to follow your dreams and be ready to transform the business world from within. Let’s show that a more diverse company is a better company! DramanDo will be there to support you to be the next generation of enlightened and inclusive leaders.