Rohini Anand - Leading Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Guide for Systemic Change in Multinational Organizations

Leading Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Copyright 2022 by Rohini Anand

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First Edition

Hardcover print edition ISBN 978-1-5230-0024-1

PDF e-book ISBN 978-1-5230-0025-8

IDPF e-book ISBN 978-1-5230-0026-5

Digital audio ISBN 978-1-5230-0027-2

2021-1

Book producer and text designer: Happenstance Type-O-Rama

Cover designer: Rob Johnson, Toprotype, Inc.

For my father, who believed
in this book before I did

MAJOR UPHEAVALS CAN LEAD TO UNEXPECTED PROGRESS in the longer term. Crises give rise to drastic changes in ways of thinking and in behaviors that have the potential to spawn innovation and accelerate transformations. We have seen this historically. In 2020, for instance, the devastating consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and civil unrest in the face of racial inequality caused organizations the world over to take action: ad hoc appointments were made; commitments to policy changes were taken in order to address issues of social justice. These crises serve as a reminder that we must accelerate the pace of change in our workplace and communities and be bolder in our ambition to make them more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

This raw urgency is a prerequisite for driving deep-seated change. Societal disruptions provide a unique opportunity to anchor diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles and practices as businesses reinvent themselves and assume greater responsibility for addressing societal inequities. But how do you bring about the kind of swift and thorough cultural transformation needed to truly shift mindsets, especially in multinational organizations that exist in locations with vastly different legal, cultural, and social norms? Thats where Dr. Rohini Anand can guide us.

This comprehensive book speaks to the intricacies, complexities, and nuances of cultivating DEI in global organizations. As a leader of a company with 420,000 employees and operations in more than 60 countries, I have witnessed first-hand the essential value of a well-conceived and executed global inclusion change strategy that fully delivers on its promise. It takes significant insight, personal experience, and commitment to truly get it right, and that is precisely what Rohini brings to the conversation. Most recently, she has served as the Senior Vice President Corporate Responsibility and Global Chief Diversity Officer at Sodexo, and she is recognized as a thought leader and subject matter expert who has supported many organizations in their inclusion change efforts.

Through engaging storytelling, Rohini lays out five key principles for building an effective global DEI strategy. She addresses everything from localizing efforts and aligning them to business goals, to the necessity of leadership transformation, establishing governance, and developing metrics and accountability. Rohini has the unique ability to speak both to the head and to the heart: in explaining each core principle, she leverages research, data, field experiences, best practices, and vivid anecdotes that bring the principles to life. She enriches her own experiences with insights from other global executives.

An inclusion journey requires organizations and their leaders to go through their own transformation. Rohini sets a clear example by candidly sharing her missteps and her own journey of introspection and awareness. Intentionally highlighting multiple perspectives, the book is packed with stories, lessons, and frameworks to guide change agents in the urgent work of advancing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture in their organizations.

Rohini is a bright, passionate, and inspiring leader who quite simply makes you want to follow her. Working closely with her has been an eye-opener, and her vision has spurred my own commitment on this crucial topic. Our relationship has helped me grow. And now, she pours her unique brand of insight, tenacity, resilience, and vision into a book that can guide you as you pursue the vital work of bringing about a more equitable workplace, business, community, and society.

Regardless of where your corporation is on the journey, this must-read book will give you a solid foundation to achieve the vision of a truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization.

Sophie Bellon
Chair
Sodexos Board of Directors

I WAS EXCITED ABOUT GOING TO INDIA to launch diversity, equity, and inclusion work for Sodexo, a French global food services and facilities management company that I was employed with in the US. I was born in India, had spent my formative years there, traveled to India at least once a year, and spoke several Indian languages. In my mind, I had a good understanding of the culture.

In a small room in the Sodexo India offices in Malad, a suburb of Mumbai, I sat with twenty women who were employed in entry- to mid-level management positions. They wore brilliantly colored saris and churidar kurtas. A few wore trousers. They were all delighted to have been selected to participate and were eager to engage. I was focused on implementing initiatives to advance women since the representation of women in the Sodexo India workforce was approximately 20 percent. We had seen the success of mentoring and leadership initiatives in the US and elsewhere, and I was convinced that we needed a similar approach to broaden opportunities for women in India.

The women sat patiently and quietly waiting for me to start the conversation. After a round of introductions, I told them why I was there. I want to understand what your challenges are and how the company can help you advance in your careers, I said. And then I started giving them examples of efforts that we had successfully implemented elsewhere. I talked about the benefits of leadership development and mentoring. I was met with blank stares. I could tell that I was just not connecting with them. I tried a few Hindi phrases to break the ice and to signal I was one of them still no reaction.