DIVERSITY & INCLUSION ( D & I )
“ WHAT WE ’ RE TALKING ABOUT IS BRINGING THE BEST TALENT INTO AN INDUSTRY ”
WASEEM ALI CEO , ROCKBORNE
Directors of the Black United Representation Network , an organisation that seeks to empower the Black community .
In Marnard-Atem ’ s humble opinion , government oversight is not the answer – saying as much to Sustainability Magazine : “ Is this something the company itself has to implement ? I do not believe that any individual or organisation should rely on government , lawmakers , or policies when it comes to standards relating to diversity and inclusion . We all have a responsibility to hold ourselves , our communities , and the companies we represent to the highest standards in this area .”
It falls on the companies , she maintains : “ Companies should ensure that they have clear guidelines and policies that every single person working for them adheres to . They should be working hard to weave inclusivity into their culture with the goal of it becoming the norm rather than the exception .”
How can companies be trusted to do this ? The aforementioned Black United Representation Network provides an answer : this group and others like it , which focus on the economic and social empowerment of the Black community , “ are perfectly placed and equipped to help organisations embed the necessary measures around diversity and inclusion , particularly at a leadership level ”, going on to state that “ the top tables are where decisions are made that will impact the wider community of the organisation , so it is imperative that the powers that be are fully on board ”. sustainabilitymag . com 77