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    Research Brief 2020

    Next Practice Creation Session: Accelerating Diversity & Inclusion Programs

    Research Brief

    A recording for this session isn't published. Below is the BPI editorial brief — key takeaways, an in-depth summary, and FAQs drawn from the original session materials and the presenter's body of work.

    Presenter

    BI

    Best Practice Institute

    Best Practice Institute

    Description

    We have reached a new frontier in talent management, one where no playbook exists and there are no proven “best practices”, only NEXT PRACTICES. Nothing has become a higher priority over the past few weeks for CEOs and Talent Leaders alike as Diversity & Inclusion. Many of the Senior Executive Board have already been leading the pace for organizations around the world in accelerating these programs and practices within their organization. As a Senior Executive Board, we are uniquely positioned to create these next practices within our organization for fighting for what we believe in and doing things differently and better than they have in the past. What is a Next Practice Session: * Create the practices as you believe they Ought To Be. If we envision them, they will become reality. * Share one thing that you would like to do differently and haven’t had the chance. * Co-create the change you envision in your company. What a Next Practice Session IS NOT: * Sharing what has already been done, or what you have been told to do. * Sharing practices that you have learned from other organizations. In this session, we will use the following discussion prompts, and then provide a shared statement to the group:

    Learning Points

    1. We have had success at accelerating our D&I programs by doing...
    2. I believe we can increase the effectiveness and success of our D&I programs by doing...

    Key Takeaways

    • 1.Effective D&I acceleration requires moving beyond foundational efforts to create more impactful and sustainable initiatives.
    • 2.Identifying and overcoming common challenges is crucial to advancing an organization's D&I maturity.
    • 3.Building a truly inclusive culture is essential for supporting and sustaining long-term diversity and inclusion goals.
    • 4.Measuring the impact and progress of D&I initiatives is critical for demonstrating value and guiding strategy.
    • 5.Aligning D&I strategy with overall business goals is key to achieving stronger organizational outcomes.
    • 6.Evolving 'next practices' in D&I offer new techniques for fostering genuine inclusion and employee engagement.

    Rethinking D&I: Moving to Next Practices

    Many organizations have foundational Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) programs, but accelerating them remains a critical imperative. This session explores the strategies required to move beyond basic efforts and create more impactful, sustainable, and truly inclusive environments. The goal is to integrate D&I into the cultural fabric of the organization to foster greater innovation, improve employee engagement, and drive better business results.

    Key Strategies for Accelerating D&I

    To move beyond performative measures, leaders must adopt a multi-faceted approach. This involves a commitment to continuous learning and adapting to address emergent needs and new best practices in the D&I landscape.

    Core Components for Acceleration:

    • Assess and Strategize: Evaluate the effectiveness of current D&I programs to identify areas for improvement and develop clear, actionable strategies that align with business goals.
    • Overcome Challenges: Learn to identify and overcome common obstacles that hinder the progress of D&I initiatives.
    • Build a Supportive Culture: Implement strategies focused on building an organizational culture that naturally supports and sustains diversity and inclusion.
    • Measure Impact: Utilize robust measurement frameworks to track the progress and demonstrate the ROI of D&I initiatives.
    • Empower People: Foster inclusive leadership at all levels and empower D&I champions throughout the organization.

    The Business Imperative for Advanced D&I

    In the face of complex global challenges and an increasingly diverse workforce, accelerating D&I programs is more crucial than ever. Organizations that prioritize and effectively implement D&I are better positioned to attract and retain top talent, enhance innovation, and improve decision-making. Moving from performative action to genuine integration is key to achieving long-term organizational success and resilience.

    Who Will Benefit from This Session

    This content is designed for HR and D&I leaders, organizational development practitioners, executives responsible for culture, and any manager seeking to foster a more inclusive team environment.

    This session explores strategies for accelerating Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) programs. It delves into how organizations can move beyond foundational D&I efforts to create more impactful, sustainable, and truly inclusive environments, which remains a critical imperative for modern workplaces to foster innovation and employee engagement.

    What you'll learn

    • Key components of effective D&I program acceleration.
    • Methods for identifying and overcoming common D&I program challenges.
    • Strategies for building a culture that supports and sustains diversity and inclusion.
    • Techniques for measuring the impact and progress of D&I initiatives.
    • Insights into evolving 'next practices' in the D&I landscape.

    Who this webinar is for

    This webinar is ideal for:

    • HR leaders and professionals.
    • D&I officers and specialists.
    • Organizational development practitioners.
    • Executives and senior leaders responsible for talent and culture.
    • Managers seeking to foster more inclusive teams.

    Why it matters now

    Accelerating D&I programs is more crucial than ever as organizations navigate complex global challenges and a diverse workforce. Companies that prioritize and effectively implement D&I initiatives are better positioned to attract and retain top talent, enhance innovation, improve decision-making, and achieve stronger business outcomes. Moving beyond performative measures to genuine integration is key to long-term success and resilience.

    How leaders can apply this

    Leaders can apply insights from this session by:

    • Assessing current D&I program effectiveness and identifying areas for improvement.
    • Developing clear, actionable D&I strategies aligned with business goals.
    • Empowering D&I champions and fostering inclusive leadership at all levels.
    • Implementing robust measurement frameworks to track D&I progress.
    • Committing to continuous learning and adaptation in D&I efforts to address emergent needs and best practices.

    About this session

    Key takeaways

    Watching this webinar gives you grounded, practical perspective on workplace culture. Expect ideas you can use in leadership conversations, not abstract theory, drawn from Best Practice Institute's direct experience.

    Who this is for

    CHROs, HR business partners, talent leaders, executive coaches, organizational development practitioners, and senior leaders who are responsible for workplace culture inside their organization.

    Why it matters now

    Workforce expectations, hybrid work patterns, and AI-driven change keep raising the bar on culture and leadership. Sessions like this help leaders make smarter, more evidence-informed decisions about workplace culture.

    How to apply it

    Use the ideas here to challenge a current assumption on your team, design a single concrete experiment in the next 30 days, and bring one finding back to your leadership group for discussion.

    Frequently asked questions

    Best Practice Institute

    Best Practice Institute is the research organization behind Most Loved Workplace® certification, the SPARK Model, the Love of Workplace Index™ (LOWI™), and The Workplace Report.

    The Workplace Report

    The Workplace Report is BPI's original workplace culture research and editorial briefing series for CEOs, CHROs, people leaders, talent leaders, and employer-brand teams. It turns BPI's 25 years of research, Most Loved Workplace® certification data, SPARK findings, and current workforce signals into practical analysis leaders can use.

    The report format includes executive summaries, research-backed articles, company examples, methodology notes, and practical implications for retention, hiring, culture, leadership, and employee experience. New research and analysis is published on an ongoing editorial cadence at /workplace-report.