A ROUTE TO INNOVATION
LEADERSHIP
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Despite relatively uneven uptake in the APAC business community , there is still reason to be optimistic about more widespread D & I development . With younger , more open-minded leaders taking the reins of major corporations , there is a distinct sense that more APAC businesses simply want the finest talent available , regardless of a person ’ s background or lifestyle choices . Doing the opposite has been shown to reduce a company ’ s productivity and limit a country ’ s potential for economic growth : the average percentage of APAC female workers at board-level has been estimated at only 10.2 % ( the UK has 26.1 %), which the Asian Development Bank considers representative of a trend that has stymied Asia ’ s GDP per capita by as much as 30 %. Opening a company ’ s hiring pool to include as many people as possible increases the chance of finding the right talent for the job , which will serve to benefit the individual , the company and the wider community .
A ROUTE TO INNOVATION
Solid evidence of D & I ’ s value in other regions may also assist APAC
MARCH 2020