DIVERSITY , EQUITY AND INCLUSION
DIVERSITY , EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Business Leans in on DEI , Policies And Approaches Evolve
By Diane Walsh Editor , COMMERCE
Aon , one of the world ’ s leading consulting firms , embraces diversity among its workers , believing diverse and inclusive teams create better insights and solutions , deliver the best outcomes to clients and ensure longterm success . Hackensack Meridian Health , the largest integrated health network in New Jersey , is committed to diversity , equity and inclusion also as a strategic priority to achieve its goal of transforming health care and becoming a leader for positive change . “ Should be New Jersey is one of the most diverse states in the country . It is important to us that our workforce , our leaders and our board reflects the communities that we serve ,” said Dr . Avonia Richardson-Miller , a senior vice president at the network and chief diversity officer .
Peter Webster , resident managing director of Aon ’ s risk and health division in New Jersey , is also very proud of his company ’ s commitment . It can be seen at all levels , he said , starting with the board of director ’ s Inclusion and Diversity Subcommittee and encompasses the Global Inclusive Leadership Council .
“ Every colleague is encouraged and empowered to bring their full and authentic self to work every day ,” Webster said . Aon expanded the culture to reach beyond its wall over the past few years to support and encourage diverse-owned companies . CEO Greg Case and Michael Benvenuto , chief procurement officer , documented the stance by signing the Commitment Statement for Supplier Diversity . It pledges Aon to engage with small and diverse businesses to support its clients ’ needs .
Webster explained that every time Aon seeks bids or requests proposals there must be at least one minority-owned business participating . He said “ intentional programs such as this led to an increase in diverse spending to over 6 percent in the United State in 2022 .”
The advances that Aon , Hackensack Meridian and others have achieved exhilarates Lucy Sorrentini , the founder and CEO of Impact Consulting LLC , whose career has been devoted to diversity and fairness . Impact Consulting is a boutique talent and consulting business with offices in New York and Wayne .
Corporate concern for diversity has been prevalent for many years . But since the horrific 2020 murder of George Floyd in police custody and the social unrest it stirred , the demand for diversity , equity and inclusion services burgeoned dramatically . Richardson-Miller said in the three months immediately following the killing there was a 153 percent increase in diversity , equity and inclusion , which is often abbreviated as DEI . Sorrentini had to scale up her operation because so many corporations wanted to deepen their commitment .
As she recalled : “ Companies and CEOs in particular , want it to be known that they ’ re really making a conscious effort to lean in and step up and say no , we don ’ t support this and no , we don ’ t do this . We ’ re taking a position . DEI matters . There ’ s no space for hate crimes . There ’ s no space for discriminatory action .”
Impact Consulting ’ s clients range from small family-held businesses to Fortune 500 corporations from across the country , giving Sorrentini a rare perspective . She said many company leaders reached out to community leaders and workers to foster dialogue about DEI . “ And just as importantly , they started to allocate funds , to programs and projects that would help level the planning field to create opportunities for under-represented populations . For example , to help fund internal workshops and working groups and training around unconscious bias or inclusive leadership ,” she said .
In the last year , however , Sorrentini has detected a change in business ’ approach to DEI . She traces the change in large part to the June 2023 U . S . Supreme Court ruling which upended affirmative action by finding race could no longer be considered a factor in university admission decisions . Many businesses are also reacting to new laws some states enacted making certain behaviors and policies a criminal offense .
Richardson-Miller said a study by SHRM , an international association of human resource
Peter Webster , resident managing director of risk and health division in New Jersey , Aon
Lucy Sorrentini , founder and CEO of Impact Consulting LLC
Dr . Avonia Richardson-Miller , senior vice president and chief diversity officer , Hackensack Meridian Health
February , 2024 COMMERCE 17