RISING STARS
A growing number of retailers are creating roles , and in some cases entire departments are dedicated to diversity and inclusion , as they start to recognise their power to address social inequality through procurement , marketing , employment and other initiatives .
At Kmart Group , this is the domain of Marcelle Harrison . Described as “ a true champion ” of the company ’ s culture , values and team members , Marcelle is responsible for developing and delivering the diversity and inclusion strategy across Kmart , Target and Kmart Group Asia .
Since taking on the role four years ago , she has achieved incredible results across each of the retailer ’ s diversity and inclusion pillars , including First Nations employment and engagement , gender balance in leadership , employment of people with a disability and accessibility , and LGBTQIA + inclusion .
For instance , after it was recognised that female line managers were not progressing into more senior store operations roles at the same rate as their male counterparts , Marcelle and her team continued to build on the existing work of her predecessors , with the percentage of female store managers at Kmart Group lifting from 33 per cent in
Marcelle Harrison
Head of diversity and inclusion Kmart Group
2016 to more than 47 per cent in 2023 . She has also made improvements around accessibility for team members and customers with disabilities , including the introduction of quiet hours , sensory maps and wheelchair accessible selfservice registers , which are about to launch in stores .
And she has taken steps to make Kmart Group a more culturally safe business through the growth of its ‘ deadly ’ store network – which now includes 85 Kmart stores and 46 K hub stores – and the expansion of its cultural confidence programs , facilitated by highly regarded Indigenous consultant John Briggs .
Located in areas with high populations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples , the ‘ deadly ’ stores work with local community partners to encourage long-term and meaningful employment opportunities . Under Marcelle ’ s leadership , the percentage of First Nations team members with meaningful employment in the company has increased from 1.8 per cent to 4.5 per cent , far exceeding the original target of 3 per cent .
While her list of professional achievements is long , it ’ s the “ little moments ” that Marcelle is most proud of when she reflects on her career so far .
“[ For instance ] when I am at a BBQ and hear from a parent of a child with a disability about how their first job at Kmart or Target had a significant impact on their life , or when I meet someone for the first time and hear about how an initiative the team has led has had a personal impact for someone ,” she said .
Having experienced a tough situation in her own life , Marcelle knows first-hand how important a flexible and supportive work environment can be .
“ It was in 2016 that I left a relationship where I experienced domestic violence ,” she said . “ At the time , I felt so much shame trying to explain what was happening in my life to people [ including ] my childcare , work , family and closest friends , and I don ’ t think anyone ever got the full story .”
The fact that she is now able to play a role in removing the barriers she experienced – both socially and professionally – for others , is particularly meaningful to her .
“ This is what drives me in my role , drives me to be an inclusive leader , and drives me to treat everyone as human , with their own unique story and experiences ,” Marcelle said . “ You never know what ’ s happening for someone outside of the workplace , which is something so important to remember .”
May 2023 www . insideretail . com . au | 59