Partnering for Diversity & Inclusion
As I enthusiastically stepped into the role of chair of the Vorys Diversity & Inclusion Committee, my motto for this
important work over the past year has been “Reflect. Connect. Respect.”
• Reflect: No progress can be made without honest reflection. We have spent significant time, particularly in the
last 18 months, taking a very close look at our diversity and inclusion efforts across the firm — where we are
now, where we want to be, and our path forward. This reflection revealed significant successes, as well as areas
where we need to (and want to) do better. We are absolutely committed to doing better.
• Connect: By connecting with others, we often realize that our commonalities greatly outweigh our differences.
We continue to create meaningful opportunities for our people to connect with each other, our clients, and
within our communities. We are also consistently connecting with and seeking input from our lawyers, staff,
clients and industry stakeholders so that we can continue to be guided by an intentional, authentic, and evolving
action plan to advance our diversity and inclusion goals.
• Respect: We respect and highly-value the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of all of our people, and our firm is better,
stronger, and more effective when we draw on them. We remain fully engaged in candid conversations, both internally and externally, to
obtain feedback, generate ideas, and promote best practices, all of which is done to elevate the firm’s diversity and inclusion efforts and,
ultimately, elevate the everyday experiences of all of our people and our clients.
Importantly, throughout this process, we have embraced the wisdom and prudence of asking for help and learning from others. Many of
our most successful and impactful initiatives have been those in partnership with our clients and community organizations. To our clients
and community partners, we sincerely thank you for supporting our efforts. Together, we have made some very meaningful progress — and,
together, we will continue to make meaningful progress in the years to come. The collective impact of the firm’s renewed commitment to, and
collaborations on, diversity and inclusion is both tangible and inspiring.
For those who know me, diversity and inclusion are near and dear to my heart. I’m immensely gratified, both professionally and personally, that
we are not simply talking about diversity and inclusion – we are taking action. Please join me in celebrating our successes over the past year and
all the good work yet to be done at our firm.
Jolie Havens, Partner and Chair of the Vorys Diversity & Inclusion Committee
3