The CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion is trying to get more corporate boards to commit to creating diversity and inclusion strategic plans.
According to CEO Action steering committee chair Tim Ryan, they are asking corporate boards to prepare a plan that includes programs, progress metrics and accountability. The group has 650 members in more than 85 industries. Previous pledges from members focused on the implementation and expansion of education on unconscious bias, creation of a trusting workplace and sharing of unsuccessful and best practices.
The signatories to the CEO Diversity pledges include McKinsey, Morgan Stanley, Bain & Company, Vimeo, CBS, 21st Century Fox and even the presidents of academic institutions like Penn State and Georgetown University.
A survey of the signatories found that 78% of them feel that CEO Action had a positive impact on their inclusion and diversity efforts and 89% have implemented or are implementing unconscious bias education. Ryan strongly opposes the argument that the lack of diversity is caused by the lack of talented applicants. John Rogers, chairman and CEO of Ariel Investments, added that if a company’s board or management team is not diverse it means they are backward-looking and not forward thinkers. He also said his company considers diversity in choosing a company to invest in.
