A day in the life of a D&I specialist
A day in the life of Paul Deemer, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at NHS Employers
Creating an environment where difference is embraced and individuals flourish
Diversity and inclusion is about creating inclusive environments and practices where employees can be themselves, are valued for their differences, and be supported to work at their best.
We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual – whether employees, customers or clients. Harnessing these differences creates a productive environment in which everybody feels valued, their talents are fully utilised, and organisational and personal goals are met.
Done brilliantly, diversity and inclusion goes beyond the basic legislative and compliance requirements; it's about creating an environment where difference is embraced and individuals can flourish.
Diversity and inclusion (or D&I) specialists are key influencers in the organisation, often working with senior leaders to gain their commitment to initiatives which create long-term value for organisations. When delivered in an integrated way, diversity creates value to both organisations and wider society. Being able to evidence this value is key to gaining buy-in from stakeholders.
At high speed rail network HS2, Mark Lomas is making inclusion integral to every single part of the business model – and he hopes initiatives such as blind recruitment and reverse mentoring will kickstart a revolution.
Here are some of the activities you can expect to be involved in as a diversity and inclusion specialist:
A day in the life of Paul Deemer, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at NHS Employers
A day in the life of Michelle Mendelsson, Head of Diversity and Inclusion EMEA at Credit Suisse International
Here is a shortlist of the types of job titles you might find in diversity and inclusion. As you can see, diversity and inclusion specialists are at all levels of experience and seniority:
Each diversity and inclusion standard progresses through four levels of impact. Which level do you most embody in your day-to-day work?
Learn how to promote equal opportunities and manage diversity and inclusion in the workplace by exploring our Knowledge hub resources.
Explore the twelve career areas within the people profession, and the typical activities you may find yourself doing
Information and guidance to help you excel in your role, transition into the profession, and manage a career break