TED Talks Daily Why corporate diversity programs fail — and how small tweaks can have big impact | Joan C. Williams
Apr 15, 2021
Joan C. Williams, a legal scholar and DEI expert, dives deep into the pitfalls of corporate diversity and inclusion initiatives. She critiques the superficial measures that often fail against systemic biases. By identifying five common patterns of workplace bias, Joan highlights specific challenges faced by women and people of color. She suggests actionable strategies and 'bias interrupters' to refine hiring and evaluation practices, proving that small changes can lead to significant impacts in fostering inclusivity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Starbucks Incident
- Two Black men waited for a business associate at Starbucks and asked to use the restroom.
- When the manager called the police after they refused to leave, Starbucks held diversity training.
Ineffective Diversity Tools
- Companies invest heavily in diversity programs but often use ineffective tools.
- One-shot bias training and employee resource groups do not address systemic issues within business systems.
Evidence-Based Approach
- Tackle diversity issues with evidence and metrics, just like other business problems.
- This data-driven approach is often more comfortable for CEOs than emotional conversations.