I have been lucky enough to be invited to many businesses, conferences and events to share my story.
Today I want to tell you someone else’s story. At a company Employee Resource group meeting that I was speaking, the CEO took to the podium to share a story.
This CEO was a white, straight, cis man. He told us about a time when he took a job as head of sales for a medium sized company.
In an effort to understand the companies customers he would tag along in sales calls. The customer base was a perfect reflection of the American public: - women, people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, short people, tall people and even LGBTQ people. He then looked at his sales force and saw a mirror reflection of himself: - white, cis, male. The problem was apparent.
He implemented a diverse hiring policy, within a year his sales force was starting to look more like his customers. Sales increased 120% the first year, 160% the second and continued to grow. Soon enough the company was no longer a ‘medium’ sized company but a major force in its industry.
He learned the value of diversity was not just a ‘Politically Correct’ target, but a seriously economic one.
I received an email with a link that I want to share with you -
https://www.websiteplanet.com/blog/smb-guide-success-lgbtq-market-best-practices/
The research here shows that the marketplace will no longer tolerate companies ignoring diverse people, much less those that are openly hostile to us.