Eager to accelerate #Inclusive100 adoption and progress, She Runs It has fortified its Foundation Board with a six-person Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council comprised of DEI executives from across the marketing, media, and tech industry.
The Council will evaluate and inform the priorities and decisions made by the She Runs It Foundation Board to expand industry participation in #Inclusive100, a first-of-its-kind tool that measures progress and surfaces actions proven to make workforces more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
The She Runs It Equity and Inclusion Council will be comprised of: Ronnie Dickerson Stewart, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Marketplace + Community Lead at Zoom; Jeff Marshall, SVP Head of Diversity Equity and Belonging at UM Worldwide; Renetta McCann, Chief Inclusion Experience Officer at Publicis Groupe; Michele Prota, Chief Talent Officer at Forsman & Bodenfors; Jason Smith, President, Diversified Investments at Spark Foundry; and Carol Watson, Chief Inclusion Officer at BCW.
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“One year after the industry’s response to the murder of George Floyd, we believe it’s important to evaluate the progress and promises made across our industry to ensure the momentum and energy triggered by that tragic event are not diminished,” said Lynn Branigan, President, and CEO of She Runs It.
“Reshaping the industry starts with measurement. The data, ideas and actions that have come out of #Inclusive100 have proven to create more diverse workforces and more inclusive workplaces for successful companies. There are currently 50 determined companies participating, but given the price tag and the proven outcomes, that number should be at least ten times higher,” Branigan adds.
#Inclusive100 is a free, measurement-based tool that pivots on the rigorous Inclusion Index, a standard setting corporate DE&I benchmark developed by strategic professional services firm Seramount. Participation requires three key commitments: application to the Inclusion Index and annual benchmarking report; executive presence at quarterly roundtable discussions; and implementation of company-specific initiatives.
Branigan said She Runs It has also conducted an internal assessment to measure how well it reflects and serves the rich mosaic of its member population. The Equity and Inclusion Council was created as a result of this analysis. The organization is also fielding a member survey to better understand the composition and DEI needs of its membership, and to make improvements that will advance inclusivity.
As part of the Foundation Board, the Equity and Inclusion Council will provide governance to ensure the She Runs It Opportunity Fund (which supports #Inclusive100), is optimally allocated and invested.
“Many organizations aspire to do the right thing when it comes to racial equality, but even after a demonstrated commitment to DE&I, corporations and brands tend to fall behind in terms of implementing a cross-organizational approach,” said Watson, new Council member and co-founder of the #Inclusive100 initiative. “We can’t leave the conversation after the attention dissipates or the news cycle dies down. The Council recognizes that this is a movement, not a moment. And we are united in our aim to help She Runs It support the industry in its quest for greater equity.”
