Racial Justice and Diversity in Business Require Leadership
Consumers demand evidence that the men and women running major corporations will make the world a better place for people of all backgrounds.
Originally published on USA Today
By Teresa White
George Floyd’s death a year ago filled the streets with protesters, prompted new legislation and caused a nation to think about uncomfortable things. But it also thrust major corporations into the spotlight of societal examination, driving even the most reluctant business brands from the precarious perch of “observer” to an inescapable role of “initiator.”
Not that all business leaders are new to the role. I’ll never forget the gasps at a meeting 10 years ago (long before Black Lives Matter was a hashtag) where executives of a recently acquired company were introduced to Aflac CEO Dan Amos, their new boss. Only 5% of their management team was African American. Dan smiled, said hello, and then set the tone for the new regime saying, “Well, this is a mighty white group.” Needless to say, the racial composition of that Aflac unit is far more representative today.
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