Diversity is not enough

by Danielle Sanders, Interim Managing Editor, Chicago Defender

In the wake of major social and political change, employers large and small are taking steps to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Despite growing pressure and awareness, progress is slow, and many corporate DE&I initiatives are not achieving results.  Keith Wyche has over 40 years of experience as a business leader working for companies like AT&T, IBM, Pitney Bowes, and Walmart. He has mentored hundreds of Black professionals and knows firsthand that representation and equity are still not where it needs to be.

Diversity is not Enough Keith Wyche Chicago Defender
Award-Winning Author and Business Leader, Keith Wyche.

In his new book, Diversity is not Enough: A Roadmap to recruit, develop and promote black leaders in America, award-winning author, Keith Wyche provides real steps for companies who are serious about DE&I.  According to a 2019 study on being Black in Corporate America, black professionals hold only 3.2% of executive and senior leadership roles and less than 1% of all Fortune 500 CEO positions.

For many Black professionals, corporate America remains a lonely place particularly if you are in upper management and senior management positions.  The pressure to “code switch”, work twice as hard for half as much, deal with microaggressions and passive-aggressive behavior from employers is forcing black professionals to re-evaluate whether corporate America is a good fit for them.

The Chicago Defender spoke with one of the 2021 Men of Excellence, Keith Wyche, about what Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion look like, why many black professionals believe their company’s DE&I efforts are failing, and why black turnover is at an all-time high.

 

Learn more about Keith Wyche by visiting his website.  His book, “Diversity is not Enough:  A Roadmap to Recruit, Develop and Promote Black Leaders in America, goes on sale mid-September at all major online book retailers.

Danielle Sanders is a writer and journalist living in Chicago. Find her on social media @DanieSanders20 and @DanieSandersOfficial.

About Post Author

Comments

From the Web

Skip to content