Inspiring Inclusion

As we approach this year's International Women's Day (IWD), the theme "Inspire Inclusion" serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of diversity and inclusion within the workplace, and for businesses in general.

Embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment is not just a moral imperative; it is also a critical business decision that can lead to enhanced innovation, better decision-making, and increased employee satisfaction.

There is plenty of evidence that highlights that diverse organizations are more effective than homogenous ones. Companies recognize that fostering inclusivity is essential to achieving success as they look towards strategic growth and resilience. Diversity is therefore a subject of focus for everyday and not only on IWD!

But what exactly do we mean when we talk about diversity, and how is that different to inclusivity?

Diversity in its many forms

It is important to take stock of the progress we have made on promoting gender diversity in businesses and in society, and to ensure we continue to set ambitious targets to promote female representation at all levels of organizations. At Natixis, and BPCE more broadly, we are proud of how far we have come on this front in our global corporate structure, with strong female participation across our brands, business lines, and our corporate board. In 2024, the senior management committee of the Global Financial Services division which I lead is perfectly balanced, made up of four women and four men of different ages and backgrounds.     

Diversity can, of course, take many forms. It can refer to our ethnicities, age, sexual orientation and many other factors. A person’s sense of individuality can be made up of many aspects of diversity – we do not fall only into these neat, well-defined categories as human beings. Some aspects of diversity are visible, others are not.

At its core, diversity is about a variety in perspectives.

The diversity of our teams brings about a diversity of viewpoints, which is so essential to business success, even more so in an international environment, like ours. We need to have different perspectives to bring about the best outcomes for the business and our clients.

Equity vs Equality

While it’s important to have that diverse mix of views among our people, even more critical is creating an environment where those voices can be heard and make a true impact. This is where the difference between equity and equality comes in.

If a company seeks to treat its employees equally, it implies that everyone has similar needs, experiences, and opportunities. However, this is only sometimes true – particularly in diverse working environments. To ensure fairness for all staff members, organizations should recognize each individual’s distinct circumstances while providing equal access to resources. This is what we mean by “equity”.

As a leader, one way we can foster inclusion is by being open about our own individual journeys and struggles, to invite teams to see that they can bring their whole selves to work. When employees feel safe enough to express themselves without being judged or overlooked, that can foster the truest sense of belonging in an organization.

Creating a more innovative workplace

Inclusion is an important concept in workplaces as it creates an environment where everyone feels valued, welcomed, respected, and heard. There are obvious benefits to employee wellbeing, but also significant advantages for businesses because ultimately, diversity fosters innovation. Organizations with diverse teams where employees feel empowered to speak up will be better able to generate new ideas, challenge the status quo and solve complex problems.

By fostering a truly diverse and inclusive workplace, we can empower our workforce to be more innovative and thus be best placed to service our clients.

The ultimate beneficiaries of our empowered and innovative workforce are our clients – this is why diversity is good for business.

Of course, achieving true diversity is not an end goal but a constant journey. That is why we have a focused and concerted effort to continue the conversation on diversity and implement policies which support this cause throughout our organization. We hope to continue #InspringInclusion in our workforce and in the industry at large across gender, as well as all other aspects of diversity for the benefit our teams, our clients, our business and society at large.