Diversity and inclusion by design: best practices from six global companies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to share best practices for diversity and inclusion from six global companies and to make the business case for its importance. Design/methodology/approach – In-depth interviews were conducted with diversity and inclusion leaders in the USA from Volkswagen, Sodexo Health Care and Government Services, Sanofi, L'Oreal, BASF North America, and China Merchants Bank New York. Findings – Key findings related to the importance of tailoring global diversity and inclusion strategies and programs to local needs; embedding practices throughout the organization; multiplying impact through external partnerships and leveraging this as a source of innovation. Research limitations/implications – The article provides a range of diversity and inclusion best practices that can be adapted by different organizations, as multiple industries (including pharmaceuticals, banking, automotive, etc.) are included. However, the findings do not represent a comprehensive picture of all global diversity and inclusion best practices. Practical implications – The article provides a range of diversity and inclusion best practices that can be used to benchmark other organizational practices and to add new programs and initiatives for better D&I impact. Originality/value – This is a fully original paper which combines secondary research with illustrative quotes.