Communicating and Advancing Core Values: On Inclusive Cultures in the Face of Polarization

Articulated values are important to an organization’s identity in terms of why it serves the public in the manner it does and the employees and customers it attracts. Research has demonstrated that when organizations articulate how their values are tied to environment, social, and governance (ESG) goals and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) priorities they are better positioned to attract and retain top talent and loyal customers from diverse backgrounds. As political divisiveness and polarization have seen a marked uptick in several countries across the globe, we witnessed organizations with global footprints shrink away from articulating and owning their core values’ linkages to ESG and DEI-related issues that may be seen as political.

Given the continued contested and divisive politics we are witnessing globally, it is likely that the challenge of knowing how to best address politics in any office, whether at a business, non-profit, school, or university setting, will persist.

Join us as we explore why the current divisive political climate has seen organizations across the globe shy away from publicly articulating how their values are aligned with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). We will discuss the long-term challenges that this stance poses for organizations. We will also offer recommendations on what organizations should do instead to effectively communicate and leverage the linkages between their core values, DEI priorities, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, and attracting and retaining top talent and loyal customers.