Enric Serradell: “Diversity provides competitive advantages to organizations”

This past Friday, May 26, 2023, the first Equity Labs cycle was held, a few days of debate, reflection, innovation and exchange of good practices on equity and business.

Enric Serradell López, principal investigator of the Management & eLearning (MeL) research group, was one of the speakers at the event, together with Inés Arana, HRBP of the Nestlé IT HUB, and Bel Ramos, psychologist and director of the Randstad Foundation in Catalonia and Basque Country. The event was organized by Anna Delclòs, Director of Philanthropy and Strategic Alliances at the UOC.

About the presentation

Below we leave you with some of the key points from Dr. Enric Serradell, who emphasized the importance of addressing this issue and pointed out how companies can benefit by promoting an inclusive and diverse environment.

Enric Serradell gave a presentation on the use of powerful questions in diversity management. These questions, which encourage reflection, debate and problem-solving, play a fundamental role in building an inclusive environment. By posing questions that challenge preconceived notions and promote open-mindedness, companies can strengthen their credibility and open new perspectives for growth and innovation.

Competitive advantages

Serradell noted that the evidence presented supports the notion that companies with 25% or more diversity in their teams have better financial results. Diversity, in terms of gender, ethnicity, age and cultural background, among other aspects, fosters creativity, more informed decision making and problem solving from different perspectives. Good diversity management practices not only increase production and efficiency, but also generate advantages in all areas of organizations.

He pointed out that cultural diversity not only enriches the organization internally, but also provides the opportunity to attract new customers and expand the company’s horizons. Furthermore, supplier diversification is not only a competitive advantage, but also allows new products to be opened up and additional markets to be accessed.

SDG

Serradell stressed that proper diversity management can impact at least 4 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations. It impacts gender equality by providing equal opportunities and eliminating discriminatory barriers in the workplace. It also contributes to decent employment and economic growth by harnessing the potential of diverse talent and improving productivity.

Likewise, diversity management helps reduce social inequalities by promoting inclusion and ensuring fairness in employment opportunities. Finally, companies that adopt strategic approaches to diversity align with global sustainability goals, demonstrating their commitment to a more equitable and sustainable future.

Key values

Enric Serradell highlighted key values to promote an inclusive environment. He highlighted knowledge transferability, non-discrimination, blind selection processes, equal training and opportunities, and the possibility of working remotely. These values foster diversity of experience and perspectives, ensure equal opportunities for all employees, avoid bias in hiring, promote equitable development, and provide access to diverse talent without geographic restrictions.

Soft skills

Serradell noted that as cultural respect grows, cohesion within teams is strengthened, resulting in a more inclusive and productive work environment. In this sense, customized training plays a key role in this process. Human Resources and People Management must play an active role in the development of soft skills that foster diversity and promote inclusion. To achieve this, it is necessary to invest in training programs, mentoring, investment experiences and talent development.

As for the diversity manager, Serradell stressed the importance of having knowledge of diversity, equity and inclusion. In addition, he or she must be credible and have the ability to relate to a wide range of stakeholders. Problem-solving skills and effective communication are also essential attributes for success in this role.

See the event

If you wish to see the complete event, we invite you to access the attached video. In it, you will find all the coverage of the event, with its presentations and discussions.