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4th edition of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Forum to address current challenges and paths to strengthen inclusive practices in the workplace
By Pedro Augusto
Hiring people from different backgrounds is not enough if the corporate environment is not truly prepared to include them. This and other challenges will be at the center of discussions during the 4th edition of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Forum of the Chamber of Commerce Brazil-Canada (CCBC), which will take place on September 11, starting at 2:00 p.m., in São Paulo.
The report Diversity Wins: How Inclusion Matters, produced by the global consulting firm McKinsey & Company and published in 2020, shows that companies ranked in the top 25% for gender diversity in executive positions are 25% more likely to achieve above-average profitability. The study also found that in the case of ethnic and cultural diversity, this advantage can reach 36%, reinforcing the direct link between diverse leadership and stronger financial performance.
Despite the benefits highlighted in the report, the reality of many companies still falls short of this progress. “People often think that a diverse environment or a diverse company automatically means it is inclusive; but these two concepts, in many cases, do not go hand in hand,” says Lara Gurgel, Executive Director of the Institute of Government Relations (IRELGOV), who will be a keynote speaker at the Forum.
The event’s program includes panels on governance in corporate diversity management and resilience in times of crisis, with lessons learned from big tech companies, as well as a session on how leaders can keep the diversity agenda alive amid the current global setbacks.
In addition to Lara, the event will feature Hilton Nascimento, President of CCBC and CEO of Worten Group; Anouk Bergeron-Laliberté, Consul of Canada in São Paulo and Coordinator of CCBC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee; Esther Nunes, Chair of CCBC’s Advisory Board and Committee Co-Coordinator; Veronica Vassalo, Diversity & Inclusion Manager at the UN Global Compact in Brazil; João Yosef Torres, Founding Partner of Mais Diversidade; and Debora Gepp, Diversity & Inclusion Manager at Thomson Reuters and Co-Founder of the Brazilian Network of LBTQ Women.
The 2024 edition focused on gender equity in leadership positions and the creation of more inclusive workplaces for neurodivergent professionals and different generations. This year, the goal is to broaden the dialogue, encouraging leaders to take an active role in the face of resistance to already achieved progress.
The Forum is sponsored by Travelplus, a corporate travel solutions agency; Brookfield, a global asset management and investment company; and Lundin Mining, a multinational mining corporation. Registrations are available via Sympla.
