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Hello from incredibly snowy New York.

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For this month's Two Minutes on Tuesday,

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I'd like to talk about how we can make meaningful progress

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on diversity, equity, and inclusion

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and why it's so important right now.

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This might feel like a difficult item

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to keep at the top of the agenda

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when leaders are juggling so many other complex challenges,

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but in fact, in times of crisis and great uncertainty,

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it's more important than ever

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that our workplaces foster a range of backgrounds

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and perspectives and ideas.

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Diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments translate

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to more resilient organizations, allowing us to find our way

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through difficult times more effectively

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and perform better longer term.

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It's also what more and more stakeholders are demanding.

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Customers, suppliers, investors, employees,

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and recruits have raised their expectations,

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insisting on more equitable workplaces

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and for corporate accountability.

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In other words, now would be the worst time to step back

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from diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

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So how can we make real progress?

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Here are four measures from all our research

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that actually work.

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First, embed diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies

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in the leadership agenda, and keep it there

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in good times and bad.

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Second, make sure that any workforce reductions,

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whether voluntary or not, do not unfairly impact women

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and people of color.

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Third, when it comes to recruitment and advancement,

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use diverse hiring panels, blind candidate screening,

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and objectively quantified performance evaluations.

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And fourth, in times of crisis,

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it's particularly important to keep track of

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and reward progress

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in order to hold leadership teams accountable.

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Attention to this issue is not a distraction

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from today's urgent challenges.

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It needs to be a central part of the solution.

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I hope you'll check back every Tuesday this month

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to hear from other BCG leaders on this important topic.

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Thanks.