WEBVTT

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<v ->The COVID-19 pandemic</v>

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has created so many difficulties

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and so many challenges.

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It is actually hard to imagine

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that some of us have made progress

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on the front of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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Still, as a BCG leader,

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I have seen many progress at our clients but also at BCG.

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I can draw three concrete lessons.

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The first one, we can only see progress

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if we put the topic high at the leadership agenda.

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Diversity, equity, and inclusion takes time.

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It actually takes years and therefore resilience

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even in difficult times.

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The BCG Executive Committee, for example,

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has spent many hours with us

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to shape initiatives that we could roll out at scale

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to support caregivers that were impacted by COVID.

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The second lesson is the importance of digital

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as a way to reinforce the cohesion in our community.

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For example, Pride@BCG is our LGBT+ community

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and I have seen them through the year

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meet several times virtually

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at regional level or even worldwide level.

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It was also the opportunity for me

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to meet them more frequently

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and therefore to be able to understand them better

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and to support them better.

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Third, and more importantly,

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I have seen progress

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where and when leaders lean in despite distance,

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despite remote working, to connect individually

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with the members of our minorities

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in order to shape the conditions for them to succeed

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but also to build their confidence,

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that difference is not a barrier

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but rather a source of strength.

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Those are three lessons.

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I'm sure there are many more we should share

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and learn from, because I can only expect our talents

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and our clients to have very high expectations

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when COVID will be over

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for a better working environment

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and for a better society.