Beyond the Optics: Getting the most out of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) External Advisory Boards By Dr. Rohini Anand
While they are an effective way to engage external stakeholders and get expert input into an organization’s business and DEI strategy, external DEI advisory boards take time to manage and they take financial investment.
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xternal diversity, equity and inclusion advisory boards (DEIAB) are not yet widely used: In Seramount’s 2020 Index, only nine percent of participating companies had an external DEIAB – up from eight percent in the 2019 index. However, the ones that exist are highly visible, in part because they often are composed of high-profile members and senior executives, including the CEO, from the organization. The boards are sometimes unveiled with great external media presence and referred to by various names such as Advisory Councils, Advisory Boards, Community Councils etc. Having launched and managed a DEIAB, and currently serving on several others, I can vouch for the fact that they can provide tremendous
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value, but take a lot of work and a strong commitment. Unless they are well planned and managed, they may not benefit the organization as much as they could. The purpose of DEIABs can be multifold and evolve over time to meet organizational needs. Organizations launch these boards to ensure that they stay focused and engaged on DEI, provide an external perspective and involve and apprise community stakeholders. Advisory boards are more common in the US than in other parts of the world, and are often used when organizations have faced litigation by employees, are under pressure from external stakeholders, or are in the public eye for not having an exemplary DEI track record. While they are an effective way to engage external stakeholders and get
expert input into an organization’s business and DEI strategy, external DEI advisory boards take time to manage and they take financial investment. As a result, the roles they play and their value to the organization needs to be carefully considered. Let’s consider WHY an organization might have a DEIAB, WHAT roles they play and HOW best to operate them for maximum benefit to the organization.
WHY Have a DEI Advisory Board? Well managed DEI advisory boards contribute in multiple ways and have tremendous value for the organization. They can: ✔ Provide insights on external trends and risks: DEI advisory
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