The Benefits of Diversity

EDITOR’S NOTE

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THE BENEFITS OF DIVERSITY

In this issue, we explore and celebrate diversity in our community. How do we define it? Not just by traits like race, ethnicity and gender, but by age, sexuality and points of view. People with disabilities are included as well as people of different economic means.

There are some obvious benefits to our quality of life from living in a diverse, inclusive society that are supported by data. Plenty of research shows that diverse organizations are more vibrant and versatile. A 2016 Harvard Business Review article, “Why Diverse Teams Are Smarter,” found that not only were diverse companies more profitable, they were also more successful and innovative. It seems that working in a diverse environment combats cultural blind spots and brings new perspectives to the table. From jury panels to stock management teams, diverse groups outperformed homogeneous ones by every mark.