Excerpted from Canadian HR Reporter:
Looking to effectively change the face of workforces, Caldwell Partners has joined two groups dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion.
The executive search firm, which has offices in multiple countries, has joined CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion, which includes more than 1,000 CEOs of companies around the world and first launched in 2017. Its goal is to “collectively take measurable action in advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace.”
“We felt it was time to make a stand in the marketplace, we felt that this coalition is really going to do some good work,” says John Wallace, president and CEO of Caldwell Partners International in Toronto.
Diversity and inclusion hasn’t been a strong impetus from companies from a hiring perspective, he says.
“I’m firmly convinced that this is probably the most exciting change that I have seen in my working career, where business is basically taking the initiative here and not waiting for legislation… I’m absolutely convinced this is going to be the start of sustainable and positive change for people of colour.”
It’s the repository of best practices that can be accessed by members of CEO Action that really piqued Caldwell’s interest, according to Wallace.
“We’re able to tap into this organization which is represented by a large group of Fortune companies that have both intent and resources to create best practices. The ability to be able to create and share those best practices is really one of the very, very strong attractions to this coalition.”
With political unrest against the unjustified killings of African-Americans happening around the world, the impetus to change is growing stronger and employers must address this desire for change, says Wallace.
