Diversity in the workplace combined with an inclusive culture, drives better decision-making, stimulates innovation, increases organisational agility, and strengthens resilience in businesses. Based on research, companies that are more inclusive are 1.7 times more likely to be innovation leaders and 1.8 times more likely to be change-ready. While companies have increasingly begun to regard inclusion and diversity as a source of competitive advantage 80% of leadership engagement on D&I remains at basic or emerging levels in most organisations.
The Diversity in Business Leadership programme was launched in 2014 to highlight the importance of managing diversity in the workplace and raise awareness on diversity and inclusion (D&I) as key pillars of effective corporate governance. DIBL is currently focused on two key aspects of diversity – Gender Diversity and Multigenerational Diversity and engages with a variety of stakeholders to publish research, facilitate discussions, deliver trainings and develop practical tools.
Key
Objectives
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Undertake evidence-based research in Gulf countries to benchmark gender and multigenerational diversity practices across the private sector;
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Support Gulf-based companies to adopt and implement regionally relevant gender and multigenerational diversity standards and best practices through trainings, convenings and the development of learning resources;
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Build a collective action community to share good practices and lead the way in the implementation of gender and multigenerational diversity standards and practices;
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Increase awareness amongst youth on the importance of gender and multigenerational diversity and deepen their understanding on these topics.
The youth population should make sure the organisation that they choose to work in has a supportive organisational culture and a support system to empower them to reach greater heights.
Women should play an active role in the industry and take on challenging opportunities whilst also balancing their career with family commitments.
Programme Activities 2022
The DIBL programme undertakes research and delivers bespoke trainings and convenings on topics related to gender and intergenerational diversity . In order to raise awareness on Diversity &Inclusion in the workplace to demonstrate its value for organsations in the Gulf Region the key activities for 2022 are:
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Research
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1 Research - Low female retention in leadership positions
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1 Insight Report
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Convenings & Trainings
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1 Workshops, Multistakeholder
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2 Round Table Discussions
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Student Engagement
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6 Hybrid Panel, Session
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4 Business Pledge Sessions
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Learning Resource
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1 Guidebook
Programme
Achievements
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Undertake evidence-based research in Gulf countries to benchmark gender and multigenerational diversity practices across the private sector;
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Support Gulf-based companies to adopt and implement regionally relevant gender and multigenerational diversity standards and best practices through trainings, convenings and the development of learning resources;
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Share experiences and practical know-how with each other and other stakeholders to support and drive corporate governance practices within companies
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Build a collective action community to share good practices and lead the way in the implementation of gender and multigenerational diversity standards and practices;
Increase awareness amongst youth on the importance of gender and multigenerational diversity and deepen their understanding on these topics.
Members of the Working Group
