Thought Leadership | Culture of Diversity & Inclusion

Serious criticisms about organizational diversity, equity and inclusion efforts have been leveled periodically over the last 3.5 years in response to the increased focus on the topic in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. However, the questions raised by DEI critics present potential opportunities for innovation, not deletion. If we can apply the inclusive leadership practice of engaging in dialogue and open debate so we can see the issue from all sides, the practices will get better.

Search 2.0 is a revolutionary approach designed for organizations on their DE&I journey. It’s not a diversity-focused template, but for all future leadership appointments.

For over 18 years, Egon Zehnder has been tracking boardroom diversity around the world. The 2022–2023 Global Board Diversity Tracker captures the progress that has been made in 44 countries.

Globally, women lost jobs due to the pandemic at a rate 1.8 times greater than men. Egon Zehnder conducted a survey with 300 C-Suite leaders on how to advance career development and equity opportunities for women

To showcase top Latina and Latino talent in the U.S., LCDA and Egon Zehnder launched a video series featuring nine distinguished Latino and Latina board directors.

This edition features Cleidy Liborio Fernandes, Chief Commercial Officer at Logistec. Cleidy is a business strategy professional with over 25 years of experience in key account management, sales, pricing and operations. In this interview, she discusses the power of mentorship, the fulfillment of fostering diversity in leadership ranks, embracing identity, and the importance of taking a “license” to be happy.

Women are making significant strides in the CFO role, with nearly 19% of CFO positions in Fortune 500 and S&P 500 companies held by women in 2023, compared to just 6.3% in 2004. Part of that increase may be due in part to the fact that 82% of CFOs have seen significant shifts in their responsibilities over the past five years, according to an Egon Zehnder survey.

A conversation about leadership identities.

When it comes to building the world’s most desirable cars, Mercedes-Benz leverages – besides creativity and dedication – strongly on the power of diversity and inclusion.

We believe that a sustainable world starts from within. Deep self-reflection about who we are as humans and as leaders, as well as a commitment to action are essential for a more sustainable world. Our purpose is “Leadership for a Better World.” We help major organizations transform in a world that is calling out for action. However, long-term systemic change cannot happen without a collective change in mindset—understanding the role we all play in creating a better future. As a Firm, we are on this journey, too. You can learn about our progress in our Sustainable Impact Report, where we share our values, our vision, and our commitment to change going forward.

If you count the number of female executives serving on management and supervisory boards in 2024, you will immediately see that the German business community is still struggling despite enormous efforts to improve the situation.

Isabell Welpe is a professor for strategy and organization at the Technical University of Munich. In her research, she examines how teams function, how companies are set up and how change can succeed.