Diversity is a disruptor, and your company needs it

The way we work, interact and create value is rapidly changing, but what are the elements sparking these dramatic changes? Although one cannot change the direction of the future of work, control and resilience in our changing economies will come from understanding it. 

In order to provide scope on these changes, Forbes magazine looked at the key elements changing the way we work in their article ‘Four Diversity And Inclusion Disruptors In The Future Of Work’. The article outlined well-known disruptors such as artificial intelligence, distributed workforces, employee hierarchies and diversity. 

“If organizations want to be ready for the economy of the future, they need to embrace and recognize the needs of different customers, different required talents and the varied marketing to reach those audiences. Ignoring demographic changes amount to organizational irrelevance.”

Benard Coleman

Forbes Magazine

If companies don’t ensure their workforces represent our increasingly intercultural and diverse societies, they are playing a losing game. In the future of work, talent from diverse beginnings, bringing new ideas, and bold new innovations, isn’t a ‘nice to have’, it’s a must. 

“Globalization 3.0 is not only going to be driven more by individuals but also by a much more diverse — non-Western, non-white — group of individuals. In Globalization 3.0, you are going to see every color of the human rainbow take part.”

Thomas Friedman

The World is Flat

Forward-facing companies need to start re-thinking how they attract and retain diverse talent. Current talent acquisition systems, that have led to the establishment of homogenous workforces, just won’t cut it in the future of work. In order to tap into this disruptive resource, companies need to actively learn how to see talent differently.

“The future of work presents challenges unlike we’ve ever seen, and it requires more collective intention, proactivity and, most importantly, more varied inputs to ensure the future is better than the past.”

Benard Coleman

Forbes Magazine