Telecoms leaders must come together to solve one of the industry’s ‘most pressing issues’ – diversity and inclusion (D&I), according to the President of Verizon Partner Solutions, Eric Cevis.
There’s a “significant increase in the level of challenge we all face when acquiring and retaining talent. If we don’t take action, this issue will only get worse,” stated Cevis at the recent ITW Global Leaders’ Forum in London. “A more diverse, gender- and age-balanced workforce is critical to the success of all established businesses around the globe today.”
Digital technologies are dramatically changing how, where and with whom the business of business is conducted. “They are also changing the skillset required to conduct business. In the context of an ageing workforce, and a shrinking labour pool, this presents a real challenge,” he added.
Cevis proposed that the Global Leaders’ Forum sets up a working committee to focus on improving D&I across the board, just as it has previously done with topics such as security and fraud. Its objective is to identify 2-3 core initiatives that members can work on collectively, which can be showcased at the next ITW meeting in Atlanta next summer (June 2020), where they will discuss strategic issues and agree collaborative activities to drive the next phase of industry growth.
HARNESSING POWER OF DIVERSITY
According to Cevis, “Diversity and inclusion is not about counting heads but making each head count. There are many dimensions to who we all are. As individuals, we need to be able to apply our whole self and know our unique perspectives matter.
“As a company, we need to harness the power of all these different backgrounds and ways of thinking, and create an environment where all people are empowered to grow and contribute, to innovate and drive positive change.”
Embracing diversity and fostering inclusion is more than “the right thing to do, it’s a business imperative and a competitive advantage,” he added. “By valuing diversity and inclusion across the business, we will strengthen our culture and be better positioned to serve our customers in new and better ways.”
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