inclusive environment essay, 300 words
An experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating a welcoming, global community at Darden
Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment
and what you would bring to creating an inclusive global community at Darden (300 words)
“How do we increase awareness and communication around the goal of diversity and inclusion at MegaCorp?”
My team of four at MegaCorp’s leadership development program was asked to take this on, as a firm-sponsored project. At first, we did not have an answer. Our project sponsor challenged us to consider the issues he had identified at MegaCorp: there were existing resources and D&I products, but they were being underutilized, or worse, untouched.
To gain an understanding of MegaCorp’s current D&I landscape, we scheduled dozens of calls with D&I stakeholders, including the COO, regional D&I leaders, and client companies, which helped us understand the D&I initiatives already in place. Based on this information, we then surveyed over 800 associates to gather feedback on their understanding of the D&I resources and D&I messaging the company had in place. At the end of the four-month project, we had a proposal: instead of multiple, small-scale efforts, MegaCorp should aggregate all its resources into a singular digital site. In addition, we would launch a campaign to raise awareness about firm-sponsored events D&I, resources, and trainings. We presented our proposal before an assembly of 100 attendees, including MegaCorp’s COO, and six months later, MegaCorp’s new D&I initiative, including the website and a robust schedule of events, was launched firm-wide.
I believe that my MegaCorp experience has prepared me to engage with Darden’s global community. I look forward to helping Professor Martin Davidson plan the annual Darden Diversity Conference and market the Darden community to a more diverse applicant pool. Additionally, the Hispanic-American Network at Darden will be an excellent platform for me to enhance diverse campus life by sharing stories about my Guatemalan culture and hosting holiday dinners and events. I am excited to bring my experiences to Darden and help to expand its inclusive community.