Gütersloh, 06/20/2024

Strategic Approaches For More Diversity In The Company

How do you strategically advance Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) in a company? This was the focus of the Bertelsmann DEI working group's meeting in Berlin this year.

Creating a working environment where a diverse group of people not only come together but are equal team members: this is what Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) is all about. Only when employees feel safe and experience that they are part of the team can they contribute their full potential to the success of the business. The main focus of the international “Bertelsmann Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” working group is on how to achieve this in the best possible way. About 20 colleagues from the divisions are in regular contact and work together on the further development of DEI at Bertelsmann. The working group recently met for a three-day workshop at the RTL Audio Center Berlin.

In order to strategically advance the topic of DEI, the focus of the meeting was on the development of tailored steps for the individual divisions and the further development of the working group's cooperative approach. One of the general views shared was that dealing with DEI topics - also with a view to social change – is a constant challenge.

Considering and embedding diversity, equal opportunities and inclusion

All members of the working group reported increased demands from business partners concerning DEI in the divisions. This was another aspect of a more strategic approach to DEI management. The need to consider and embed diversity, equal opportunities and inclusion more systematically in the various phases of HR work was emphasized.

Babita Bahal, Group Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Fremantle, said: “Intentional and Group-wide progress on DEI remains crucial to our success. This meeting facilitated a structured strategic discussion. We shared challenges, inspired creative solutions and identified opportunities for greater collaboration across Bertelsmann. We galvanized as a group of DEI leaders and change-makers.” Knut Grabenkamp, HR Director People Acquisition & Development at Arvato Systems, recapped the meeting as follows: “Our DEI working group meeting was inspiring and motivating in many ways. I look forward to working together on integrating DEI even more into our core HR processes to foster real change and to make it visible.”

Creating an even more inclusive workplace environment

Although the situations in the divisions differ in terms of their focus on DEI, there were many opportunities to learn from and with each other. Annika Wengenroth, Consultant Corporate Social Responsibility at Arvato, commented: “The DEI working group meetings are always very valuable to me. Not only did I learn about helpful tools and models but I also discovered many new perspectives and ideas from the inspiring conversations with my colleagues. As a result, I was able to return from the meeting with many new ideas on how we can further promote and consolidate DEI at Arvato in order to create an even more inclusive workplace environment.”

The workshop was facilitated by Barbara Kutscher, Head of CR Strategy & DEI at Bertelsmann: “I was really impressed by the great engagement and dedication of my colleagues to make the divisions, and thus Bertelsmann, an even better employer and business partner through strategic DEI. As a DEI working group, we are united by the goal of ensuring that everyone at Bertelsmann feels valued so that they can work creatively and productively, and we want to continue working on this.”