Greater inclusion at the top strengthens company performance

For more than a decade, we have examined the impact of representation among senior leaders — on the board and in the C-suite — on organizational performance. How does appointing white women as well as men and women of color to senior leadership roles change how organizations do business?  

We define performance expansively to include a range of outcomes that stakeholders care about: innovation, product strength, community relations, equity and diversity records, environmental sustainability and governance. 

Our findings are clear: more inclusive organizations are more innovative, more profitable, more equitable, more sustainable, better governed and enjoy stronger relationships with their communities and suppliers.  

By contrast, firms that fail to prioritize inclusion and equity pay a high cost. They suffer from lower job satisfaction and worker engagement, along with higher rates of absenteeism and turnover. Not surprisingly, these firms also face higher risks of…