SAF CEO Kate Penn sat down with Laura Polo to talk more about what she will cover during her session, “The Business Case for Diversity and Inclusion.”
Conversations about race relations have highlighted how inequity, intentional or not, is entrenched, permeating practically every part of society — perhaps even your business.
Wondering how to reverse this tendency and foster an environment that celebrates diversity and inclusion? Laura Polo, human resources director for Accent Decor, will share easy steps to get you started during her presentation at SAF Orlando 2021, the Society of American Florists’ 126th annual convention.
Besides being the right thing to do, embracing employees’ differences — whether racial, religious, related to sexual orientation or identity, or even just personality type — can help you succeed, says Polo, who will lead “The Business Case for Diversity and Inclusion” with Accent Decor’s chief creative officer, Sarah Bagle. Among the business benefits of a diverse and inclusive workforce: attracting a wider talent pool, retaining workers, and gaining a better understanding of your customers, which can lead to increased sales and revenue.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is not a politically based movement, Polo emphasized in a short Q&A with SAF CEO Kate Penn. “These are safe conversations about the people who work for us and who we work with,” she says. “It leads to connecting on a deeper level, which eventually carries over to our relationships with customers. It’s invaluable and hugely impactful.”
While DEI seems like an obvious goal for major corporations, it’s just as important for small businesses with fewer employees. “It’s easy to do at big companies because there’s so much infrastructure and internal helping hands,” Polo says. “But it’s more impactful for small businesses to get off the ground because there’s more intimacy.”
At the session, which includes time for group discussion, Polo and Bagle will offer relatable and easy-to-implement tips, including:
- How to start DEI conversations in your workplace
- How to create a diversity council and action plan that ensures everyone is held accountable
- Where to find additional resources and best practices
To register and find more information, click here.
Katie Vincent is the senior contributing editor for the Society of American Florists.
