Ten Chattanooga senior managers were selected into the Inaugural Class of Fellows for the Inclusion by Design Executive Leadership Program. Inclusion by Design is a market-based executive leadership development program that makes the business case for inclusion. The program was designed to prepare senior leaders who are persons of color and/or women to function successfully at the executive level.
Soderquist Leadership is the curriculum partner for equipping senior leaders to win in the marketplace. Turning Point Leadership Group will lead the diversity and inclusion curriculum.
Warren Logan, ULGC President and CEO stated, “The diversity gap in leadership at the senior and executive levels at Chattanooga’s for-profit companies and non profit organizations prompted the Urban League to undertake a market-based approach and make the business case for inclusion. Research shows that companies that achieve diversity and manage it well attain better financial results, on average, than companies that do not”.
According to Mckinsey Report – January 2015, companies in the top quartile for gender or racial and ethnic diversity are more likely to have financial returns above the national industry medians. The company concludes that diversity is most likely a competitive differentiator that shifts market share toward more diverse companies over time.
The 2017 Inclusion by Design Inaugural Fellows represent some of the Chattanooga’s major companies. Executives of participating companies were asked to nominate a person of color or a woman who was already functioning at the senior level and experiencing success in their current role, but have a desire and the capacity to grow; have been identified by executive management to have executive management level potential; or have great technical skills, but need to learn to think more strategically and to focus on impact. The goal of the leadership program is to create an inventory of trained leaders who are equipped with additional knowledge and skills to function successfully in an executive assignment and to navigate gender, racial and cultural biases.
To learn more information about Inclusion by Design Leadership Executive Leadership Program, call (423) 756-1762.