Situation
The Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) of a global candy company needed to present the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) journey to their new CEO. The initial presentation relied too heavily on workforce data and lacked emphasis on key emotional and ethical aspects, such as employee listening tours, the impact of employee resource groups (ERGs), and the critical call to action for the new leadership. The CDO needed a presentation that balanced data-driven insights with a compelling narrative to inspire action and align with the CEO’s vision.
Task
Create a 30-minute presentation that effectively communicated the company’s DEI journey, including past achievements, the current state, and a future vision. The goal was to inspire the new CEO to continue supporting DEI initiatives while ensuring the presentation was engaging, emotionally resonant, and aligned with company values.
Action
I collaborated closely with the Chief Diversity Officer to align on a compelling “big idea” and a clear call to action, ensuring the presentation had a unified vision. By partnering with key stakeholders, we structured the presentation into a logical and engaging flow, balancing workforce data with emotional and ethical storytelling to appeal to the new CEO’s priorities. I guided the team through creating a cohesive narrative highlighting the company’s DEI progress and future opportunities, incorporating testimonials, impactful visuals, and diverse employee photography. Through effective leadership, I managed stakeholder input to develop a visually engaging, brand-aligned presentation that resonated with the audience and organizational goals.
Results
The client successfully delivered their presentation to the new CEO, aligning and expanding on the original goals of their DEI and journey. Throughout the last year they the client has expanded their team, hosting twice as many listening tours, and continued to diversify the company's workforce. We continue to work together to develop their presentations for internal audiences and external industry events.
