Innovation and idea generation are the top outcomes from gender diversity

New York, 6 March 2013 – According to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited’s (DTTL) fifth annual International Women’s Day (IWD) webcast survey, innovation and idea generation are the most significant  advantages to organizations that embrace inclusive leadership to improve gender diversity (49 percent of respondents), followed by increased employee engagement (28 percent), and greater retention and advancement of women (15 percent).

The survey of 720 business leaders from 42 countries across Asia, Europe, and the Americas explored the concept of inclusive leadership – behaviors, policies and practices designed to successfully manage diversity and allow for greater inclusion - and its impact on improved gender equality and organizational performance.

Fifty-one percent of those surveyed said inclusive leadership is a key area of focus for their organization. However, 41 percent felt the main barrier to inclusive leadership was a failure by organizations to recognize the return on investment from having a diverse workforce.

Vanessa Borchers, Global Diversity Leader, DTTL, comments: “The survey respondents indicated that companies that recognize the importance of gender diversity will reap the rewards. Traditional approaches to diversity are getting women in the door and fostering retention and development, but we are still not seeing women advance to leadership positions quickly enough.

“Inclusion is a critical element required to better empower and advance women to top-level positions in the private and public sectors. It is also important to involve men in the conversation, and continually challenge long-held assumptions and traditional ways of working in order to accelerate progress. Businesses simply will not be able to remain competitive and innovative if they do not employ a diverse workforce.”

In addition to the survey, participants heard from webcast panelist Gianmarco Monsellato, CEO of Taj, a law firm in France and a member of the Deloitte network and finalist for the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEP) Leadership Awards in the Business Case for Action Award 2013 category. Monsellato, who spoke about the importance of providing equal career opportunities for women, is being recognized for his drive to improve gender diversity and transform the Taj culture.

“There are no diversity programs at Taj. We just do diversity. There is no difference between the work men and women do here; everyone is treated like a professional; this is just how we do business,” said Monsellato.

In eight years, Taj experienced significant success in the French legal sector both in terms of reputation and organic growth—rising from a second-tier firm to a market leader and growing 70 percent in a tough economy. Today, 52 percent of the women at Taj are in management positions; 50 percent women are equity partners; and 50 percent of women are in executive roles.  

About DTTL’s commitment to diversity and inclusion

DTTL was a founding signatory to UN Women's Empowerment Principles (WEP), launched by the United Nations Women and the United Nations Global Compact. DTTL is also a member of the IM WEP Leadership Group, which was created to help further promote the principles.

DTTL and its member firms also contribute to the ongoing diversity and inclusion dialogue via thought leadership. This year, the DTTL Center for Corporate Governance issued its annual report, Women in the Boardroom: A global perspective. Additionally, the DTTL Global Diversity team collaborated with Forbes Insights on its report Diversity & Inclusion: Unlocking Global Potential, which features a Deloitte member firm case study.

For more information about the Deloitte global network’s IWD and diversity and inclusion activities, and to access a recording of the webcast, visit www.deloitte.com/iwd

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.

Deloitte provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. With a globally connected network of member firms in more than 150 countries, Deloitte brings world-class capabilities and high-quality service to clients, delivering the insights they need to address their most complex business challenges. Deloitte has in the region of 200,000 professionals, all committed to becoming the standard of excellence.