Allied in action
A message from Kavitha Prabhakar, chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, Deloitte US
When I reflect on the past 18 months, I am heartened by the many milestones we achieved together and the collective impact we have made. I have had the opportunity to listen to stories, learn from others’ experiences, and participate in meaningful change. When we published our inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Transparency Report in January 2021, we took an important step in our commitment to acknowledge and act by sharing data on our current state and identifying focus areas and goals that aligned with our future vision. We also introduced our go-forward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy, a multiyear effort to drive equitable outcomes within Deloitte, with our clients, and in our communities.
This year, we are following up on the commitments we made and reporting on our progress. With clear goals and metrics in place, we believe we are well-positioned to accelerate movement toward a more equitable workplace and society.
While we continue to work toward our goals at an organizational level, the heart of progress lies in the individual action, allyship, and advocacy of all Deloitte leaders and professionals. It is through intentional actions, big and small, that we let each of our colleagues know they belong here, that they are valued, and that they are celebrated. Woven together, we are a powerful force for progress.
That is why we are championing 2022 as a Year of Allyship. Together we are embracing the challenges, understanding root causes, participating in self-education, flipping orthodoxies, proactively challenging the status quo, and recognizing that we all have the power to empower.
Our allyship definition
Allyship is the practice of empathizing with the experiences of systemically disadvantaged groups,1 looking out for biases, and actively using your voice and power to advance equity. Allyship is a personal responsibility and lifelong journey. It is not a destination or self-assessed title; others should see you as an ally.
Watch: Learning and unlearning
To that end, this report is about far more than transparency—it’s intended to inspire active commitment to allyship from each and every one of us at Deloitte. The report is a call to lean into the work we are already doing. A call for new ideas to drive progress forward. And a call to fully embrace our role as allies and take bold action.
Throughout this report, we share quantitative and qualitative data and goals so that we can better understand our progress, identify focus areas, and define clear actions to move forward. This report underscores our commitment and continued efforts to listen to—and amplify—our people’s voices so we can continue to grow and thrive together.
Kavitha Prabhakar
Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
Deloitte US
Language and Allyship:
Say This Not That
Recognizing that words can have the power to make someone feel seen or excluded, the Black Action Council developed the Say This Not That series, sessions that explore commonly used, potentially offensive phrases. To develop these sessions, Deloitte professionals engaged in crowdsourcing exercises to identify the phrases they hear most frequently and why they are harmful. The series has been expanded to include sessions covering phrases potentially harmful to additional communities, including Asian and Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latinx, People with Disabilities, and LGBTQIA+, with more sessions in development.
- Systemically disadvantaged groups refer to groups who are disadvantaged by societal systems based on a social identity related to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, religion, disability, language, and more. ↵
Language and Allyship: Say This Not That
Patrick Smith (he/they)
Senior Manager, Deloitte Tax LLP
Patrick has been facilitating “Say This Not That” sessions since Deloitte launched the workshops in 2020. He says serving as a facilitator provides him with additional opportunities to listen and learn.
“I want to hear others’ stories so I can better appreciate what other people encounter. And, I listen to help. Sometimes that is just being present in that moment and giving someone attention and kindness. Other times we may be called on to take action.”
Takeaways from the sessions include not just language to avoid but how to address certain ideas when you hear them. “One of my biggest ‘aha moments’ has been learning the difference between calling out and calling in. There’s so much value in hearing how people are handling situations where these phrases come up.”
Language and Allyship: Say This Not That
Talia Rushton (she/her/hers)
Senior Consultant, Deloitte & Touche LLP
Even before Talia became an engagement co-lead for the Greater Washington Area LGBTQIA+ & Allies Community Hub Chapter—and before she was out—Talia was a driving force behind transgender inclusion at Deloitte. She helped develop resources, create a community, and educate her colleagues on gender identity and gender expression. “The first time I was out at Deloitte and presenting as my authentic self was for a panel discussion in my office called ‘Breaking Down the Binary.’” This event would give her the confidence to finalize her transition at her project and the rest of Deloitte over the next year.
More recently Talia helped create a “Say This Not That” resource which helps identify commonly used, potentially offensive phrases to the LGBTQIA+ community. “It gets tiring having to personally educate everyone. It’s invaluable to get this to all our amazing, active allies so they can lend a hand.”
“I feel privileged to have the community I do at Deloitte, and I want to help others find that same connection.” But it isn’t just support inside Deloitte that Talia cares about. “I’d like to see Deloitte take a more public position on societal issues impacting transgender and nonbinary people.” To her, that means more visibility around protecting trans and nonbinary rights, continuing to expand benefits, and pushing for others to do the same.
Language and Allyship: Say This Not That
Jonathan Serafin Quinones (he/him/his)
Senior, Deloitte & Touche LLP
When Jonathan helped launch the “Say This Not That” guide for the LGBTQIA+ & Allies Community, he knew the project would require some sensitive conversations. What he didn’t realize is how much he would find his own voice in the process.
“It’s hard, trying to have an honest conversation about things that are sensitive and require vulnerability. It required the team to talk about things they knew, but also things they didn’t. The challenge, personally, was working with imposter syndrome and feeling like I didn’t deserve a seat at the table. But I grew through the process. Not only did I come out of the project more educated, but I learned that being silent is not okay.”
Since then, Jonathan says he’s developed a better understanding of what it means to be an ally (“It’s something you have to practice every day”) and how to leverage his own privilege. “I do this work so that others feel heard and respected and to help them achieve their full potential and be their most authentic selves. I do this for those who don’t feel like they belong here just yet.”