In a world that is increasingly interconnected yet persistently divided, the Top 15 Champions of Diversity stand out as beacons of hope and progress. These individuals have dedicated themselves to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging (DEIB), and social and environmental responsibility across various sectors and industries. They are influencing organizational policies, transforming workplaces, connecting people, and inspiring countless others internally and externally to join them on their journeys. As professionals working in the global environment, they are using their roles, experience, and leadership skills to pursue lasting change.

Each year, DiversityGlobal Magazine spotlights 15 women and men who are leveraging their roles in their respective organizations to advance DEIB domestically and globally. Working on a global basis or with global organizations is full of challenges for many reasons. One is that diversity means something different in each culture. Another challenge is overcoming the perspective that DEIB is a “U.S. issue.” A third challenge is overcoming pushback from colleagues who object to their strategies, due to bias or a lack of understanding of the work. It is true that advancing DEIB means changing hearts and minds, but success requires strategies that fit the organization and produce measurable and sustainable results.

In each organization, diversity and inclusion is not treated as a “program.” It is a sustained approach to ensuring people have equal opportunities for positions they are qualified to hold, equal opportunities to advance their careers with some becoming organizational leaders, and equal opportunities to have a voice no matter their life experiences or personal characteristics. Some Champions are ensuring diverse suppliers are included in sourcing and procurement opportunities, and all the Champions contribute to their organization’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals in various ways.

To meet the challenges, the Top 15 Champions of Diversity have achieved remarkable results. They have developed frameworks for global DE&I, developed Employee Resource Groups to give all people a voice, strived to form cultures of inclusion and belonging, and developed equitable paths for minorities and women to enter leadership pipelines. The Champions also leverage technology in effective ways. They are data driven and fact based because that is how diversity is proven to be a business opportunity. They have developed reporting dashboards and dashboards for self-identification of intersectionality, talent scorecards, leadership toolkits, and new digital communication channels that include social media and podcasts. There are also Champions using data to ensure diverse people, historically excluded, are included in medical clinical trials. They also work with local community organizations, including diversity advocacy groups, colleges, and universities.

All of these efforts point to the fact that so much work still needs to be done to create an inclusive and just society. These are the people who are doing the hard work, but they always make it clear they are exactly where they should be and doing exactly what they should be doing. Each Champion brought extensive experience in the diversity space to their current position, but they humbly explain they are still learning and embrace and leverage the new knowledge to make a greater impact. The world and the business environment are in a state of constant economic, political, and social change, adding to the challenge of meeting people’s needs and developing strategic roadmaps for the future. A common perspective among the Top 15 Champions of Diversity is that the progress made to date needs to continue into the future, making it crucial to set strategic priorities.

The Champions of Diversity that DiversityGlobal Magazine presents represent a broad spectrum of efforts and achievements, but they all share a common goal: to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Their work is a testament to the power of diversity and inclusion, and their impact is felt both in their immediate communities and across the globe. As we celebrate these Champions, we are reminded of the importance of continuing the fight for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in every aspect of society.

Please join the staff at DiversityGlobal Magazine in congratulating the Top 15 Champions of Diversity of 2024. Diversity professionals looking for new ideas and renewed inspiration are encouraged to contact any of the Champions. As continuous learners, they welcome conversations with their colleagues. There is agreement that the more people working to achieve diversity and inclusion around the world, the more likely that one day, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging will become a fact of life in and out of the workplace.