Following a DEI philosophy anchored in the three pillars of culture, talent, and community, Michelle Thompson‐Dolberry, Executive Vice President, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at MFS Investment Management, launched the new company value “Celebrate all differences.” This value inspires firmwide ownership of the DEI journey and a growth mindset. Michelle led the development of DEI goals tied directly to performance reviews, the first talent scorecard, and the creation of Regional Impact Councils to connect global DEI to local cultures and practices.
To cultivate a growth mindset for the DEI journey, Michelle uses data to set specific and realistic milestones. She is transparent in promoting understanding by sharing the data and insights to demonstrate the business case throughout all levels of management. Michelle fully supports middle managers as catalysts for employee engagement. She believes planning for the inevitable pushback on DEI initiatives is crucial to removing obstacles. As a leader, Michelle relies on candor, an open door policy, transparency, and relationship building. She firmly believes in agility and is willing to try new approaches.