550 Powerful Workplace Diversity And Inclusion Quotes (2023)
1. “When we’re talking about diversity, it’s not a box to check. It is a reality that should be deeply felt and held and valued by all of us.” – Ava DuVernay
2. “Inclusion is not tolerance, it is unquestioned acceptance.” - Unknown
3. “To go back to Africa. If you want to live in America as if it's Africa, then you might as well go back to Africa.”
4. “We’re improving retention, creating pathways, and diversifying our white-collar workforce and our executive team at the same time,” — Chris Winton, senior vice president of human resources at FedEx Ground.
5. “Maybe then I would submit to it's rigid ideals if I were recognized as worthy of experiencing them.”
6. “We are all different, which is great because we are all unique. Without diversity life would be very boring." - Catherine Pulsifer, Writer
7. “What’s often ignored is that diversity is not only a pipeline or recruiting issue. It’s an issue of making the people who do make it through the pipeline want to stay at your company.”
8. “Diversity is about all of us, and about us having to figure out how to walk through this world together.” - Jacqueline Woodson, Writer
9. “What we have to do... is to find a way to celebrate our diversity and debate our differences without fracturing our communities.” - Hillary Clinton, Former United States Secretary of State
10. “Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
11. “We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.” — Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook.
12. “No matter who we are or what we look like or what we may believe, it is both possible and, more importantly, it becomes powerful to come together in common purpose and common effort.” – Oprah Winfrey
13. “Sustained progress is what will become really important in order for us to be really confident that there’s change.” — Dr. Stacy L. Smith, the founder, and Director of the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.
14. “Employees willingly voice their opinions when they know they are not going to be judged, will not face any negative consequences when they speak up and their voices will be valued. As leaders, we need to nurture a culture celebrating diverse opinions, and that will ensure team members are more engaged in voicing their opinions”. — Vishwas Manral, McAfee.
15. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
16. “The fact that societies are becoming increasingly multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multi-religious is good.
17. “Ethics and equity and the principles of justice do not change with the calendar.”
18. “Until we get equality in education, we won’t have an equal society.” – Sonia Sotomayor
19. “Diversity, or the state of being different, isn’t the same as inclusion. One is a description of what is, while the other describes a style of interaction essential to effective teams and organizations.”
20. “The world is intertwined today, much more than it was when I was coming out of school. Because of that, you really need to have a deep understanding of cultures around the world. I have learned to not just appreciate this but celebrate it. The thing that makes the world interesting is our differences, not our similarities.”
21. “We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens this community—and this nation."
22. “Leaders will more readily support the goals if they understand the big picture and the benefits of a more diverse and inclusive organization.” — Chris Walker, Chief Human Resources Officer & Corporate Services.
23. “Today when I think about diversity, I actually think about the word ‘inclusion.' And I think this is a time of great inclusion. It's not men, it's not women alone. Whether it's geographic, it's approach, it's your style, it's your way of learning, the way you want to contribute, it's your age - it's really broad.” - Ginni Rometty, Executive Chairman of IBM
24. “No victory, no triumph, no reward, no applause, just oneness, oneness and oneness - that's what the being of oneness is to be drunk with 24 hours of the day – the dream of oneness, the life of oneness, the truth of oneness.”
25. “Inclusion is not a matter of political correctness. It is the key to growth” – Jesse Jackson
26. “Diversity happens, Inclusion is a choice.”
27. “Inclusion is not a matter of political correctness. It is the key to growth.” — Jesse Jackson, Politician and Civil Rights Activist (Source: Crain’s)
28. “There is a huge business case for diversity. You will be making products for people you don't understand, you don't interact with. If you don't have an inclusive, diverse workforce, it makes you myopic.”
29. “Supporting DEI in the workplace is a business imperative, not just the right thing to do from a societal perspective. He believes that, just like anything that matters in business, companies have to be willing to put money into DEI. If you’re not willing to pay for it, it’s not a real commitment.” — Paris Wallace, Co-founder of Ovia .
30. “Diversity and inclusion are two interconnected concepts—but they are far from interchangeable. Diversity is about representation or the make-up of an entity. Inclusion is about how well the contributions, presence, and perspectives of different groups of people are valued and integrated into an environment.” — Matt Bush, Culture Coaching Lead at Great Place to Work.
31. “What divides us pales in comparison to what unites us.”
32. “Inclusion is not bringing people into what already exists; it is making a new space, a better space for everyone” – George Dei
33. “We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion.” — Max De Pree, Business Executive and Writer.
34. “If you haven’t got the best talent you’re not going to be the best, if you’re not representing properly the available pool of talent then you’re missing an opportunity.”
35. “There is a tendency to copy what other people are doing, but you may not have the same problems they have. Take the time to understand your business and what makes sense for you.” — Fiona MacDonald, Diversity and Inclusion Lead at ANZ.
36. “With the strong support and advocacy of the C-suite, particularly our CEO, that really motivates us to create this scalable global DE&I platform across the enterprise. [It] permeates the entire management team and leadership team —focus and commitment.” — Joe Simms, chief diversity officer of Stanley BLACK+DECKER.
37. “Diversity is the engine of invention, it generates creativity that enriches the world.”
38. “Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance.”
39. “When people get used to preferential treatment, equal treatment seems like discrimination.” – Thomas Sowell
40. “Being inclusive means to appreciate differences and enjoy the diverse viewpoints” – Pearl Zhu
41. “D&I needs to be something that every single employee at the company has a stake in.” — Bo Young Lee
42. “To know the true reality of yourself, you must be aware not only of your conscious thoughts, but also of your unconscious prejudices, bias and habits.”
43. “I mean… I could see it in my ancestry… my parents were of African decency… but I was born in America, and I am legally an American citizen.”
44. “There is only one way to see things until someone shows us how to look at them with different eyes.”
45. Diversity creates dimension in the world. –Elizabeth Ann Lawless
46. “If you believe, as we believe, that diversity leads to better products, and we’re all about making products that enrich people’s lives, then you obviously put a ton of energy behind diversity the same way you would put a ton of energy behind anything else that is truly important.” – Tim Cook
47. “It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength."
48. “Diversity doesn’t look like anyone. It looks like everyone.”
49. “When we’re talking about diversity, it’s not a box to check. It is a reality that should be deeply felt and held and valued by all of us.”
50. “Our workforce and our entire economy are strongest when we embrace diversity to its fullest, and that means opening doors of opportunity to everyone and recognizing that the American Dream excludes no one.”
51. “Diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice we make every day. As leaders, we have to put out the message that we embrace, and not just tolerate, diversity.”
52. “Diversity and inclusion are always something industries should strive for” – Halima Aden
53. “The point isn’t to get people to accept that they have biases, but to get them to see [for themselves] that those biases have negative consequences for others.”
54. “We will all profit from a more diverse, inclusive society, understanding, accommodating, even celebrating our differences, while pulling together for the common good” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg
55. “A democracy thrives on diversity. Tyranny oppresses it.” – Sam Brownback
56. A garden's beauty never lies in one flower. –Matshona Dhliwayo
57. “Inclusion is the only safety if we are to have a peaceful world” – Pearl S. Buck
58. “We long to belong, and belonging and caring anchors our sense of place in the universe.”
59. “Inclusion leads to growth. So for those who are locked out, they lose development, and those who are in power lose market and growth” – Jesse Jackson
60. “We fundamentally believe that we will make better business decisions if we have diversity in thinking … and that requires equal gender participation.” — Jonas Prising, Chairman and CEO of ManpowerGroup (Source: World Economic Forum)
61. “Urging people to be inclusive is not an attack. It is progress” – DaShanne Stokes
62. “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
63. “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” – Audre Lorde
64. “Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance.” – Verna Myers
65. “We believe our diversity, our differences, when joined together by a common set of ideals, makes us stronger, makes us more creative, makes us different. From all these different strands, we make something new.” — Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States of America.
66. “It is impossible to get to know people deeply and not come to like them.”
67. “Diversity is the magic. It is the first manifestation, the first beginning of the differentiation of a thing and of simple identity. The greater the diversity, the greater the perfection.”
68. “When we're talking about diversity, it's not a box to check. It is a reality that should be deeply felt and held and valued by all of us.” - Ava DuVernay, Filmmaker
69. “Diversity is a fact. Inclusion is an act.”
70. “We all have the ability to promote a culture of acceptance and inclusion — and that is something I believe every leader has a responsibility to do. It starts with having a dialogue until we are all comfortable and no longer have the fear of saying the wrong thing.” — Inga Beale
71. “The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work.”
72. “I want our future leaders to know what's possible and to be part of a world where diversity and gender equality aren't special programs but the natural way of operating.”
73. “Le monde est mon pays; l'humanité, ma nationalité.”
74. “We run a transparent roadmap process with an open-door policy, encouraging feedback and input from customers and employees. We also proactively solicit input from the team via office hours and open lunches with leadership, including an anonymized Q&A. We believe operating a high-trust environment requires making space for potentially uncomfortable questions, but that’s how the best work gets done.” — Josh Koenig, Pantheon Systems, Inc.
75. “In diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” – Maya Angelou
76. “Ultimately, America’s answer to the intolerant man is diversity.”
77. “Diversity is a mix and inclusion is making the mix work.” – Andrés Tapia
78. “Equality is leaving the door open for anyone who has the means to approach it; equity is ensuring there is a pathway to that door for those who need it.”
79. “Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance.” - Verna Myers, Activist
80. “Companies that embrace diversity and inclusion in all aspects of their business statistically outperform their peers.”
81. “If you haven’t got the best talent you’re not going to be the best, if you’re not representing properly the available pool of talent then you’re missing an opportunity.” — Alex Wilmot-Sitwell, EMEA President at Bank of America Merrill Lynch (Sources: Jazz HR Notes and Financial Times)
82. The only thing that we all have in common is our differences. They can be challenging. But, society can move forward only if we can manage those differences and create a harmonious world.
83. “Oh yes! I'll do this - force you together and invite conflict - because I want you to think about what the world would be like if we all worked to understand people who are different than we are.”
84. “I can do things you cannot, you can do things, I cannot. Together we can do great things.” - Mother Teresa or Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Nun and Missionary
85. “Don’t persuade, defend or interrupt. Be curious, be conversational, be real. And listen.”
86. “Safety is not a gadget but a state of mind.”
87. “Don’t be a pepper on the eyes of people; rather be the salt on their tongue and make a difference that influences their sense of belonging to the earth.”
88. “Unconscious perceptions govern many of the most important decisions we make and have a profound effect on the lives of many people in many ways.... Unconscious patterns can play out in ways that are so subtle they are hard to spot.” — Howard Ross, Founder of Cook Ross Inc. (Source: CDO Insights)
89. “Many conversations about diversity and inclusion do not happen in the boardroom because people are embarrassed at using unfamiliar words or afraid of saying the wrong thing — yet this is the very place we need to be talking about it. The business case speaks for itself — diverse teams are more innovative and successful in going after new markets.”
90. “We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.”
91. “We are greater than, and greater for, the sum of us.”
92. “All of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop our talent.” – John F. Kennedy
93. “We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.” - Maya Angelou, Poet
94. “Diversity is about all of us, and about us having to figure out how to walk through this world together.” – Jacqueline Woodson
95. “Men in particular need to speak more about their personal reasons for wanting diversity in the workplace.”
96. “Compassion isn't just about feeling the pain of others; it's about bringing them in toward yourself. If we love what God loves, then, in compassion, margins get erased. 'Be compassionate as God is compassionate,' means the dismantling of barriers that exclude.
97. “Our unity is our strength, and our diversity is our power. We reject the myth of ‘us’ vs. ‘them’. We are in this together.” — Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States of America.
98. We can’t ignore diversity. We can only preserve and cherish it. Open your eyes to the racism and inequality that still remains. Only by knowing how far we are from equality, can we unlock our full potential.
99. “Anything is possible if you’ve got enough nerve.”
100. “What we have to do… is to find a way to celebrate our diversity and debate our differences without fracturing our communities.”
101. “As today’s leaders attempt to address diversity and inclusion priorities and challenges, no matter how uncomfortable, they should encourage candid conversations to elicit actionable insights. Senior management, including boards and CEOs, should visibly stand for D&I, as demonstrating commitment is crucial to bringing others on the journey. — Kumar Parakala, GHD.
102. “The difference between diversity and inclusion is being invited to a house and being able to rearrange the furniture” – Jane Silber
103. “Ensuring diverse team members have a voice in the strategic direction of the company starts with intentionally hiring and developing diverse talent. It continues with promoting awareness of how much better we are as a company when teams of diverse people, perspectives and points of view work together on our most strategic initiatives.” — Nina Vaca, Pinnacle Group, Inc.
104. “It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.”
105. “Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible – the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family.” – Virginia Satir
106. “There are a number of new fellowships designed to help make the aerospace industry a more diverse and dynamic environment, and the individuals who become alumni of these fellowships are going to change the world. I really want to see space companies and agencies have equal representation of women and minorities.”
107. “Our diversity is our strength. What a dull and pointless life it would be if everyone was the same.” - Angelina Jolie, Actress, Filmmaker and Humanitarian
108. “Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilisation.”
109. Real diversity and inclusion doesn't mean that we will always agree. It means that even when we disagree, we can still respect each other. –Justin Jones-Fosu, The Inclusive Mindset: How to Cultivate Diversity in Your Everyday Life
110. “When we listen and celebrate what is both common and different, we become wiser, more inclusive, and better as an organization.”
111. “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”
112. “If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.”
113. “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”
114. “Safety brings first aid to the uninjured.”
115. “The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.”
116. “Embrace a diversity of ideas. Embrace the fact that you can disagree with people and not be disagreeable. Embrace the fact that you can find common ground - if you disagree on nine out of 10 things, but can find common ground on that 10th, maybe you can make progress. If you can find common ground, you can accomplish great things.” - David Boies, Lawyer
117. “We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, while others bright, some have weird names, but they have all learned to live in the same box.” - Robert Fulghum, Author of All I Really Need To Know, I Learned in Kindergarten
118. “Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else.”
119. “Diversity is having a seat at the table, inclusion is having a voice, and belonging is having that voice be heard.” Liz Fosslien
120. “We need diversity of thought in the world to face the new challenges.” - Tim Berners Lee, Computer Scientist and Inventor of the World Wide Web
121. “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
122. “Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another’s uniqueness.”
123. “There are a lot of unwritten rules in the entertainment industry that create racial exclusion, and at Color Of Change, we know that to change society you have to change the rules. This inclusion rider is a written rule that will change the culture of hiring at the Grammys, and will make inclusion the norm.” — Rashad Robinson, President at Color of Change.
124. “Don’t tolerate me as different. Accept me as part of the spectrum of normalcy.”
125. There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard. There are not more than five primary colours, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen. There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavours than can ever be tasted. –Sun Tzu, The Art of War
126. “We need to reach that happy stage of our development when differences and diversity are not seen as sources of division and distrust, but of strength and inspiration.”
127. “We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.” - Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States
128. “If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.” – John F. Kennedy
129. “I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” – Thomas Jefferson.
130. “Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day.”
131. “You can’t categorize diversity based on what a person looks like. It’s what that person can do for the organization.” – Charles K Poole
132. “We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.” – Kofi Annan
133. “Data-informed decision making is so important, specifically when we are talking about DEI. Rather than just aiming for a quick fix to improve your numbers in terms of diversity, data-informed hiring allows for you to evaluate the physical characteristics such as ethnicity and gender, but also characteristics of diversity of thought, education, or experience that have immense value.” — Kimya Lee, Executive director, strategic workforce planning and analysis at the Department of Homeland Security.
134. The strength of every individual is the grace for great work. –Lailah Gifty Akita, Think Great: Be Great!
135. “Many conversations about diversity and inclusion do not happen in the boardroom because people are embarrassed at using unfamiliar words or afraid of saying the wrong thing — yet this is the very place we need to be talking about it.
136. “You deserve a circle of inclusion and influence, but it’s up to you to create it.”
137. “The history of the past is but one long struggle upward to equality.” – Elizabeth Cady Stanton
138. “Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.”
139. Ask not, 'How do I hire more women?'
140. “Be steady and well-ordered in your life so that you can be fierce and original in your work.”
141. Equality is not a concept. It's not something we should be striving for. It's a necessity. Equality is like gravity. We need it to stand on this earth as men and women, and the misogyny that is in every culture is not a true part of the human condition. It is life out of balance, and that imbalance is sucking something out of the soul of every man and woman who's confronted with it. We need equality. Kinda now. –Joss Whedon
142. “When we listen and celebrate what is both common and different, we become a wiser, more inclusive, and better organisation.” —Pat Wadors, Chief Talent Officer at LinkedIn.
143. “When we listen and celebrate what is both common and different, we become a wiser, more inclusive, and better organization.”
144. “We can either emphasize those aspects of our traditions, religious or secular, that speak of hatred, exclusion, and suspicion or work with those that stress the interdependence and equality of all human beings. The choice is yours. (22)”
145. “We’re at a moment in time when companies aren’t going to tolerate not having a diverse slate; it truly puts them at risk”
146. “In order to have a meaningful impact, companies should value diversity and inclusion from day one” – Christine Tsai
147. “There should be no discrimination against languages people speak, skin color, or religion.” – Malala Yousafzai
148. “What we need to do is learn to respect and embrace our differences until our differences don’t make a difference in how we are treated.” – Yolanda King
149. “Be humble. Be hungry. And always be the hardest worker in the room.”
150. “Learn to enjoy and respect each other’s differences.” – Fred Meijer
151. “It hasn’t been too fashionable to talk about the soul. We live in a material world. Religion is discredited as superstition or, worse, fundamentalism. Spirituality, even when detached from religion, looks a bit hippy, wooly, vague; a comfort-zone for those who can’t quite manage life as a biological and chemical accident with miraculous consequences.”
152. “Diversity and Inclusion is a competitive advantage that a smart leader would not overlook” – Brian Ka Chan
153. “These three goals—sustainability, inclusion, growth—are daunting. Fortunately they can strengthen and reinforce each other.”
154. “We need diversity of thought in the world to face the new challenges.”
155. “Diversity, or the state of being different, isn't the same as inclusion. One is a description of what is, while the other describes a style of interaction essential to effective teams and organizations.” — Bill Crawford
156. “We need to resist the tyranny of low expectations. We need to open our eyes to the inequality that remains. We won’t unlock the full potential of the workplace until we see how far from equality we really are.” — Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook (Source: Thrive Global)
157. “We believe diversity and inclusion are engines of innovation, creativity, progress, and happiness. Uncovering and nurturing the potential of people around the globe is our business.” - Ranjit de Sousa, President, Lee Hecht Harrison
158. “Diversity requires commitment. Achieving superior performance diversity can produce further action– most notably, a commitment to develop a culture of inclusion. People do not just need to be different, they need to be fully involved and feel their voices are heard.”
159. “I believe that we are here for each other, not against each other. Everything comes from an understanding that you are a gift in my life – whoever you are, whatever our differences.” – John Denver
160. “Our concern is to heal. Our concern is to bring together.” – Harold Washington
161. “The difference between diversity and inclusion is being invited to a house and being able to rearrange the furniture.” – Jane Silber
162. “If a company had a problem with sales, you wouldn’t hold a deep, sincere conversation about how much everybody values sales, dedicate a ‘National Celebrate Sales Month,’ and expect anything to change. Unfortunately, that’s a lot of what we’ve been doing in the diversity, equity, and inclusion context.”
163. “Our unity is our strength, and our diversity is our power. We reject the myth of ‘us’ vs. ‘them’.
164. “Diversity happens, inclusion is a choice” – Harjeet Khanduja
165. “If you exclude 50% of the talent pool, it’s no wonder you find yourself in a war for talent.” — Theresa J. Whitmarsh, Executive Director of the Washington State Investment Board (Source: World Economic Forum)
166. “We recognize the power and influence that we have to create change beyond our own walls. And we know that if we can help our portfolio companies become more inclusive, more equitable, that can help drive long-term performance.”
167. “Diversity is the mix. Inclusion is making the mix work” – Andres Tapia
168. “Diversity is the engine of invention, it generates creativity that enriches the world.” — Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada.
169. “We have a very diverse environment and a very inclusive culture and those characteristics got us through the tough times. Diversity generated a better strategy, better risk management, better debates, and better outcomes.”
170. “Our strategic discussions are a joint team exercise that explicitly goes through a phase to identify and gather input from all team members. This ensures we have surveyed the landscape and formed a full picture before narrowing the focus toward execution. We also collaborate with the product development teams and the diversity and inclusion office to create a “diversity by design” process.” — Arthur Hu, Lenovo.
171. “Diversity is not how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another’s uniqueness.”
172. “I don't think when you are telling stories and attempting to be a good citizen of the world that that's political.”
173. “We have a very diverse environment and a very inclusive culture, and those characteristics got us through the tough times.
174. Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilisation. –Mahatma Gandhi
175. “Recognizing and respecting differences in others, and treating everyone like you want them to treat you, will help make our world a better place for everyone. Care … be your best. You dont have to be handicapped to be different. Everyone is different!” -Kim Peek
176. “Diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice we make every day. As leaders, we have to put out the message that we embrace and not just tolerate diversity.”
177. “Your supply chain strategy should have a diversity, equity and inclusion component that intentionally caters for ‘supply chain staffing’, ‘supply chain vendors’ and ‘benefactors of your supply chain network’. This leverages the creative gusto of a diverse workforce, unlocks innovation from a rich supplier base and ensures solutions are inclusive and sensitive to the needs of diverse supply chain benefactors.”
178. “If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”
179. “Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance” – Verna Myers
180. Race and religion do not separate people; ignorance does. –Matshona Dhliwayo
181. Creating and managing a diverse workforce is a process, not a destination. –R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr.
182. “Why be a star when you can make a constellation?”
183. “We have to stop thinking about diversity and start thinking about inclusion.”
184. “Cultivating diversity in all its forms—of our content, products, and people—is one of our most important business imperatives.”
185. “We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.”
186. “As a leader, you need to ensure that no single voice is more heavily weighted than another.”
187. “We could learn a lot from crayons; some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, while others bright, some have weird names, but they all have learned to live together in the same box.”
188. “Equality is the planning committee.
189. “There are just some folks that no matter what you say you’re not going to convince them so you need to spend energy on people where you see some promise, you see some glimmers of change, of connection, of nudging them along.” — Rocio Rivadeneyra, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at ISU.
190. “Effective inclusion leadership needs to start at the top of the organization.”
191. “No one on his deathbed ever said, ‘I wish I had spent more time on my business.”
192. “D&I needs to be something that every single employee at the company has a stake in.” — Bo Young Lee, Uber’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.
193. “Success is best when it’s shared.”
194. “Diversity and inclusion, which are the real grounds for creativity, must remain at the center of what we do.”
195. The color of my skin says nothing about me except for the melanin percentage. Stop racism!
196. “People will typically be more enthusiastic where they feel a sense of belonging and see themselves as part of a community than they will in a workplace in which each person is left to his own devices.”
197. “Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands.”
198. “Real cultural diversity results from the interchange of ideas, products, and influences, not from the insular development of a single national style.” - Tyler Cowen, Economist
199. “It goes without saying that no company, small or large, can win over the long run without energized employees who believe in the mission and understand how to achieve it.”
200. “We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity.”
201. “I know there is strength in the differences between us. I know there is comfort where we overlap.” – Ani DiFranco
202. “It is good we have variation of colors to make this world more colorful and beautiful. We can learn to appreciate the variations within ourselves, then accept and enjoy all the various colorations making me and you, uniquely different and similar, making this globe glows beautifully colorful as intended to be.”
203. “Go BACK?” I asked, emphasizing my incredulity at the sound of the word back.
204. “You can’t categorize diversity based on what a person looks like. It’s what that person can do for the organization.”
205. A diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone. –Sundar Pichai
206. “The whole idea of a stereotype is to simplify. Instead of going through the problem of all this great diversity – that it’s this or maybe that – you have just one large statement; it is this.” – Chinua Achebe
207. “Inclusion is not a matter of political correctness. It is the key to growth.” — Jesse Jackson, Politician and Activist.
208. “Diversity is the engine of invention. It generates creativity that enriches the world.” - Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
209. “Without accountability, you’re just relying on people’s goodwill, and goodwill only takes you so far.” — Cindy at Robinhood.
210. Build bridges, not walls. –Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem
211. “Growing up, I decided, a long time ago, I wouldn’t accept any manmade differences between human beings, differences made at somebody else’s insistence or someone else’s whim or convenience.” – Maya Angelou
212. “Our diversity of faith and color and creeds—that is not a threat to who we are. It makes us who we are.”
213. When everyone is included, everyone wins. –Jesse Jackson
214. “Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health; safe connections are fundamental to meaningful and satisfying lives.”
215. “Inclusion and fairness in the workplace is not simply the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do.” – Alexis Herman, Politician and Former US Secretary of Labor.
216. The color of your soul is more important than the color of your skin. –Matshona Dhliwayo
217. “Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I’m not there, I go to work.”
218. “Cultural differences should not separate us from each other, but rather cultural diversity brings a collective strength that can benefit all of humanity.” –
219. If you hire only those people you understand, the company will never get people better than you are. Always remember that you often find outstanding people among those you don't particularly like.
220. “Diversity really means becoming complete as human beings - all of us. We learn from each other. If you're missing on that stage, we learn less. We all need to be on that stage.” - Juan Felipe Herrera, Poet
221. “We have a very diverse environment and a very inclusive culture and those characteristics got us through the tough times. Diversity generated better strategy, better risk management, better debates, and better outcomes.”
222. “A diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone.” — Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google (Source: Quartz at Work)
223. “Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.”
224. “Diversity is having a seat at the table, inclusion is having a voice, and belonging is having that voice be heard” – Liz Fosslien
225. “I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.”
226. “It’s not how much money we make that ultimately makes us happy between 9 and 5. It’s whether or not our work fulfills us.”
227. “Our workforce and our entire economy are strongest when we embrace diversity to its fullest, and that means opening doors of opportunity to everyone.” — Tom Perez, Politician, Attorney and Chair of the DNC (Democratic National Committee).
228. “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”
229. “Companies that embrace diversity and inclusion in all aspects of their business statistically outperform their peers” – Josh Bersin
230. “Highly engaged employees make the customer experience. Disengaged employees break it.”
231. “Diversity: the art of thinking independently together.” – Malcolm Forbes
232. “What we have to do… is to find a way to celebrate our diversity and debate our differences without fracturing our communities.” – Hillary Clinton
233. “The uncomfortable truth is that we actually have not seen enough progress over the last … 40 years. If you look at just the numbers of Black and Latinx executives in senior positions in large firms … it’s nowhere near where it should be.” — Frank Cooper III, senior managing director and global chief marketing officer at BlackRock.
234. “Ethnic diversity adds richness to a society.” - Gary Locke, American Politician and Diplomat
235. “In order to be great, you just have to care. You have to care about your world, community, and equality.”
236. “In crucial things, unity. In important things, diversity. In all things, generosity.”
237. “We have the ability to achieve, if we master the necessary goodwill, a common global society blessed with a shared culture of peace that is nourished by the ethnic, national and local diversities that enrich our lives.”
238. “Diversity is the magic”
239. “Peace requires everyone to be in the circle – wholeness, inclusion” – Isabel Allende
240. “A lot of different flowers make a bouquet.” - Muslim Origin
241. “Our diversity is our strength. What a dull and pointless life it would be if everyone was the same.”
242. “Diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion” seem to be go-to business buzzwords in today’s work culture, appearing all over company websites and on seemingly every mission statement. But in 2021 and beyond, we want to inspire leaders to achieve more than lip service.
243. “When Europeans arrived on this continent, they blew it with the Native Americans. They plowed over them, taking as much as they could of their land and valuables, and respecting almost nothing about the native cultures. They lost the wisdom of the indigenous peoples-wisdom about the land and connectedness to the great web of life…We have another chance with all these refugees. People come here penniless but not cultureless. They bring us gifts. We can synthesize the best of our traditions with the best of theirs. We can teach and learn from each other to produce a better America…”
244. “There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.
245. “We believe our diversity, our differences, when joined together by a common set of ideals, makes us stronger, makes us more creative, makes us different.
246. “We know that diversity can sometimes be more uncomfortable because things are less familiar—but it gets the best results.”
247. “Tend to the people, and they will tend to the business.”
248. “We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.”
249. “Inclusion and fairness in the workplace is not simply the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do.”
250. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
251. “Diversity, or the state of being different, isn't the same as inclusion. One is a description of what is, while the other describes a style of interaction essential to effective teams and organizations.” — Bill Crawford, Psychologist (Source: Leading Differently)
252. “It ain't enough to talk of toleration! Each of us is to be the vessel of unification.”
253. “If we want to include everyone, we have to help everyone develop their talents and use their gifts for the good of the community. That’s what inclusion means– everyone contributes.”
254. “People may be said to resemble not the bricks of which a house is built, but the pieces of a picture puzzle, each differing in shape, but matching the rest, and thus bringing out the picture.” - Felix Adler, Professor of Political and Social Ethics
255. “Using people to be inclusive is not an attack. It is progress.”
256. “Diversity really means becoming complete as human beings – all of us. We learn from each other. If you’re missing on that stage, we learn less. We all need to be on that stage.”
257. “Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”
258. “The path to diversity begins with supporting, mentoring, and sponsoring diverse women and men to become leaders and entrepreneurs.” — Denise Morrison, Business Executive and former President of Campbell Soup Company.
259. “The path to diversity begins with supporting, mentoring, and sponsoring diverse women and men to become leaders and entrepreneurs.”
260. “We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion.” - Max de Pree, Businessman and Writer
261. “Inclusivity means not ‘just we’re allowed to be there,’ but we are valued” – Claudia Brind-Woody
262. “Honesty and openness is always the foundation of insightful dialogue.”
263. Higher levels of innovation and creativity
264. “If you hire only those people you understand, the company will never get people better than you are. Always remember that you often find outstanding people among those you don’t particularly like.”
265. “Diverse groups are more creative. They feel uncomfortable, and that discomfort motivates them to do extra preparation and share new information.”
266. Only through diversity do we have strength and beauty. Teach your children that. It is your responsibility as a parent to teach them about how beauty and strength both are associated with diversity.
267. “From the ground your eyes can only see a block or two. Stand on the terrace, and you could see much of a small town. The higher you go, the more you see - and as your horizon keeps expanding there comes a point when the entire planet unfolds in front of your eyes - no borders, no ideologies, no institutions - just one planet - one world. Divisions exist only in the mind of lower creatures - the higher you rise, the more undivided you become - and the more undivided you become, the more human you become. Look from the gutter, all you see is one culture. Look from the sky, and you'll see a world full of color.”
268. “Diversity strengthens our innovative capacity, unleashes the potential of Siemens’ employees and thereby directly contributes to our business success.” — Janina Kugel, Human Resources Board Member and Chief Diversity Officer at Siemens (Source: Siemens)
269. “The D&I subject isn’t new; 2020 was simply a wake-up call for companies. Advancing workplace diversity is more important today than ever before. I suggest focusing on talent and engaging professionals who can accelerate emerging technologies and solve complex problems. This will help drive diversity in teams and bring broad perspectives together, generating better business results.” — Azmath Pasha, Paradigm Technology.
270. “Pit I before the D. You can create a diverse workplace if you create an inclusive workplace.” — Roberto Di Bernardin.
271. “Inclusion is not a matter of political correctness. It is the key to growth.”
272. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
273. Diversity doesn't look like anyone. It looks like everyone. –Karen Draper
274. “We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.” — Jimmy Carter
275. “A diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone.” — Sundar Pichai
276. “Inclusivity means not just ‘we’re allowed to be there’, but ‘we are valued’.
277. “D&I needs to be something that every single employee at the company has a stake in.”
278. “If you haven’t hired a team of people who are of color, female, and/or LGBT to actively turn over every stone, to scope out every nook and cranny, to pop out of every bush, to find every qualified underrepresented founder in this country, you’re going to miss out on a lot of money when the rest of the investment world gets it.”
279. “Inclusion is the story of sunlight falling equally on the garden of flowers (Diversity) and the gardeners (Inclusive Leaders) tending to the plants to grow and flower. Some plants need extra support, some need extra care and nutrition. The sun merely shining (Equality) cannot impact all equally unless they are made receptive (Equity). Only then, can these flowers bloom and bear fruits.
280. “Diversity, or the state of being different, isn’t the same as inclusion. One is a description of what is, while the other describes a style of interaction essential to effective teams and organizations” – Bill Crawford
281. “It’s not at all hard to understand a person; it’s only hard to listen without bias.”
282. “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognise, accept, and celebrate those differences.”
283. “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”
284. “Oh yes! I'll do this - for you together and invite conflict - because I want you to think about what the world would be like if we all worked to understand people who are different than we are.”
285. “A diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone.” — Sundar Pichai.
286. “Decency is avoiding disrespect, not avoiding disagreement. Integrity is trying to get it right, not being right.”
287. “I think people are as individual as snowflakes, they kinda look alike but no two are the exactly the same, and all classification is the root of prejudice.” - Unknown
288. “The whole idea of a stereotype is to simplify. Instead of going through the problem of all this great diversity - that it's this or maybe that - you have just one large statement; it is this.” - Chinua Achebe, Novelist, Poet, Professor and Critic
289. “When we listen and celebrate what is both common and different, we become wiser, more inclusive, and better as an organization.” — Pat Wadors
290. “Respect for diversity doesn’t just make a happier workplace, it improves productivity and is good for the business.”
291. Being a global citizen means appreciating our shared humanity no matter what nation you call home. –Rohit Bhargava, Beyond Diversity
292. “Look from the gutter, all you see is one culture. Look from the sky, and you'll see a world full of color.”
293. “Embrace diversity: don’t hate on her because she is green.”
294. “Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance.” — Verna Myers, Inclusion Strategist and Author.
295. “Diversity and Inclusion is a competitive advantage that a smart leader would not overlook.”
296. It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences. –Audre Lorde
297. “We operate by core values that include “radical candor” (as originated by Kim Scott) as well as our more original value, “Speak up, then commit,” which encourages earnest discussion during the planning phase and then full follow-through after decisions. All our values promote communication, teamwork and mutual trust. We are continuously building a culture of active participation where all voices are heard and respected.” —Alex Lyashok, WorkFusion.
298. “You do not want to be in a creative organization with everybody being like-minded and stroking each other’s creative egos. You want differences of opinion… constructively.” – Cate Blanchett
299. “Diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice we make everyday. As leaders, we have to put out the message that we embrace, and not just tolerate, diversity.”
300. “If we hold up a mirror, if we act on what we know and if we persist despite our discomfort.” — Daisy Auger-Domínguez, Chief people officer at Vice Media Group.
301. “Diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice we make everyday” – Nellie Borrero
302. “There are many ways to improve diversity and inclusion, but one of the most important ways is to measure the inclusivity of team members. We conduct two surveys a year in which we ask each employee to rate their level of inclusion. We use that data to drive change in our hiring and onboarding and in the way we work.” — Brian Bell, Split Software.
303. “In today’s interconnected and globalized world, it is now commonplace for people of dissimilar world views, faiths and races to live side by side. It is a matter of great urgency, therefore, that we find ways to cooperate with one another in a spirit of mutual acceptance and respect.” – Dalai Lama
304. “On the Pulse of Morning” by Maya Angelou: This powerful poem by Maya Angelou describes how the earth is full of human beings from all backgrounds. Together, we can make the world a better place for everyone.
305. “The antidote to feel-good history is not feel-bad history but honest and inclusive history.”
306. Diversity is being asked to the party, Inclusion is being asked to dance.®” –Verna Myers
307. “We're supposed to be bringing out-of-the-box thinking and innovation, and you cannot do that unless you've got diversity... It's everything from gender to ethnicity to geographic diversity.” - Julie Sweet, CEO of Accenture
308. Diversity: the art of thinking independently together. –Malcolm Forbes
309. “It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” – Maya Angelou
310. “The most critical action leaders can take to promote diversity and inclusion over the long term is to model, through their actions, how to honor and respect the dignity of every single person. When a company instills a people-centered culture as the priority, it can leverage the strengths and voices of a diverse set of people in the development of strategies, products, and services. — David Dewolf, 3 Pillar Global.
311. “There is no earth till all roots combine, till we crave for each other all roots are chains.”
312. “We are a nation of communities... a brilliant diversity spread like stars, like a thousand points of light in a broad and peaceful sky.” - George H.W. Bush, 41st President of the United States
313. “Our ability to reach unity in diversitywill be the beauty and the test of our civilisation.”
314. “Inclusion is a right not a privilege for a select few” – D. Gregory Geary
315. “A lot of different flowers make a bouquet.”
316. “I didn’t fail the test. I just found 100 ways to do it wrong.”
317. “Share our similarities, celebrate our differences.” – M. Scott Peck
318. “The way to ensure team members have a voice is to create a corporate communication structure that reflects this goal. We have cross-functional team meetings to get input from stakeholders in every department, from sales and product development to marketing and applications engineering. We also have a tiger team composed of department leaders who convey the thoughts and opinions of their staff. ” — Julie Song, Advanced RF Technologies, Inc.
319. There is power in representation, and Kenzo was so thrilled to see someone like him in Encanto.
320. “Unconscious perceptions govern many of the most important decisions we make and have a profound effect on the lives of many people in many ways… Unconscious patterns play out in ways that are so subtle they are hard to spot.”
321. “The practice of inclusiveness is based on the practice of understanding, compassion, and love. Increasing our understanding and compassion makes our heart grow greater” – Thich Nhat Hanh
322. “What’s often ignored is that diversity is not only a pipeline or recruiting issue. It’s an issue of making the people who do make it through the pipeline want to stay at your company.” — Andrea Barrica
323. “We believe our diversity makes us stronger, smarter, and more innovative, helping us better serve the needs of our clients, our people, and our communities.” - Julie Sweet, CEO of Accenture
324. “Diversity and inclusion, which are the real grounds for creativity, must remain at the center of what we do.” – Marco Bizzarri
325. “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.”
326. “Inclusivity means not ‘just we’re allowed to be there,’ but we are valued. I’ve always said: smart teams will do amazing things, but truly diverse teams will do impossible things.”
327. “I do think that treating everyone equally no matter where they come from, no matter who they are and what role they have, is a big key, because you never know who you’re talking to, really. You never know where they’ve been. You never know where they’re going. So, it just makes a lot of good sense to treat everyone the same and treat them well.” — Arlan Hamilton
328. “The point isn’t to get people to accept that they have biases, but to get them to see [for themselves] that those biases have negative consequences for others.” — Theresa McHenry, HR Director at Microsoft UK (Source: FT)
329. “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
330. “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.” – Stephen Covey
331. “Diversity really means becoming complete as human beings – all of us. We learn from each other. If you’re missing on that stage, we learn less. We all need to be on that stage.” – Juan Felipe Herrera
332. “Too many of us still believe our differences define us.” – John Lewis
333. “You have a responsibility to make inclusion a daily thought, so we can get rid of the word ‘inclusion.’
334. “Diversity and inclusion needs to be something that every single employee at the company has a stake in.” — Bo Young Lee, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Uber.
335. “Diversity and inclusion needs to be something that every single employee at the company has a stake in.”
336. “The world has only one border. It is called humanity. The differences between us are small compared to our shared humanity. Put humans first.” – Nadia Murad
337. “The greater the diversity, the greater the perfection.”
338. “I’ve traveled around the world, and what’s so revealing is that, despite the differences in culture, politics, language, how people dress, there is a universal feeling that we all want the same thing. We deeply want to be respected and appreciated for our differences.” – Howard Schultz
339. “We all live with the objective of being happy, our lives are all different and yet the same.” - Anne Frank, Diarist
340. “At bottom every man knows well enough that he is a unique being, only once on this earth; and by no extraordinary chance will such a marvelously picturesque piece of diversity in unity as he is, ever be put together a second time.” - Friedrich Nietzsche, Philosopher
341. “When we listen and celebrate what is both common and different, we become a wiser, more inclusive, and better organisation.”
342. “When we listen and celebrate what is both common and different, we become a wiser, more inclusive, and better organization.” — Pat Wadors, Head of HR at LinkedIn (Source: LinkedIn)
343. “Diversity, inclusion, respect and fairness are concepts that make some people reluctant to discuss them. I work hard to create a safe, nonjudgmental and uplifting environment that makes exploring sensitive topics a positive journey for all… All programs, processes and resources reflect my belief that we are all more effective, productive and innovative when we honor and value our own uniqueness while at the same time valuing and respecting the differences of others.” - Leonora Billings-Harris, President and CEO, UbuntuGlobal
344. “What do you want?” I asked, trying to ignore him.
345. “I learned early on about the real meaning of equity and inclusion, and that when those guiding principles are not met, they can have devastating effects on individuals, families, and communities.”
346. “Inclusivity means not just ‘we’re allowed to be there’, but ‘we are valued’. I’ve always said: smart teams will do amazing things, but truly diverse teams will do impossible things.” —Claudia Brind-Woody, Business Executive and Vice President and Managing Director of Intellectual Property at IBM.
347. Exclusion is derived from fear, ignorance, and power, whilst inclusion is derived from love, compassion, and respect. –Michelle Emson
348. “When people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute.”
349. “We are building products that people with very diverse backgrounds use, and I think we all want our company makeup to reflect the makeup of the people who use our products.” — Sheryl Sandberg
350. “The best innovations can only come if our people reflect the world’s full diversity of individuals, opinions, and approaches.” — Alex Gorsky, chair and CEO of Johnson & Johnson.
351. “The difference between equity and equality is that equality is when everyone gets the same thing, and equity is when everyone gets the things they deserve.”
352. “The fact that societies are becoming increasingly multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multi-religious is good. Diversity is a strength, not a weakness.” — Antonio Guterres, Politician and Former Prime Minister of Portugal.
353. “Equal rights, fair play, justice, are all like the air: we all have it, or none of us has it. That is the truth of it.” – Maya Angelou
354. We are building products that people with very diverse backgrounds use, and I think we all want our company makeup to reflect the makeup of the people who use our products. — Sheryl Sandberg
355. “Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work in hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.”
356. “Probably something that you want.”
357. “The freedom of thought is a sacred right of every individual man, and diversity will continue to increase with the progress, refinement, and differentiation of the human intellect.”
358. “Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.” – Jane Goodall
359. “When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.”
360. “When we listen and celebrate what is both common and different, we become wiser, more inclusive, and better as an organization.” — Pat Wadors -Wadors, Chief Talent Officer at ServiceNow.
361. Strength lies in differences, not in similarities. –Stephen R. Covey
362. “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” — Audre Lorde
363. “Cooperation is the thorough conviction that nobody can get there unless everybody gets there.”
364. “Let’s stop believing that our differences make us superior or inferior to one another.”
365. “And what would I want?” I asked.
366. “We will all profit from a more diverse, inclusive society, understanding, accommodating, even celebrating our differences, while pulling together for the common good.”
367. “You have a responsibility to make inclusion a daily thought, so we can get rid of the word ‘inclusion’ – Theodore Melfi
368. “Variety is the spice of life.” - American Proverb
369. “I ask our business development and sales teams to create and test specific hypotheses every week, which we review in detail in a Thursday progress update. Constant awareness and stress-testing of assumptions keep everyone aligned on our core goals and KPIs while encouraging our team to think outside of the box to both meet and challenge those goals.” —Aidan McCarty, Unum ID.
370. “You either believe that people respond to authority, or that they respond to kindness and inclusion. I’m obviously in the latter camp. I think that people respond better to reward than punishment.”
371. “Diversity requires commitment. Achieving the superior performance diversity can produce needs further action – most notably, a commitment to develop a culture of inclusion. People do not just need to be different; they need to be fully involved and feel their voices are heard.”
372. “You can’t build a society purely on interests, you need a sense of belonging.”
373. “The value of a diverse team is its capacity to challenge the norm of groupthink and thus boost organizational performance and improve decision-making.” — Yrthya Dinsey-Flores, Culture and Operations Chief at Open Society Foundations.
374. “Like any cultural transformation, there’s not a one-and-done formula. There are many levers that need to be pulled” — Mia Mends, Global chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer and CEO of Impact Ventures at Sodexo North America.
375. “To get real diversity of thought, you need to find the people who genuinely hold different views and invite them into the conversation.” – Adam Grant
376. “Embrace diversity of ideas. Embrace the fact that you can disagree with people and not be disagreeable. Embrace the fact that you can find common ground. If you disagree on nine out of 10 things but can find common ground on that 10th, maybe you can make progress. If you can find common ground, you can accomplish great things.” — David Boies, Lawyer and Chairman of Boies, Schiller, and Flexner.
377. “A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results.”
378. “Leadership should be focused on extending the ladder of opportunity for everyone.” – Justin Trudeau
379. “Different roads sometimes lead to the same castle.”
380. “A group of people get together and exist as an institution we call a company so they are able to accomplish something collectively that they could not accomplish separately – they make a contribution to society, a phrase which sounds trite but is fundamental.”
381. “Diversity and inclusion is less about a program, and more about helping people become comfortable enough to have a dialog about their experiences—including times when we have felt like an outsider.” - Carin Taylor, Chief Diversity Officer, Workday
382. “Inclusive leadership is like good cooking: you need a chef (inclusive leader) who knows how to choose good ingredients (diversity) and how to combine them using a good recipe (inclusion).” - Thais Compoint, Award-Winning Global Specialist in Inclusion and Diversity
383. “Our allies are critical in transforming our workplace. Any women’s movement needs to have men that are standing side by side, demanding the same things that we need.”
384. “A shared vocabulary in the workplace would be so valuable. When I learned terms like ‘cis,’ it helped me think about things and made it easier to talk about issues with my wife. But how do you explain ‘nonbinary’ to a factory-floor mechanic from Georgia? If my colleagues had the right language, it would make conversations a thousand times easier.”
385. “Many conversations about diversity and inclusion do not happen in the boardroom because people are embarrassed at using unfamiliar words or afraid of saying the wrong thing—yet this is the very place we need to be talking about it. The business case speaks for itself—diverse teams are more innovative and successful in going after new markets.”
386. “Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – work, family, health, friends and spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.”
387. “A company embracing D&I needs to do a lot more than just recruit diverse candidates. D&I is a cultural journey, and it has to start with building awareness, imparting education and spotlighting cultural gains from embracing a more inclusive culture at the company. It should become a habit to focus on ideas instead of the person behind the idea. And ideas should become truly “colorless.” — Suresh Chintada, Subex.
388. Diversity is all about accepting that we all are different yet the same. Embracing diversity will be the ultimate test of our civilization.
389. “The only thing that ever sat its way to success was a hen.”
390. “People may be said to resemble not the bricks of which a house is built, but the pieces of a picture puzzle, each differing in shape, but matching the rest, and thus bringing out the picture.” — Felix Adler, Professor of Political and Social Ethics.
391. “Stupidity and unconscious bias often work more damage than venality.”
392. “When everyone is included, everyone wins” – Jesse Jackson
393. “Understanding diversity includes knowing how diminished we all are when voices go unheard.”
394. “Inclusion is not a matter of political correctness. It is the key to growth.” — Jesse Jackson
395. “Diversity: the art of thinking independently together.” - Malcolm Forbes, Entrepreneur and Publisher of Forbes Magazine
396. “Diversity is a given, inclusion is a choice, equity is a goal. Belonging is our ultimate endpoint. When you recognize those three things, you create a culture that is on fire.” —Camille Chang Gilmore, Boston Scientific’s Global Chief Diversity Officer.
397. “Allyship is stepping up in support of colleagues who are identified in another group: to support them, to create opportunities for them, to speak up when you see negative behaviors, and also to amplify and lift them up.”
398. “Every individual deserves equal access to opportunity regardless of skin color or zip code. For too long, communities of color have faced gross injustices and institutional barriers to their pursuit of the American dream, and we are proud to lend our voices and resources to build new engines of opportunity that empower, inspire, and create meaningful change.” — Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policy, and Social Initiatives.
399. “If we want to include everyone, we have to help everyone develop their talents and use their gifts for the good of the community. That’s what inclusion means – everyone contributes” – Melinda Gates
400. “Blessed are the weird people: poets, misfits, writers, mystics, painters, troubadours for they teach us to see the world through different eyes.”
401. “We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion.”
402. “But if we want to change the world so it's good for everyone, it's important to talk about the truth.”
403. “A lot of change is possible by just acknowledging unconscious bias–that exhaustively documented but unpleasant reality many would rather ignore–and listening with less bias and acting on what we then learn.”
404. “We developed a monthly forum called “Tech Thursday” that is open to everyone within the company to discuss technology and where we should position ourselves as an organization. We are an employee-driven, customer-focused company. We understand that our employees are the engine behind our excellent work. We encourage our employees’ input and participation in these forums because they understand our customers.” — Calvin Rhodes, IP-Plus Consulting, Inc.
405. “We are less when we don’t include everyone” – Stuart Milk
406. “Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity.” – John Hume.
407. “A lot of [past] decisions have been made on instinct rather than impact measurement and research. There's an opportunity to dig deep into the research and analysis of it all so that we can ... alter our strategies [and] build best practices.” — Crystal Barnes, senior vice president of culture and corporate social responsibility for ViacomCBS.
408. “The mantra of ‘diversity and inclusion’ can be understood as part of a normative project that seeks to present the superficial appearance of racial diversity while leaving white supremacist institutions and structures fundamentally unchallenged (Ahmed 2012).”
409. “People may be said to resemble not the bricks of which a house is built, but the pieces of a picture puzzle, each differing in shape, but matching the rest, and thus bringing out the picture.”
410. “True belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world. Our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.”
411. “Inclusion and fairness in the workplace… is not simply the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do” – Alexis Herman
412. “We want a culture that is inclusive of everyone and where everyone who joins feels they have opportunities to succeed and grow.” - Nellie Borrero, Senior Global I&D Lead of Accenture
413. “A diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone.” – Sundar Pichai
414. “Real diversity and inclusion doesn’t mean that we will always agree. It means that even when we disagree, we can still respect each other” – Justin Jones-Fosu
415. “Inclusion and fairness in the workplace... is not simply the right thing to do; it's the smart thing to do.” - Alexis Herman, Former United States Secretary of Labor
416. “We have a very diverse environment and a very inclusive culture, and those characteristics got us through the tough times. Diversity generated a better strategy, better risk management, better debates, and better outcomes.” — Alan Joyce, Business Executive and Chief Executive Officer of Qantas Airways.
417. Equality is treating everyone the same. But equity is taking differences into account, so everyone has a chance to succeed. –Jodi Picoult, Small Great Things
418. “Every culture’s history is essential. Everyone deserves to have their lives elevated through the beauty of truthful representation.”
419. “Treating different things the same can generate as much inequality as treating the same things differently.”
420. “Diversity is about creating an environment where a person can bring their whole self to work.”
421. “Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They’re about to announce the lottery numbers.”
422. “Good leadership requires you to surround yourself with people of diverse perspectives who can disagree with you without fear of retaliation.” — Doris Kearns Goodwin
423. “The human heart is too grand to be wasted in the gutter of cultural exclusivity.”
424. “Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.” – Mahatma Gandhi
425. “Creating and managing a diverse workforce is a process, not a destination.”
426. You need to get past your own unconscious perceptions. If you are not able to let go of your own biases, you won’t be able to create a diverse and inclusive society.
427. “If you haven’t got the best talent, you’re not going to be the best; if you’re not representing properly the available pool of talent, then you’re missing an opportunity.”
428. “Integrating into the work people do every day also helps it become more doable … more feasible. I think those are some of the messages and the ways I’ve seen it (DEI work) resonate with people.” — Angela Allen, Country Financial Diversity and Inclusion Program Manager.
429. Men are from Earth, women are from Earth. Deal with it. –George Carlin
430. “There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard. There are not more than five primary colors, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen. There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted.”
431. “Unity, not uniformity, must be our aim. We attain unity only through variety. Differences must be integrated, not annihilated, not absorbed.” – Mary Parker Follett
432. “The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.”
433. “The more accessible we make the opportunities, the more we will hopefully see a payoff in the diversity, equity, and inclusion aspect of hiring. Creating a more level playing field to offer access to these opportunities will bring more people to the government, and once they are in the government, more resources are available to them.” — Tracy DiMartini, Chief human capital officer at the General Services Administration.
434. “A diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone.”
435. “I can tell you, without diversity, creativity remains stagnant.” - Edward Enninful, Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue
436. “We have no hope of solving our problems without harnessing the diversity, the energy, and the creativity of all our people.” – Roger Wilkins
437. “The minute we become an integrated whole, we look through the same eyes and we see a whole different world together.”
438. “There is a reason the word belonging has a synonym for want at its center; it is the human condition.”
439. Diversity in all its forms is the path to greatness. –James D Wilson
440. “Diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice we make every day. As leaders, we have to put out the message that we embrace, and not just tolerate, diversity.” — Nellie Borrero, Global Inclusion and Diversity Managing Director at Accenture.
441. “The world in which you were born is just one model of reality. Other cultures are not failed attempts at being you; they are unique manifestations of the human spirit.” – Wade Davis
442. Urging an organization to be inclusive is not an attack. It's progress. –DaShanne Stokes
443. “While globalization will make the world smaller and more accessible, we must continue to appreciate its vibrant diversity.” - Jean-Philippe Courtois, Executive Vice President and President, Microsoft Global Sales, Marketing and Operations
444. “Our cultural strength has always been derived from our diversity of understanding and experience.”
445. “Inclusive leadership is not a destination. It's a journey that requires humility, curiosity and courage.” - Thais Compoint, Award-Winning Global Specialist in Inclusion and Diversity
446. “I really encourage, especially hiring managers and leaders, to name what areas of diversity they want to focus on. If you can’t name it, you’re not going to be able to change it or measure it. Again, we need more hiring managers to move away from the culture fit equation and move toward culture add.”
447. “You don’t have true freedom until you allow a diversity of opinion and a diversity of voices.” – Don Lemon
448. “Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there.”
449. “To be one, to be united is a great thing. But to respect the right to be different is maybe even greater.” – Bono
450. “The most accurate way to gauge DE&I progress is to understand the reactions of the stakeholders who matter the most: employees.”
451. “We are less when we don’t include everyone.”
452. “The key to community is the acceptance, in fact the celebration of our individual and cultural differences. It is also the key to world peace.” – M. Scott Peck
453. “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.” — Maya Angelou, Poet (Source: Huffington Post)
454. “We have no hope of solving our problems without harnessing the diversity, the energy, and the creativity of all our people.” - Roger Wilkins, Journalist, Professor and Civil Rights Leader
455. Diversity is what exists and Inclusion is what must be done to embrace the existence of diversity.
456. “No culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive.” – Mahatma Gandhi
457. “When we listen and celebrate what is common and different, we become a wiser, more inclusive, and better organization.” - Pat Wadors, Chief People Officer, Procore Technologies, Inc.
458. “There is a huge business case for diversity. You will be making products for people you don’t understand, you don’t interact with. If you don’t have an inclusive, diverse workforce, it makes you myopic.” — Renee James, Technology Executive and former President of Intel.
459. “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.” – Maya Angelou
460. “The simple act of paying positive attention to people has a great deal to do with productivity.”
461. “When employees can bring their authentic selves to work, they become better educated about different cultures, experiences and expressions, helping them to build trust as colleagues and provide better care for all their patients,” — Jackie Hunter, UVMHN.
462. “Inclusion works to the advantage of everyone. We all have things to learn and we all have something to teach.” - Helen Henderson, Journalist and Disability Rights Activist
463. “I can tell you, without diversity, creativity remains stagnant.”
464. “Diversity and inclusion, which are the real grounds for creativity, must remain at the center of what we do.” - Marco Bizzarri, CEO of Gucci
465. “Diversity is about all of us, and about us having to figure out how to walk through this world together.”
466. “Action to achieve sociocultural diversity—closely overseen by top management—must be part of a transformation project for the company as a whole. ...The mobilization of the management team and the whole organization must be strong and visible, both to employees and to external stakeholders such as consumers, investors, the media, and the general public.”
467. “Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.”
468. “Before God, we are all equally wise, and equally foolish.” – Albert Einstein
469. “We all have the ability to promote a culture of acceptance and inclusion — and that is something I believe every leader has a responsibility to do. It starts with having a dialogue until we are all comfortable and no longer have the fear of saying the wrong thing.”
470. “It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength." - Maya Angelou, Poet
471. “The continuum in which we live is not the kind of place in which middles can be unambiguously excluded. ”
472. “Without an inclusive environment, even an organization with a diverse employee population will probably struggle to improve its long-term performance. The widespread adoption of hybrid work has complicated the struggle to build and maintain such cultures.”
473. “Sometimes we are separated by differences, and sometimes we are united by common ideals of respect and compassion.” – Paul Watson
474. “Embrace a diversity of ideas. Embrace the fact that you can disagree with people and not be disagreeable. Embrace the fact that you can find common ground.
475. “I think every person has their own identity and beauty. Everyone being different is what is really beautiful. If we were all the same, it would be boring.” - Tila Tequila, TV and Social Media Personality
476. “We have to transcend our differences to transform our future.” – Antonio Guterres
477. “There is a huge business case for diversity.
478. “Often when we talk about diversity, we talk about the things that are a little [easier] to characterize … the observable traits about people. But there's so much more that constitutes our own lived experience.” — Prakash Janakiraman, co-founder of Nextdoor.
479. “To me, beauty is inclusion– every size, every color– that’s the world I live in.”
480. “If we were to select the most intelligent, imaginative, energetic, and emotionally stable third of mankind, all races would be present.” – Franz Boas
481. “Your imagination is your preview of life’s coming attractions.”
482. “We all want to have something to offer. This is how we belong. It is how we feel included. So, if we want to include everyone, then we have to help everyone develop their talents, and use their gifts for the good of the community. That’s what inclusion means. Everyone is a contributor.”
483. “When everyone is included, everyone wins.” — Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Activist
484. “Infinite diversity in infinite combinations…
485. “Diversity and inclusion cannot simply be delegated to one individual. That is a cop-out. It should be on the CEO’s plate as a priority and central to the HR agenda, not something that ebbs and flows with the quality of a diversity and inclusion leader.”
486. “For me personally, the value that I bring is only evident when I don’t have to pretend or perform. When I can be my true authentic self, I can be the best version of me that I can be. That’s the true value of inclusion.” — Kim Jenkins, global head of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at PayPal.
487. “It is understanding that gives us an ability to have peace. When we understand the other fellow’s viewpoint, and he understands ours, then we can sit down and work out our differences.” – Harry S Truman
488. “We think, mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time we put in.”
489. “Inclusion works to the advantage of everyone. We all have things to learn and we all have something to teach” – Helen Henderson
490. “We are all different, which is great because we are all unique. Without diversity, life would be very boring.”
491. “Diversity: the art of thinking independently together.”
492. Diversity is the mix. Inclusion is making the mix work. –Andres Tapia
493. “We need diversity of thought in the world to face the new challenges.” – Tim Berners-Lee
494. “Diversity in the world is a basic characteristic of human society, and also the key condition for a lively and dynamic world as we see today.” - Hu Jintao, Former President of People’s Republic of China
495. “Inclusion involves creating, fostering, and sustaining practices and conditions that encourage and allow each of us to be full ourselves–with our differences from and similarities to those around us — as we work together” – Jossey-Bass
496. “What diversity advocates are working for is an industry that honestly, accurately, and equitably represents the world we live in.”
497. “Diversity may be the hardest thing for a society to live with, and perhaps the most dangerous thing for a society to be without.”
498. “Many conversations about diversity and inclusion do not happen in the boardroom because people are embarrassed at using unfamiliar words or afraid of saying the wrong thing — yet this is the very place we need to be talking about it. The business case speaks for itself — diverse teams are more innovative and successful in going after new markets.” — Inga Beale, Business Executive and former CEO of Lloyd’s of London.
499. “Employees who believe that management is concerned about them as a whole person – not just an employee – are more productive, more satisfied, more fulfilled. Satisfied employees mean satisfied customers, which leads to profitability.”
500. “We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity.
501. If you hire only those people you understand, the company will never get people better than you are. Always remember that you often find outstanding people among those you don't particularly like. –Soichiro Honda
502. “I would not worship a God who is homophobic […] I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I would say, ‘Sorry, I would much rather go to the other place.’”
503. “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
504. “I think diversity can also be a resource, an asset, especially in a world that is becoming globalized, to deal with difference, to deal with variety, to deal with complexity.”
505. “Isn’t that where you came from?”
506. “We know that diversity can sometimes be more uncomfortable because things are less familiar – but it gets the best results.”
507. Diversity is a basic characteristic of our society. Without accepting it, we will never move forward.
508. We are all different, which is great because we are all unique. Without diversity, life would be very boring. –Catherine Pulsifer
509. “It’s just really important that we start celebrating our differences. Let’s start tolerating first, but then we need to celebrate our differences.” – Billie Jean King
510. “Corporate social responsibility is measured in terms of businesses improving conditions for their employees, shareholders, communities, and environment. But moral responsibility goes further, reflecting the need for corporations to address fundamental ethical issues such as inclusion, dignity, and equality.” – Klaus Schwab
511. “We will all profit from a more diverse, inclusive society. [From] understanding, accommodating, even celebrating our differences, while pulling together for the common good.”
512. “Everyone's values are different, and we must respect them all because that's what makes life interesting.” - Senora Roy, Poet
513. “There are different ways to do innovation. You can plant a lot of seeds, not be committed to any particular one of them, but just see what grows. And this really isn’t how we’ve approached this. We go mission-first, then focus on the pieces we need and go deep on them and be committed to them.”
514. “Society is unity in diversity.” – George Herbert Mead
515. “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly”
516. “We are less when we don't include everyone.” - Stuart Milk, Political Speaker and LGBT Human Rights Activist
517. Diversity is the answer to the intolerance problem of society. You need to practice inclusion as a key to growth, and not just for political correctness.
518. “We need to reach that happy stage of our development when differences and diversity are not seen as sources of division and distrust, but of strength and inspiration.” - Josefa Iloilo, 3rd President of Fiji
519. “You deserve a circle of inclusion and influence, but it’s up to you to create it” – Richie Norton
520. Equality is leaving the door open for anyone who has the means to approach it; equity is ensuring there is a pathway to that door for those who need it. –Caroline Belden, The Inclusion Solution (Equity vs. Equality Series)
521. “When I think about everyone else who has to deal with coming out, whether that be in a safe or unsafe environment, I recommend to just think about whether or not it's the right time for you, if the person you're coming out to will make you a better person, and be in the right company. But don't be afraid to do it if it's a safe environment.”
522. “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says, I’m possible!”
523. “Talent perceives differences; genius, unity.” -William Butler Yeats
524. “People have to assess their context and understand what their current state looks like to figure out what’s the right future state for them”. — Cindy Owyoung, Vice president of inclusion, equity, and belonging at Robinhood.
525. “Inclusion is not bringing people into what already exists; it is making a new space, a better space for everyone.” - George Dei, Professor and Social Justice Educator
526. “Diversity and inclusion, which are the real grounds for creativity, must remain at the center of what we do” – Marco Bizzarri
527. “Inclusion and fairness in the workplace . . . is not simply the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do.”
528. “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.” - Stephen Covey, Author, Educator, Businessman, and Keynote Speaker
529. “Our commitment to drive accountability for DEI is embedded in our responsibility to living our values. We initially focused on metrics for culture and representation, but now aligning DEI goals to our business strategy allows us to not only hold executives accountable but ensures that every person in our company plays an active role in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.” — Reginald J. Miller, McDonald’s VP, and Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer.
530. “Work-life balance, work-life effectiveness, personal and professional satisfaction—or whatever you choose to call it—is not an entitlement or benefit. Your company cannot give it to you. You have to create it for yourself.”
531. “Genius is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration.”
532. “What Is Your Greatest Weakness?” – 10 Best Sample Answers
533. “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” - Martin Luther King, Jr., American Christian Minister and Civil Rights Activist
534. “Inclusion is a key driver and basis for reaping diversity’s potential benefits” – Jossey-Bass
535. “The value of a diverse team is its capacity to challenge the norm of groupthink and thus boost organizational performance and improve decision-making.”
536. “Create unity in diversity. You're created unique so why do you have to fit in?” - Malika E Nura, Poet
537. “You can’t be what you can’t see.”
538. “Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common… Celebrate it every day.”
539. “The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.” — ‘Abdu'l-Bahá, Former Head of the Bahá'í Faith (Source: Bahá’í Reference Library)
540. “Innovation is an evolutionary process, so it’s not necessary to be radical all the time.”