Transforming organizations through DEI: Highlights and strategies

Emcee Farah Nasser, News Anchor, Global News, set the tone at the 2023 Catalyst Honours Conference & Dinner with her welcome remarks: “We’re going to chart a course for the future where every individual has a chance to succeed.” The event on 15 November, held in Toronto and online, gathered hundreds of business leaders from Canada’s major corporations. With nearly 50 expert speakers, attendees gained critical insights on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the midst of major crises.

Attendees also celebrated and learned from eight incredible leaders — the 2023 Catalyst Honours Champions — who are making real impact in building more inclusive and equitable workplaces.

Here are the six top takeaways from the event:

1. Storytelling is crucial to making others feel seen and heard.
2. Companies should adopt new technology with an equity-first lens.
3. Acknowledging mistakes is the first step to progress.
4. DEI programs must include women in frontline roles.
5. “Allyship is transferring the benefits of your privilege.”
6. Nothing is more important than talent.

Acknowledging mistakes is the first step to progress.

David Simmonds of Canada Life talked about the need for employers to create cultures that allow for people to make mistakes while simultaneously ensuring spaces of safety and authenticity for 2SLGBTQ+ employees in the session “From Flags to Fulfillment: Failing Forward on 2SLGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion to Advance Concrete Change.” “When [Canada Life] talks about innovation, we put failure as a key requirement,” he said. “We talk about learning lessons from failures… At no point is hurting individuals appropriate, but we have to invite people to be part of a space where we build a better culture." Co-panelist Amy Hanen of TD Bank Group talked about the challenges of moving beyond performative allyship to genuine commitment. "In moments of backlash, employees will wonder if their organizations are still with them,” Hanen reminded companies, encouraging them to ensure they are communicating and re-communicating values to employees, as well as preparing for any backlash. Drawing on influence from his mentors, Simmonds concluded that building better workplaces for women and everyone could be done by centering one question: “How do you build heroes, not bullies and bystanders?"