Global Trends on the Horizon

by Nereida (Neddy) Perez

VP and Chief Diversity Officer
Ingersoll Rand

Being a diversity practitioner has never been more exciting from demographics, social, political and business perspectives. Being a member of management and part of a corporation has also never been more complex. Within a matter of seconds today you can reach the global market place. People in most parts of the world have either seen or have access to information like never before. Based on a recent study of more than 100 chief diversity officers, in order to be successful CDOs need to have strong cultural competencies, financial business acumen, a strategic mindset, technical savvy, knowledge of human resources, and the ability to influence change. In a separate study Diversity Best Practices confirmed that these skills were important as well.

Aside from these global competencies, there are a number of trends that diversity practitioners need to be mindful of when developing and executing diversity strategies within their companies. These areas of potential impact include:

Demographic Shifts: The U.S. is not the only country struggling with managing four generations, (for the first time in history,) in the work place. France, Belgium, and several other European countries are in a similar situation. Emphasis on these demographic shifts has slowed down in the corporate space because companies are still coping with the down turn of the economy.

Female Invasion: Women are now a majority of the population in the workforce in many countries, although they are still not advancing professionally or economically at the same rate. In countries like India, China, and parts of Africa, women are facing significant challenges in the workforce, such as direct discrimination, and social and economic disparities. In Europe, six countries have set goals to support the advancement of women.

Religions Differences: Religious differences are not only the major cause of economic and political unrest in the Middle East but it is also exists in Asia, Indonesia, India and even in the U.S. Creating an understanding of religious differences will be the next major challenge for diversity practitioners.