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Diversity and Inclusion – Key Driver for Business Success (India Seminar) - Mar 2010
HSBC India and Schneider Ross Ltd UK hosted a seminar on 12 March at the HSBC offices in Mumbai.
The seminar was timely as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations and also an epic week where the Indian Government had been discussing quotas for women in public life.
The session was attended by 15 global companies covering a wide spread of industries from telecoms and banking to consumer goods and petroleum. After an opening by Tanuj Kapilashrami, Head of HR for HSBC India, the group discussed issues around:-
~ The importance of integrating D&I strategies as part of mainstream business
~ The impact of senior leadership drive and modelling inclusive leadership behaviours
~ Use of Drama as part of an Inclusive Leadership Workshop for senior Leaders.
The highlights were the contributions from the case study organisations describing their approach to Diversity and Inclusion and ‘what good looks like.’ (The case study organisations included: HSBC India, ICICI Bank, Hindustan Unilever, G4S and Pepsico – Infosys have also participated in the research, but unfortunately due to ill health could not be present at the seminar).
Anjana Nathwani from Schneider~Ross has been talking to these leading companies for the last six months and commented:
“since our last research study in 2007, it is heartening to observe that companies in India have grasped a greater understanding of Inclusive Leadership and the business benefits of having a diverse workforce. A significant change is that Inclusion and Diversity feature on the radar of senior leaders and the boards of MNCs.”
To close the seminar, Stuart Davis (CEO of HSBC India) reinforced the message that “Diversity and Inclusion is a key imperative to business success and there is no excuse for not making it a business priority.”
Anjana Nathwani and Robin Schneider were awed by the enthusiasm demonstrated by the senior executives who attended the seminar; as well as their willingness to learn from each other and the commitment to participate in similar seminars.
The seminar was timely as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations and also an epic week where the Indian Government had been discussing quotas for women in public life.
The session was attended by 15 global companies covering a wide spread of industries from telecoms and banking to consumer goods and petroleum. After an opening by Tanuj Kapilashrami, Head of HR for HSBC India, the group discussed issues around:-
~ The importance of integrating D&I strategies as part of mainstream business
~ The impact of senior leadership drive and modelling inclusive leadership behaviours
~ Use of Drama as part of an Inclusive Leadership Workshop for senior Leaders.
The highlights were the contributions from the case study organisations describing their approach to Diversity and Inclusion and ‘what good looks like.’ (The case study organisations included: HSBC India, ICICI Bank, Hindustan Unilever, G4S and Pepsico – Infosys have also participated in the research, but unfortunately due to ill health could not be present at the seminar).
Anjana Nathwani from Schneider~Ross has been talking to these leading companies for the last six months and commented:
“since our last research study in 2007, it is heartening to observe that companies in India have grasped a greater understanding of Inclusive Leadership and the business benefits of having a diverse workforce. A significant change is that Inclusion and Diversity feature on the radar of senior leaders and the boards of MNCs.”
To close the seminar, Stuart Davis (CEO of HSBC India) reinforced the message that “Diversity and Inclusion is a key imperative to business success and there is no excuse for not making it a business priority.”
Anjana Nathwani and Robin Schneider were awed by the enthusiasm demonstrated by the senior executives who attended the seminar; as well as their willingness to learn from each other and the commitment to participate in similar seminars.