Conversations with Dr. Jennifer Green, Emmy Holt, and Kimberly Veness—The pivotal role of DE&I within organizations and beyond

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) has been on every corporation’s radar for over a decade and there’s a good reason for it. DE&I brings together many things; Respect for differences, fair treatment for all, and equal opportunities, above all it is a force that?allows organizations to thrive. In this edition of The Executive Exchange, Emmy Holt, Senior Director for Joint Replacement and Upper Extremities, and Kimberly Veness, Asia Pacific Lead of our Stryker Women’s Network, speak with Dr Jennifer Green, Founder of the International Orthopaedic Diversity Alliance (IODA) about the importance of DE&I

Talent growth through equitable representation and diversity

Where does DE&I begin? From the top. As a company, to ensure DE&I programs are not simply workshops laden with corporate buzzwords, leaders must walk the talk. Companies need leaders who lead by example and have concrete support programs and systems where DE&I is not only championed but integrated into the corporate culture through behaviors so that it becomes contagious in everyday work. A workplace built on a foundation of acceptance of varying perspectives and the elimination of unconscious biases, sets the tone for the success of all its employees.

Essential to this foundation is the power of networking. As individuals, we should be flourishing in our differences than being limited by them due to a lack of understanding from one another. This is especially true for under-represented groups that may find their lack of connections an impediment to their growth. For employees, career progression means paving paths that allow them to fulfil their potential; and we, as corporations, must create an environment conducive to talent development, by providing equal opportunities to all and fostering a community of like-minded individuals.

DE&I empowers workplace authenticity and MedTech innovation

At my company – Stryker, DE&I is deeply rooted within our mission and culture because we believe that’s what opens the gateway for great ideas to permeate into the innovation of our products—to make healthcare better. Across Asia-Pacific, we have set up multiple initiatives to promote diverse backgrounds, expertise, and talents. The Stryker Women’s Network (SWN) is a great example of a difference maker—its mission: To advance women together through diverse representation, belonging, and advocacy. SWN is one of our largest employee resource groups that strives to advocate for an equitable workplace and women’s empowerment. Its SWN Empowers leadership program has enabled leaders from across our markets within the Asia-Pacific region to better navigate diversity within their teams. The possibilities are endless when the cultural barriers are lifted.

At the end of the day, transformation requires the participation of all individuals; it requires a mindset shift as a collective. As Emmy aptly puts it, the intention to make a difference begins with curiosity: “What can I do to help drive DE&I within my team, organization, and society?”

We all need to become allies and advocates when it comes to closing the DE&I gap. An ally must be intentional with their behaviors and understand that every tiny action counts towards the ultimate goal: for diversity, inclusion, and equity.