Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – explained through a Bubble Wrap

The strangest ideas one can get from the most common of things.

The past year has seen an acceleration of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) agenda at speeds never before seen, allowing us to propel ourselves forward in terms of how we think and act as a component of our individual organisations and the wider society as a whole. From the signing of inclusive executive orders and charters, the creation of DEI roles and departments, enhancement of employee benefits and funding to ensure a more varied engagement of communities and enforcement of diversity metrics, we have gone far for sure.

But with such intense focus and multitude lines of thoughts going into it, it is easy for things to sometimes become overly complex, fraught with technical jargons and corporate speak that may be lost to many. 

And herein comes my bubble wrap theory which hopefully helps give a more visual clarity on things.

So imagine a sheet of bubble wrap as we go along now …

Diversity

Each bubble represents an assortment of differing group, each encompassing one type of community with similar traits, belief, orientation, ability, thinking or creed. The many bubbles on that bubble wrap now represent the varied diverse population, all in their individual bubbles but still part of an ecosystem with other bubbles.

Just like how we are different, but still living in a common ecosystem within our environment sharing the same space and air that we breathe.

Equity

By definition, equity simply means that everyone be given the same opportunity, regardless of where their starting point is or was. Where there is an imbalance, this is acknowledged and efforts are made to correct, and ensure equal opportunity for all.

In our bubble wrap, each bubble is sized equally, and spaced equally, indicating every community is treated fairly with an equal role to play in the larger society. 

Inclusion

So this is a tougher concept to grasp. Being diverse is not simply confined or necessarily equates to being inclusive. Metrics and KPIs usually measure the diversity element, i.e. X% of gender equality, X% of ethnic backgrounds, etc. but measuring inclusion itself is harder. It involves getting diverse people in your organisation equally and genuinely involved in many, if not all elements and functions of the business.

Our entire bubble wrap sheet is now being inclusive, where it consists of multiple diverse bubbles (some filled with air, some with not nearly enough air and some with no air at all) but all treated equally and equitably as part of a single bubble wrap sheet which is commonly used for one purpose - keeping something precious safe.

So now, this bubble wrap of ours which is diverse, equitable and inclusive has a single and very important role, and that role is keeping our humanity safe. 

And that’s a wrap!