Flexability | Transportation and Manufacturing Company

Equity and inclusion efforts are unique to each client’s needs. We build programs with everyone in mind, not just a single segment of any one demographic. The Flexability Team devises strategies that consider the broad views, concerns, and ideas of the client. We believe in collaboratively and compassionately getting people to “row in the right direction.” Building upon this coordinated effort is the difference between equity and inclusion success and failure. In collaboration with the leadership team, we often develop a multi-year strategic plan that outlines equity and inclusion priorities, company initiatives, and best practices and processes, for execution of the plan to achieve the goals.

A nationally known business strategist referred her client to us based on our work for her other clients. The WBENC certified company set a strategic goal to diversify the company management. Initial calls focus on getting to know the company’s industry, company objectives and values, interpersonal frameworks, and strengths and crisis point(s). The leadership and management teams are predominantly white, while its employees identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color. Though not uncommon, this raised a hiring and promotion “red flag.” Set against the COVID and racial pandemics, the company liaison expressed deep concerns about the company’s absence of equity and inclusion efforts, express apathy and hostility to identity inclusion, and a perception that equity and inclusion efforts are a “fad.”

Implementing Flexability’s central approaches to (i) move deliberately and compassionately, (ii) meet people where they are, (iii) avoid blaming or shaming, and (iv) amplify existing strengths, the Flexability Team facilitated a single 90-minute conversation with the leadership team. The team listened to identify the sources of company resistance and aligned the leadership executives with the business benefits of centering equity and inclusion within the strategic plan.

Flexability conducted three educational workshops to spotlight equity and inclusion gaps that inhibit company cohesion, innovation, and productivity. In collaboration with the leadership team and HR, the Flexability Team developed a research supported, quantitative, and qualitative survey tool, with specifically designed and refined foundational demographic and equity questions to maximize participant interest and engagement.

The Flexability Team presented the results of the survey with a traditional SWOT analysis. Based on the analysis, the Company leadership implemented a diversity, equity and inclusion strategy that encompassed systemic policy and practice upgrades for the hiring, retention, and reward of its employees. We also coached the leadership team on recruiting and retention upgrades with the objective of identifying talented diverse candidates.