In today's rapidly evolving world, innovation is key to progress. Companies need to keep up with the changing times, and to do that; they need to foster an environment that values diversity and inclusion. Companies need to innovate strategies that not only can contribute to developing but implementing an inclusive culture that attracts diversity and drives lateral thinking. Committing to building an all-inclusive, diverse work culture where everyone feels valued and respected is a path to progress.

Our perspective is more forward looking - Building a progressive culture is not just about ticking off boxes of diversity and inclusion but it is about creating an environment where everyone feels included and can contribute to the company's growth. It's not just essential to have a firm commitment from leadership but it's also critical to align employees and keep them motivated to turn intentions into actions.

Inclusion and Innovation are Intertwined

The more diverse a team, the more ideas and perspectives there will be. This diversity leads to increased creativity and innovation. According to the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index 2023, the communications, financials, and technology sectors led the field on inclusive culture scores with 81%, 76%, and 72% respectively. It is integral to take note of the percentage gap in the manufacturing industry, where women constitute 10-12% of the workforce. Today, as we stand with the data indicating a significant gender gap in the manufacturing industry – the urgency to advocate for inclusion and innovation is high.

Technology is an integral tool that can help bridge the gap in the workplace by providing accessibility, training, and communication that empower employees. As companies strive to create diverse and inclusive workplaces, they must leverage advanced technologies to break down barriers and foster a culture of innovating equity and equality that accommodates the needs of every employee despite their gender or background.

Efforts to Promote Inclusion in Chemical Industry

Manufacturing was initially characterized by manual work, long hours, and assembly line floors. Numerous studies have demonstrated how sectors with a single dominant gender can stifle innovation or, at the very least, limit the expression of distinctive viewpoints.  More so in the chemical sector, where the gender gap is skewed. "Unique perspectives" in production could refer to a novel, time-saving method of producing items rather than just the colour of a component.

Today, automation and the efficient operations that IoT (Internet of Things) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) enable can help us build equitable floors of operation for all genders. Having been invested in this concept for several years, Dow India has taken concrete steps towards building an inclusive environment in chemical manufacturing plants by introducing an "All Women Batch" product at our plant in Lote. This intervention came with unique strengths and advantages that women bring to the table.

Some of the benefits we witnessed by building all-women teams are increased innovation, creativity, productivity, and morale. Advanced technologies were introduced, and mechanics were modified to enable an equitable workspace, which led us to attain safety and productivity along with accessibility for women to join traditional male-dominated industries. The experience gained from implementing an all-women batch at Lote extends beyond simply promoting diversity and inclusion. It serves as a credible platform for us to share our learnings and insights with others around the world, fostering the adoption of more holistic approaches to building inclusive workplaces.                                                           

A survey in 2020 found that recognition and engagement have increased women participation in the manufacturing industry to 75%. For the most part, women are and can be ready to get into the industry, but we need a fundamental shift in our approach - hiring practices, like introducing inclusivity even in the selection panel and operations to facilitate this growth. This also means shifting from the traditional approach of expecting certain deliverables and actions from employees. Instead, as an industry, we must adopt an approach that caters to the diverse needs and experiences of our workforce, keeping in mind that these can differ for all.  

Key Steps to Implement a Culture of Diversity and Inclusion

Urgency to ensure inclusive policies: Commitment from leadership is extremely vital for ensuring inclusivity in a company, as it establishes the foundation for a positive company culture. When leaders prioritize inclusivity and make it a core value, it sends a message to everyone that diversity and inclusion are highly valued within the company, additionally creating a path for others to follow.

Be intentional about building diverse teams: This means actively seeking out candidates from different groups of race, gender, or disabilities and creating a culture where everyone feels included.

Setting up the right environment: Build a level-playing field in the organization for all and resources to help employees overcome any biases and stereotypes. A diverse and inclusive culture can be achieved with multiple Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), for example, that support the diverse groups of second careers and experienced individuals or LQBTQ-aligned groups. It can bring meaningful change by building such peer networks to enhance understanding and develop community programs for better outreach.

Curate mentorship/sponsorship: Additionally, companies can create mentorship or sponsorship programs to help new and old employees advance in their careers.

Practice and preach inclusion: By providing training and promoting awareness by introducing sensitizing sessions, companies like us are ensuring to take holistic steps catering not only to their employees but towards the communities in the areas they operate and engaging in building an inclusive culture – a complete approach, I say.

Moreover, inclusion is also about prioritizing employee needs and wellness. For example, our approach to physical and psychological safety is aligned to the inclusion strategy. All such methods help foster an equitable workspace where everyone belongs and there is an equal contribution.

In conclusion, building a culture of inclusion and diversity is key to fostering innovation and progress. Promoting inclusion and equality is a moral imperative and a smart business decision that can lead to better outcomes for both employees and the company. Diverse teams are more likely to come up with innovative solutions and to better understand the needs of a diverse customer base. By committing to building a culture of diversity and inclusion, companies can not only attract and retain top talent but also outperform their competitors in the long run.