Overcoming Ageism (HBR Women at Work Series)

20

Six Ways to Move from Allyship to Activism

by Nahia Orduña

The business case for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is strong: Companies with a diverse workforce are 36% more likely to outperform their less diverse competitors.¹ That’s why, in recent years, we’ve seen more businesses prioritizing DEI efforts—putting employee resource groups into place and publicly sharing their commitments to attract, support, and retain diverse talent.

But who is really behind these efforts?

Young women play a critical role in building diverse and inclusive teams, according to McKinsey’s 2022 Women in the Workplace study—the largest of its kind in corporate America.² The study defines “young women” as those below the age of 40, and it states that this ...