July 16, 2024
Jaimie Mulder—Senior Client Manager, Mid Market, and Chair, NFP – Canada Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee
Elevating diversity, fostering equity for all, and advancing inclusion are critical to an organization’s growth and success. Supporting these pillars creates a feeling of belonging at a company for each and every employee. Simply put, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) is good for people, and it’s good for business. However, incorporating DEIB into a busy or resource-strapped brokerage can feel like climbing Everest.
Where Do You Start?
You can’t create the DEIB culture you want overnight. NFP is proud to have an award-winning DEIB strategy that’s driven by the mantra “one tiny step at a time.” Implementing our strategy across systems and cultures is a key element of our organization, not a box to tick. We are focused, accountable, and committed to reflecting and learning along the way.
One Step at a Time
Starting from scratch can seem daunting, but all it takes is one step to get started. Here are a few ideas:
Diversity Hour: This could be a lunch and learn, a yearly event with a guest speaker or a workshop that creates engagement opportunities with your team around diversity.
Tap Into Existing Partners: Many of the insurance industry companies you work with already have DEIB presentations. Ask if they would be willing to share them.
Roundtable Discussions: Research a list of discussion questions such as “Do you feel included?” or “What does belonging mean to you?” to spark a productive discussion with your team.
Learning Through Food: Offer your employees a catered lunch as an opportunity to discuss their perspectives on DEIB. Be sure to choose diverse food suppliers or host a potluck and encourage your team to bring food that represents their culture or background.
Start a Business Resource Group: Once you spark some interest within your organization, consider starting business resource groups focused on education, support and professional development for like-minded individuals and their allies. To gauge interest, consider sending a survey to gather feedback, then start with the groups that have the most support and grow from there.
Our nine business resource groups have seen great success and play a critical role in helping us continuously refine our DEIB strategy:
- Women’s Business Resource Group
- Family Business Resource Group
- Military & Veterans Business Resource Group
- Asian Business Resource Group
- Black Professionals Business Resource Group
- Indigenous Peoples Business Resource Group
- Pride+ Business Resource Group
- Latin Business Resource Group
- D-Is-Ability Business Resource Group
Diverse Suppliers: Whenever you can, aim to choose a minority, multicultural or women-owned local business for all procurement needs, from catering to branded swag.
Calendar of Cultural Celebrations: Create a calendar of holidays and cultural celebrations and post internally on each one to show the employees that everyone belongs, and all cultures are celebrated.
Attend Events: Create a monthly calendar of virtual or in-person events hosted by DEIB-focused organizations and share it with employees. Consider the Canadian Association of Black Insurance Professionals (CABIP), LINK Canada 2SLGBTQ+ Insurance Network, the Canadian Chinese Insurance Professionals Association (CCIPA), the IBAO and your local IBAO affiliate’s events.
Inspiring Association: Take the time to have conversations with those in the industry that are leading in DEIB efforts and learn from them. We are growing in DEIB efforts as an industry only through collaboration.
The Future of DEIB Is Bright
Eventually, you want to embed DEIB into every aspect of your organization, internally and externally. As the chair of the DEIB Committee in Canada, I’ve seen firsthand how this approach drives NFP’s DEIB efforts.
Much of our success can be attributed to our DEIB committee. Through strategic partnerships with organizations that share our values, we are able to achieve even more. Our continued collaboration with esteemed industry partners, including the previously named organizations, allows us to exchange insights and knowledge and work together on joint solutions.
Remember, implementing DEIB initiatives is a journey made up of small steps. With a clear focus on your goal to create a more equitable and inclusive environment, you can ensure individuals of all backgrounds and abilities feel a strong sense of belonging and have the opportunity to succeed.