EDI Case Study resource 2025
Spotlight on international operations
Challenges of global operations are that inclusion and diversity vary hugely depending on location.
- There are real variations both legally and culturally in the collection of data. Data is absolutely critical, but it can also be very sensitive. In some legal jurisdictions, there are factors you simply can’t ask about legally. In other places, it would be unacceptable for cultural reasons. It’s important to be conscious of this when you set out.
- In a global operation, the local picture of equality and diversity will vary, issues of race, gender and cultural norms e.g. around family life vary. Having a regional aspect to your approach is therefore important – the large global management consultancy for example has a team supporting its Director of Culture and Belonging and also has regional Inclusion, Diversity and Belonging representatives who work with her on region specific issues.
- One construction firm we spoke to highlighted the very different cultures of the employee reference groups in different geographies – the US women’s group being far more open to sharing personal experiences and challenges than the European group who were culturally more private and cautious of over-sharing.
“It’s hard for someone in New York to opine usefully on staffing women in Saudi Arabia.”