Racial Equity Strategy @ BCGDV
Companies often bring-in experts in the fields of operations, technology, accounting, etc. when faced with challenging and complex problems. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) work follows a similar path: leaders in DEI spaces are frequently best-suited to help address and evaluate a company’s DEI programs and commitments.
For that reason, in 2020, BCG Digital Ventures conducted an RFP (Request for Proposal) and interviewed 11 different firms to ask for 2 key outputs:
Review Digital Ventures’ current people practices around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Develop a go-forward strategy for Digital Ventures’ approach around DEI broadly and racial equity specifically to better understand the experience of diverse employees, specifically Black employees and female employees
Of the various firms interviewed, Digital Ventures (DV) selected Converge Firm to execute on their goals and primary outputs. Through a variety of engagements on behalf of DV, Converge fostered close, personal connections with a wide range of DV employees and ultimately became an extension of the DV community - strengthening the partnership between the two firms and providing for more collaboration throughout their time working together. Specifically, Converge hosted dialogues across all levels of management and employees and leveraged the Global Diversity and Inclusion Benchmark (GDIB) to assess DV’s current people practices and provide specific and concrete recommendations.
Converge conducted analysis on both an emotional and scientific baseline to connect with all parts of the DV community and create action-oriented steps and recommendations for DV’s DEI strategy moving forward. In addition to the initial scope of this RFP, Converge also delivered several workshops focused on Anti-Racism in the Workplace and developing Allyship Skills.
The impact Converge had on Digital Ventures’ culture has changed the attitude of many individuals within the organization to realize the value and necessity of DEI work, including feedback from several senior stakeholders as being “one of the best - if not the best - DEI consulting project we have worked on.” This partnership has increased the levels of trust and education around DEI issues across DV, and the specific actions recommended will ensure that DV is the most inclusive and equitable firm they can be.
In the words of one key partner at DV, “Converge became counsel for us on key culture moments when DV needed support, advice, an ear to listen or a swift kick in the ass. Within DV’s Racial Equity Task Force, many senior-level executives (including members of Fortune 500 Companies) are so impressed with Converge.”
– Ian Moran-Kolitch, Director of People & Talent at BCG Digital Ventures