WiHTL’s Founder & Chair Tea Colaianni talks to Compass Group’s CEO Dominic Blakemore about the company’s positive diversity and inclusion (D&I) impact on business; and how C-suite executives are uniquely positioned to create real change.
QUESTION: What is your business/brand vision for D&I in the near future?
Dominic Blakemore: Our ambition is to be an organisation where all our colleagues thrive, feel safe and valued for who they are and what they bring to Compass. We respect people’s individual contributions and recognise that together we can create a culture where everyone’s backgrounds and experiences can make a real difference to our clients, our investors and the communities that we serve. It is important that our workforce reflects our diverse consumers and the communities we work in around the world; to help us deliver exceptional service and retain the best talent.
QUESTION: How do you measure the positive impact that inclusive leadership has on your business and why is it important?
Dominic Blakemore: 57% of all colleagues at Compass are female. We are committed to maintaining at least 33% female representation on the Board, the Executive Committee and their direct reports; in line with the recommendation of the Hampton-Alexander Review. We have a number of women’s leadership programmes throughout the world to increase female leadership representation at different levels in the organisation; and we are making progress. But there is much more to do and we want to accelerate our progress in this area.
We have launched a Global Inclusion Index, which helps us to measure the impact of our D&I leadership strategy by incorporating key inclusion questions into our engagement survey; covering areas such as being treated fairly and with respect, welcoming ideas, embracing diversity and inclusion and valuing people’s differences.
QUESTION: What learning and understanding have you personally gained through implementing D&I policies in your business?
Dominic Blakemore: I am proud of the rich diversity we have at Compass, but recognise that there is still more to do. Our business spans 45 countries and many more cultures; and we understand that it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. So ensuring we have the right knowledge and expertise in place to support our strategy and vision for the future is key. We listen to our people, learn from their lived experience and focus on the things that really matter to them.
QUESTION: What can C-Suite executives do to move the dial?
Dominic Blakemore: C-Suite executives are uniquely positioned to effect real change. We lead by example. It is so important that we set the tone from the top, with clarity and commitment. To underpin this at Compass, we are participating in inclusive leadership training, which is also planned for our PLC Board and our people teams globally. It is critical that D&I is not just a sentiment, but something that is lived and breathed as part of our culture; and becomes truly embedded throughout the business.
Blakemore, who is also a member of the WiHTL’s Advisory Board, will be participating in the WiHTL’s upcoming Festival of Inclusion as a panelist in the session “Moving the Dial: In Conversation With C-Suite executives” on Wednesday 12th May at 3pm (BST). Colaianni interviewed Blakemore ahead of the inaugural Festival of Inclusion. Click here for more information about the event.
Check out Colaianni’s recent interview with easyJet’s Independent Non-Executive Director Moni Mannings about the airline’s diversity initiatives, as well as the importance of board diversity by clicking here.
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