Inclusion & Diversity Week
Challenge
We introduced Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) Week to celebrate and promote the importance of inclusion and diversity at The Estée Lauder Companies and encourage employees around the world to get involved. We also wanted to create a platform to acknowledge and highlight the achievements of our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
Actions
We launched I&D Week in 2013 in the United States; this now-annual initiative is celebrated globally every spring. Each year, I&D Week features a new theme and the program includes both global and local educational components, locally-relevant events and awareness-driving efforts in our affiliates, and a contest for global employees focused on the chosen theme. In 2017, the theme was “Inclusive Beauty” and the contest asked employees to share multi-media interpretations of what beauty meant to them. There were several educational components throughout the week, including a presentation by fashion designer Prabal Gurung, who shared his journey from Nepalese immigrant to head of his eponymous global design house with the distinction of having his designs worn by then-First Lady Michelle Obama.
Outcomes
The I&D Week celebration has expanded its geographic scope, level of employee engagement and global/local affiliate participation year-over-year. During I&D Week 2017, 25 countries across five continents participated with more than 4,000 employees contributing, and the contest component was the most successful contest to date, generating more than 500 global entries. In addition to increasing awareness of the importance of I&D in the workplace, the scope of I&D week has expanded to include topics concerning consumer insights, digital/social media programs, race relations in- and outside of- the workplace, sexual orientation and transgender issues, gender equality and generational differences, to name a few. I&D Week has evolved from raising awareness into an annual event that continues to capture the hearts and minds of our employees who look forward to participating in each year’s theme and events.
Contact
Marilu Marshall
Quote
We were founded on the belief that beauty is never one-size-fits all and it is more important now than ever that we continue to live out our fundamental values of respect, quality and inclusion every day. The benefits of inclusion and diversity are so far-reaching and touch nearly every aspect of our business. Our inclusive culture encourages advocacy, openness and appreciation of our employees’ individuality, which in turn elevates our collective creativity and innovation in meeting the needs of our global consumers through our products and high-touch service. Inclusion and diversity are part of the fabric of our organization and we are proud to be a part of CEO Action to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to continued progress and action.