December 30, 2023 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes)

Imagine walking into a trendy clothing store, drawn by the vibrant colors and stylish designs that surround you. As you browse through the aisles, you notice a display featuring a young boy’s green hoodie. The words Coolest Monkey in the Jungle catch your eye, and you can’t help but feel uneasy.

Then you realize that the child modeling the hoodie is black. The racial undertones are impossible to ignore – the comparison of a young black boy to a monkey is clearly a derogatory stereotype. It leaves you wondering about the lack of diversity in the decision-making process, the absence of voices that could have recognized the insensitive nature of the advertisement. You ponder the consequences of such a thoughtless choice.

News of the hoodie soon spreads, and social media erupts with outrage. People from all walks of life, regardless of their racial background, come together to condemn the insensitivity. They demand accountability and an immediate response from the company.

Days pass, and the storm of criticism only grows. H&M’s silence on the matter becomes deafening. You wonder why it’s taking so long for them to acknowledge their mistake. You start to question whether they truly understand the gravity of their failure to manage diversity and inclusion.

Finally, H&M issues a public apology and removes the offensive brand from its website. But the damage is done. The incident has left a lasting mark on the company’s reputation. You, like many others, find it difficult to erase the image of that ill-conceived hoodie from your mind.

The quote Coolest Monkey in the Jungle hoodie controversy serves as a stark reminder of the real-world consequences of insensitivity and a lack of a specific diversity and inclusion lens in the decision-making process. It’s a lesson learned through firsthand experience, one that highlights the need for companies to be more attuned to the diverse perspectives of their customer base.

By contrast, imagine entering the bustling headquarters of Salesforce, a global cloud computing company. As you step inside, you’re immediately struck by the vibrant atmosphere and the sense of inclusion that permeates the workplace.

Diverse Workforce: Walking through the open-plan office, you see employees from a wide range of backgrounds working collaboratively. There are people of different races, genders, and abilities engaged in various projects. It’s clear that Salesforce has made a concerted effort to foster diversity within its workforce.

Equality for All: You notice posters and banners promoting equality, respect, and inclusion hanging on the walls. Salesforce is known for its commitment to equal pay and, they have taken measures to ensure that employees of all genders are compensated fairly for their work.

Inclusive Initiatives: While sipping coffee in the communal area, you overhear conversations about the various Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that Salesforce supports. These groups cater to different communities within the company and organize events to provide a supportive community for employees.

Community Engagement: Salesforce doesn’t stop at internal diversity and inclusion efforts. They have a strong focus on giving back to the community. Their 1-1-1 philanthropic model donates 1% of their product, 1% of equity, and 1% of employees’ time to nonprofits and educational institutions worldwide.

Leadership Commitment: The commitment to diversity and inclusion starts at the top. You learn that Salesforce’s CEO, Marc Benioff has been a vocal advocate for equality and social justice, using the company’s influence to effect change and push for positive societal impact.

As you leave Salesforce’s headquarters, you’re struck by the company’s genuine dedication to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. It’s not just a facade, it’s an integral part of their corporate culture.

Salesforce serves as a real-world example of a company that has successfully managed diversity and inclusion, creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work.

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.”

-Verna Myers

Lead from your heart. Lead to Win.

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