What did you do in 2020 to make a change for the better? Last year, companies were asked to be accountable and take action on their diversity and inclusion efforts. The results have been mixed. As Derrick Coleman of Creative Financial Staffing has written, “Improving diversity at an organization does not happen overnight. It will take time and effort for companies to make progress and begin building a more diverse workplace.” 

Young professionals and recent grads are eager to see themselves represented in a company’s leadership.

In today’s episode of the Taxgirl podcast, Kelly is joined by Derrick Coleman to talk about how a diverse workforce is good for both the culture and the bottom line of an organization. Derrick is the Managing Director for Creative Financial Staffing of Los Angeles, where he serves as a practiced leader of GHJ’s recruiting division. CFS specializes in placing accounting and finance professionals into temporary and permanent positions across a broad range of industries.

Diversity is good for business.

– Derrick Coleman

 

Listen to Kelly and Derrick talk about diversity and inclusion efforts in a post-pandemic world:

• Why is it important to have diversity in the workplace, especially in the world of tax and finance? 
• Research shows a diverse workforce is more profitable, so why aren’t more companies making a bigger effort to improve right now?
• The tax and accounting fields are notoriously resistant to change. Derrick says education is key; companies need to start having open dialogues about these topics, and really listen to their staff.
• As a young professional new to the workforce, there’s such an advantage to seeing yourself and your identity represented in your field. Derrick shares how companies can make representation a priority. 
• When hiring, how can professionals learn to look beyond their internal biases, from sharing an alma mater with an applicant to tackling race and gender biases?
• Search engines, technology, and online recruiting software have already widened the field and can help companies cast a broader net when hiring. But how can firms teach their staff to overcome their biases when it comes to interviews and offers of employment?
• Derrick encourages teams to complete mandatory unconscious bias training, emphasizing retention as much as recruitment. He says firms have to mentor and develop diverse professionals daily, long after they’ve recruited them to the team.
• The demographic numbers regarding who is graduating versus who is managing teams do not match up at all. In other words, it can be hard for new grads to find an influential mentor in their field that looks like them. 
• Diversity and inclusion commitments start with company leadership, Derrick says. Leadership teams must keep the DEI strategy a high priority and assign mentors and sponsors throughout their ranks and across all demographics. 
• How can staff members practice being supportive allies once new diverse employees are in place, without putting the pressure onto that new staff member to educate the rest of the team?
• What are Derrick’s recommended resources for companies just getting started with putting diversity and inclusion initiatives into place?
• How can staff members work on speaking up on behalf of creating more diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, without causing accidental harm or offense in the meantime? Derrick says everyone will make mistakes along the way; it’s important to create a safe space and stay dedicated to further education on the subject.
• Where does Derrick see diversity and inclusion initiatives going in the future, and how can companies keep expanding upon them for a more diverse and inclusive workplace environment?

More about Kelly:

Kelly Phillips Erb created and hosts the Taxgirl podcast, your home for tax news, tax info, and tax policy. In each episode, she shares conversations about taxes, money, and the choices we make. Kelly is a tax attorney who works with taxpayers and tax practitioners like you every day. She helps folks out of tax jams, and hopefully, keeps others from getting into them.

You can find out more about Kelly here, and you can follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Kelly Phillips Erb created and hosts the Taxgirl podcast, your home for tax news, tax info, and tax policy. In each episode, she shares conversations about taxes, money, and the choices we make. Kelly is a tax attorney who works with taxpayers and tax practitioners like you every day. She helps folks out of tax jams, and hopefully, keeps others from getting into them.

You can find out more about Kelly here and you can follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin.

To subscribe to the podcast (it’s free!) using Apple, Spotify, or your favorite listening app, click here.

Links mentioned:

Kelly’s Website – Taxgirl
Derrick’s Website – CF Staffing
Derrick’s Team – GHJ Advisors

How to Grow and Maintain Diverse Hiring Practices Post-Pandemic (Bloomberg Tax Insights)