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The European Commission has declared May as Diversity Month, coinciding with the celebration of 21 May as UNESCO’s World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. Over the past few years, we have had the pleasure of celebrating this month with our clients through engaging activities around the themes of diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging.

At intercultures, we see this month as an opportunity to take a step forward in the organisation’s ongoing efforts to put people first by consciously raising awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and throughout our societies.

As a diverse team made up of people from all corners of the world, diversity is not only our strength, it is our guiding principle. With this in mind, we decided to actively engage with our network and share our insights, expertise and enthusiasm by creating a range of resources, including a special newsletter issue dedicated to Diversity Month, expert-led webinars and practical tips on how to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace. If you want to join our internal events, sign up here.

Why should we “celebrate” diversity?

At this point, you may ask yourself, why should I celebrate diversity in my company? The reality is that many are reluctant to embrace diversity, often because of a fear of the unknown. This fear stems from the natural human tendency to feel comfortable with what is known and similar. However, embracing our common humanity is a crucial step towards appreciating the richness of difference that colours our world. These differences, manifested in our diverse cultures, values and ways of thinking, enrich our collective experience and broaden our understanding.

What are the benefits of “celebrating”?

  • Psychological Safety: Creates an environment where everyone feels safe to express their ideas, fostering trust and respect.
  • Positive Psychological Impact: Promotes mental health and job satisfaction by making employees feel valued and accepted.
  • Cognitive Diversity: Combines different ways of thinking, leading to innovative problem solving and decision making.
  • Improved Employee Performance: Employees in an inclusive environment are more engaged and motivated, resulting in higher productivity.

At intercultures, we believe that awareness, knowledge and mindful actions are key to overcoming fear and fostering acceptance and respect. By learning about the cultural backgrounds and perspectives of others, both near and far, we not only broaden our horizons but also deepen our appreciation of the world’s diverse cultures. 

For us, celebrating diversity means recognising our progress towards equity and inclusion while acknowledging the journey that still lies ahead. Every year we get closer to our goal of building inclusive organisations and societies our work will continue as it is written in our mission We help people work better in global complexity. Diversity Month is an opportunity to reflect on our progress, address the challenges that remain and recommit to the principles of diversity and inclusion.

How to celebrate diversity?

Inspired by the EU Commission’s ideas on how to celebrate Diversity Month, we would like to share our top 4 initiatives:

1. Launch an awareness campaign: Organise a company-wide awareness campaign that can be shared with external stakeholders. This could include a video message or blog post from the CEO or other senior management highlighting the importance of diversity as well as interactive webinar sessions where employees can learn about topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

2. Facilitate the creation of employee networks: Encourage the set up of Employee Resource Groups in the workplace that focus on different aspects of diversity. This can help foster a more inclusive working environment.

3. Create a space for sharing personal stories: Provide a platform for employees to share their personal stories and experiences related to diversity. This could be through intranet articles, informal discussion groups or online workshops with external partners. 

4. Organise virtual networking meetings or breakfasts: Prepare events with diverse and inspiring speakers to raise awareness of diversity. These could be virtual or in-person networking meetings or breakfasts that provide a platform for discussion and learning.

We are happy to support!

At intercultures, we are committed to helping companies develop and implement Diversity Month campaigns tailored to your specific environments. We take a collaborative approach, working closely with our clients to design campaigns that raise awareness and foster a sense of active participation and commitment among employees. These initiatives aim to increase intercultural competence and understanding at all levels of an organisation.

For more information on how you can partner with intercultures to celebrate Diversity Month and promote diversity and inclusion in your organisation, please contact us here

We look forward to your contact!