The perils of treating DE&I as a communications issue

Diversity, equity and inclusion have become primary issues for many organizations in 2020.

As companies prepare for 2021, the conversation around DE&I has changed. Commitments, statements of support and promises of allyship were welcome this summer, an important first step. 2021 will be a year of action.

It’s a prospect that excites some who have been working on DE&I within their own organizations, including Shannon Armah, associate brand manager for Barefoot Wine; Amber Arnold, vice president of corporate communications & DE&I Council founder/lead for MWWPR; and Esther Mireya-Tejeda, chief marketing and communications officer for SoundExchange.

All three women spoke at an Oct. 19 panel called “How Brands Can Authentically Connect with Both Consumers and Employees,” part of Communications Week 2020.

“I’m really excited for the action that is going to happen in 2021,” Armah says, speaking of the change from statements of solidarity to the firm action that she hopes to see in the coming year. She says that the foundation has been set, and she is excited to see organizations come out of the gate strong.