It was nearly a year ago, at our 2008 editorial planning meeting, when we decided we should be looking to recognize those consulting firms that are doing the best job recruiting, hiring, developing and retaining a diverse workforce. We knew diversity was extremely important to the overall success of a consulting firm, and we thought it was part of a bigger solution to one of the profession's most pressing and profound problems—the war for talent.
It also fit nicely with one of the publication's overarching goals to recognize the best practices of the profession. We view it as our obligation, as the publication of the industry, to shine a light on any firm blazing a trail for others to follow. It is in that spirit that we brought the industry together last month at the University Club in Chicago to celebrate the Consulting Magazine Achievement Awards: Excellence in Diversity.
Truth be told, I don't think we had any idea what we were in for when we began this process. Measuring diversity in a global profession, we quickly discovered, is no easy task. The other challenge was seeing behind the numbers of minorities and women in management positions. Sure, that was a big part of the process, but the key for us was discovering which firms truly lived diversity day in and day out. And which firms truly believed the business case for diversity, made it a part of the their culture, took the message to upper managers, recruiters, employees and clients? All firm leaders will tell you they embrace diversity, but which ones truly walk the walk?
Last month, we honored five firms for their Excellence in Diversity—A.T. Kearney, Deloitte Consulting, KPMG, Sapient and The Mpower Group. These five firms show us what's possible when firms make extraordinary commitments to diversity. The five winning firms understand that the world has changed.
Yesterday's workforces delivering cookie-cutter client advice will no longer suffice. Today, organizations need to be as diverse as the clients they serve. The award winners know that today's complex business challenges demand a diverse approach—a healthy mix of backgrounds, knowledge, experiences, cultures, races, genders and sexual orientations—to truly deliver complete solutions. And for that, they should be celebrated!
Our coverage of the winners and the gala award dinner is featured in a special section beginning on Page 17.
Joseph Kornik
Editor-in-Chief
jkornik@consultingmag.com
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