DEI strategist Degmo Daar (pictured) is on a mission to ensure organisations have systems in place which are fair and accessible to all. The key to ‘system re-thinking’, as she calls it, is to look to the future and consider legacy as well as scrutinising what’s gone before. Degmo is one of the speakers at IMEX Frankfurt 20-22 May and shares here three pieces of advice for businesses wanting to deliver a positive, inclusive impact:
Degmo Daar is a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategist. Whether guiding companies in building inclusive organisational structures or representing causes on the global stage, her mission is to create environments where DEI and innovation can thrive together.
Describing her session at IMEX Frankfurt this May, ‘REDEFINING success, rebuilding systems, and designing for impact’, she says: “It’s about designing a future where profit and purpose are interdependent, where businesses thrive by creating impact, not just extracting value. Because real change doesn’t happen by accident – it happens by design.”
Here are Degmo’s three pieces of advice for businesses wanting to deliver a positive, inclusive impact:
Legacy – think about what you leave behind
“I’d encourage business leaders to consider this: what if success isn’t about how much is taken, but about how much is left behind?
“It’s a phrase that’s pretty much defined my whole way of working. I was once asked in a job interview what I wanted to achieve in life. That prompted me to really consider my ultimate life goal. I came to the conclusion that it’s not about what I achieve, but about what impact I have. In other words, what I leave behind for the next generation.
“For decades, success has been measured by climbing the corporate ladder, maximising return, and prioritising short-term gains. But what if we look long term?
“When working with clients, I ask them to reimagine the future rather than reimagining today, while also examining who benefits from the current system and what has shaped their position within it”
The key to a positive impact? Step back in time…
“The key to delivering a positive impact lies in stepping back in time and understanding historical contexts and who designed the systems we’re navigating today.
“It’s about getting to grips with who benefited from these systems – what were their biases and what were their visions? If we don’t understand the historical perspective, then we’ll only continue to duplicate the same pattern. History will repeat itself!
“Once we know how structures are built and where barriers emerge, we’re then in a good place to redesign systems so they’re more inclusive and resilient.
“One example, specific to the US, is the historical background of ‘redlining’. The term has come to mean racial discrimination of any kind in the housing sector, but it originally comes from government maps drawn up in the 1930s which outlined (in red) the areas deemed risky investments – which were also where many ethnic minorities lived.
“While redlining is a US-specific term, similar exclusionary practices can be found in other parts of the world, where policies and urban planning decisions have historically marginalised certain communities.
“We’re still seeing the ongoing effects of this system. Although redlining was abolished in 1968, the ramifications are evident today: racial and socioeconomic inequality, and communities with depleted resources.”
Be realistic – and optimistic
“Some global companies are scaling back diversity commitments and in some quarters DEI is now seen as a ‘risk’ rather than an asset. Organisations that abandon DEI now will find themselves scrambling to rebuild trust, reclaim talent and repair reputations.
“But we have to remain positive – keep doing what we’re doing and not lose hope. Right now, there are organisations doubling down on DEI despite the current climate. They understand that a world where opportunity is equitable, where talent is nurtured without bias and where systems are designed to uplift rather than exclude, is both possible and necessary to stay relevant.
“Organisations have such a tremendous power to influence change, so I’d urge them to use this power wisely. My advice to business leaders is this: make intentional choices and ensure DEI practices are embedded across your business. It’s about ensuring that the systems in place are truly fair and accessible for everyone.”
Want to find out more?
Degmo Daar is delivering a session: REDEFINING success, rebuilding systems, and designing for impact at IMEX Frankfurt, 20-22 May. Register to attend here.
