Looking Back... and Looking Ahead...

The IBIS Team

As we look back at 2022, we’re inspired by the courage we all witnessed this year while grappling with some of the world’s most difficult challenges. We saw courage around the globe: the people of Ukraine defending their country, women in Iran fighting for their rights, citizens of Hong Kong standing up for democracy, and people everywhere pushing back against fascist and anti-immigration rhetoric.

In the U.S., as women lost their reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ youth in Florida lost the right to speak about their identity in school, demonstrators continued to work for freedom and justice. Broad societal changes evolved in the DEI realm too, with a growing focus on mental health and the expansion of hybrid and remote work, redefining and elevating work/life balance.

At IBIS, all these changes impacted our clients. Certain themes ran through IBIS’s DEI work—among the 22,500 learners in 244 Interactive Theater sessions, plus our e-learning and facilitated sessions, which took place across 18 countries and in 5 languages.

The Three Most Meaningful Trends of This Year

1. Inclusive Leadership
   Now that more than two years have passed since the murder of George Floyd, organizations are deepening their understanding of how to keep the momentum strong around inclusion. A crucial dimension of DEI is meaningful dialogue—dialogue that drives connections, understanding, and interpersonal change. There’s been a resurgence of interest in inclusive leadership, especially in hybrid work environments.
   Read more: Holding Difficult Conversations: Do I Have To?
   Read more: A How-To Guide on Inclusive Leadership in a Hybrid Environment

2. DEI as a Strategic Priority
   Organizations that achieve lasting culture-changing success typically put DEI in their core strategic plan. This means creating a holistic, far-reaching strategic DEI plan that serves business goals and ensures accountability. Emphasis is on cross-functional and cross-cultural collaboration that embeds DEI principles across the organization.
   Read more: All About ERGs and BERGs – A Resource Guide
   Read more: HR as a Strategic Diversity Partner

3. Robust Learner Journeys
   Organizations want to develop DEI strategies that are far-reaching and sustainable, requiring a multi-tiered approach. Clients work with us to create learner journeys involving multiple touchpoints for each employee and engaging them in various formats. Our Interactive Theater sessions are a highly engaging part of the learner journey.
   Read more: The 3 Goals of a DEI Learner Journey
   Read more in the Harvard Business Review: The Missing Piece of Your Diversity Training

Looking Ahead…

We look forward to seeing how DEI evolves with our current clients and around the world as we find new opportunities to innovate fresh DEI strategies and cultivate unique learner journeys. If you’re ready to learn more about how IBIS can help your organization move forward in the coming year, reach out to us today.

Wishing you and your family a happy holiday season,
Shilpa and the IBIS team