In this example of leaders who make a difference, we see the accomplishments of Dr. Rohini Anand, who came to the United States, earned her PhD, and is now the chief diversity officer at Sodexo. Growing up in India, Dr. Anand didn’t know that she was different, until she moved to the U.S. Once here, she has maintained a strong commitment to diversity education. Sodexo is now consistently recognized as one of Diversity Inc.’s top companies for promoting diversity.
Carry out your own research on how leaders can make a difference to their organizations.
Discuss the following:
- What role do leaders play in integrating diversity and inclusion in their organizations?
- What would be your approach to diversity and inclusion in the role of a leader?
Support your post and responses with theories you have learned this week.
The Scenario:
Dr. Rohini Anand, senior vice president and global chief diversity officer at Sodexo, says her job is to carry out the vision that “diversity and inclusion would result in Sodexo being able to identify and develop the best talent and create an environment where employees could thrive and deliver outstanding service solutions to clients and customers.” 97 Anand, who
grew up in India, was “surrounded by others who looked like me but had variation by socioeconomic status or religion.” It was when she moved to the United States that she was first perceived as a minority, which led her to the work she does today. After earning her PhD from the University of Michigan, Anand worked in various corporate and government positions and came to Sodexo in 2003. Under her intelligent and compassionate leadership, the company is consistently in the top two or three on DiversityInc’s Top Companies for Diversity list. And it’s easy to see why. From the CEO down, there is a strong commitment to integrating diversity and inclusion throughout the organization.
What can you learn from this leader making a difference?