Beyond Pride Month
Blog post on Diversity & Inclusion
June 2021 was the most colorful Pride Month I have experienced. Many individuals and organizations around the world have shown color, a symbol for their growing commitment to diversity and inclusion in our society.
This trend is being amplified by the economy – I’m very happy about that and I think we have come a long way towards more equity and tolerance in the chemical industry in particular. I’m especially proud that Covestro has carried these values at its core since day one. Our LGBTQ+ network UNITE and cross-regional teams haven’t stopped to inspire and launch new initiatives to drive further progress since then. Our first Global D&I Report offers an insight into our activities.
But this journey is far from over. We may be at the end of Pride Month but it’s important that we don’t confine showing color only to one special date in the calendar. It’s not just about raising a rainbow flag once a year. We must continue to work on this every month of the year and every day of the week, collectively and individually.
Driver for Innovation
Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our social coexistence, and crucial for business – because they are a catalyst for innovation. If you are lucky to experience a diverse group of people who strive for a common vision and embrace their differences, you will be amazed by how they address any obstacle on their way more creatively and effectively.
It’s no surprise that people who feel comfortable in their own skin and in their environment are more creative, motivated, and achieve better results. They simply don’t have to waste any energy pretending to be the way they are expected to be.
Long Way to go
Recognizing people of other backgrounds, religions, sexual orientations and identities, ages, genders makes us better collaborators, better experts, better leaders – better humans.
Let’s not forget that there are still a lot of things we need to address until everyone feels equally included. Companies have an important role to play in driving and supporting this change. Covestro wants to live up to this responsibility. And I’m happy that we have started to better track the respective measures transparently in our annual Global D&I Report. But there is still a long way to go.
It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, who you love and what you believe. What counts is your willingness and ability to develop joint solutions for a sustainable future. You are welcome just as you are – hate, intolerance and discrimination are not.
Join me in making every month a month of pride – at Covestro and everywhere else.