Bobbi Thomason Shares Reflections on Corporate America's Progress on Diversity and Inclusion

In response to last year’s social unrest, several American corporations and brands spoke out against racism and police brutality. Many organizations made public statements and processes to reform their practices and invest in efforts to fight racism. CNBC asked Bobbi Thomason and five other thought leaders, business executives, and activists to reflect on the progress being made.

Thomason’s research examines members of marginalized communities and how they work to overcome inequality and social hierarchies throughout their careers. While corporations across the country have made public promises to be more inclusive and diverse, much more still needs to be done. Businesses play an essential role in the solution and creating an equitable and inclusive society. Thomason shares where companies can improve in creating more inclusive environments, “The first is around representation — there is still a lack of persons of color, particularly in leadership roles. Consider the Fortune 500 — there are only four Black CEOs, and the all-time high was 6 in 2012. But changing numbers alone does not automatically produce benefits or equality. Increasing the number of people from underrepresented groups is not adequate if those individuals do not feel valued and respected,” Thomason said.

The full article is available at CNBC.com.