Building Inclusive Workplaces Requires Emotion And Logic

Every individual has something to contribute in the pursuit of a brighter, more inclusive future. A recent experience shaped my perspective on the power of inclusion and the impact of collective effort. Through it, I learned that being a changemaker means embracing empathy, generosity and risk-taking, and it requires a deep belief in our collective responsibility to help one another thrive.

Serving A Mission For Equitable Maternity Care In Africa

In June 2024, my husband and I participated in a medical service mission to help premature babies in Malawian and Tanzanian communities. This trip was set up by Rice360, an innovative academic program at our alma mater, Rice University, that we’ve supported since 2010.

In 2007, two of Rice’s bioengineering professors, Drs. Rebecca Richards-Kortum and Maria Oden, visited a teaching hospital in Malawi to find a capstone project for their students. As they observed the maternity ward, they saw medical equipment that had broken down due to factors like heat and dust, unstable power sources, a lack of spare parts and limited technical know-how to fix the issues. Conditions like these undoubtedly contributed to the Malawian infant mortality rate of 27 deaths per 1,000 births.

Drs. Richards-Kortum and Oden’s visit led to the founding of Rice360, a program that leverages Rice’s engineering expertise to create innovative solutions for pressing global health challenges. Students from Rice and local African universities join together for hands-on problem-solving and building and maintaining life-saving machines. My daughter was one of the program’s first graduates, and her involvement inspired my husband and me to become involved—first as funders, then as intermittent co-chairs of the advisory board. But we hadn’t seen its impact firsthand until attending the service mission in June.

We experienced a wide spectrum of emotions as we saw vigilant, hopeful mothers holding babies who weighed less than two pounds. We were in awe of the doctors and nurses tirelessly working to save them, especially once we learned that nurse midwife technicians make the equivalent of US$10 per day and registered nurses make about US$15 per day. These medical professionals toiled away for hours in rooms set between 85 and 90 degrees to prevent the babies from getting hypothermia. This dedication and unwavering commitment was inspiring.

Change Takes Intentionality And Passion

My experiences during that mission have clear parallels to the workplace, particularly with efforts to improve diversity, equity and inclusion. The same values that drive Rice360’s students can transform DEI initiatives and provide actionable insights that drive positive change.

No matter the issue, addressing it takes a combination of heart and head. Compassion and empathy must be paired with data and information to determine the needed policies, processes and even technologies to execute effective solutions. If we want to create true inclusion, we must pair accountability with programs and use metrics and KPIs to drive decisions.

After working in the DEI and talent space for more than 30 years, I can tell you that what gets measured is what gets done. It’s not enough to state your goals; you must set achievable milestones and measure year-over-year progress. For example, if you want to implement inclusive hiring practices, you must analyze your demographics at every level, conduct pay equity analysis and act on gaps or opportunities you identify. Then you have to hold yourselves and other leaders accountable for results and constantly recalibrate.

DEI outcomes require an intentional, collaborative approach. With Rice360, it’s through engaging with health ministries, local doctors and nurses and educators that students can create sustainable, positive outcomes. So think about the key stakeholders involved in your DEI efforts. Are you engaging leaders in every geography? Are you taking cultural nuances into consideration? Are you looking at solutions that will be sustainable long after you’ve introduced the concept? These questions are vital if you want to measure and determine the effectiveness of your initiatives.

A Call To Action

This journey in Malawi and Tanzania both reinforced my commitment to global health and deepened my resolve to foster inclusivity in every aspect of life, including our workplaces and communities. Everyone has the ability to make a difference, but building a diverse, interconnected society requires embracing allyship and supporting each other.

As we move forward in our efforts, we must take these powerful lessons with us. Let’s combine our compassion with data, engage local capacities and recognize the critical role we each play. We are all changemakers. Together, we can drive the transformation toward a more equitable world.

This article first appeared on forbes.com. View original article.