Diversity and Inclusion Questions to Ask Senior Leaders
Strategic questions that help you evaluate an organization's commitment to diversity and inclusion, understand their initiatives, and assess their progress while ensuring you work in an inclusive environment.
1What are your organization's diversity and inclusion goals, and how do you measure progress toward achieving them?
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What are your organization's diversity and inclusion goals, and how do you measure progress toward achieving them?
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Why this works
Assesses commitment to D&I while helping you understand the organization's specific goals and how they track and measure progress.
2What are the current demographics of your leadership team and board, and how do you plan to increase diversity?
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What are the current demographics of your leadership team and board, and how do you plan to increase diversity?
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Why this works
Evaluates leadership diversity while helping you understand the current state of leadership representation and plans for improvement.
3What are your hiring and promotion practices, and how do you ensure equitable opportunities for all employees?
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What are your hiring and promotion practices, and how do you ensure equitable opportunities for all employees?
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Why this works
Addresses equity in opportunities while helping you understand how the organization ensures fair hiring and promotion practices.
4What are your employee resource groups and affinity networks, and how do you support them?
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What are your employee resource groups and affinity networks, and how do you support them?
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Why this works
Assesses employee support while helping you understand the resources available for underrepresented groups and how they're supported.
5What are your training and development programs for diversity and inclusion, and how do you ensure all employees participate?
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What are your training and development programs for diversity and inclusion, and how do you ensure all employees participate?
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Why this works
Evaluates education and training while helping you understand how the organization educates employees about D&I and ensures participation.
6What are your policies and procedures for addressing bias and discrimination, and how do you handle complaints?
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What are your policies and procedures for addressing bias and discrimination, and how do you handle complaints?
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Why this works
Addresses accountability while helping you understand how the organization handles bias, discrimination, and ensures a safe workplace.
7What are your supplier diversity and vendor inclusion initiatives, and how do you support diverse businesses?
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What are your supplier diversity and vendor inclusion initiatives, and how do you support diverse businesses?
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Why this works
Assesses external commitment while helping you understand how the organization supports diversity in its business relationships.
8What are your pay equity and compensation practices, and how do you ensure fair compensation for all employees?
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What are your pay equity and compensation practices, and how do you ensure fair compensation for all employees?
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Why this works
Addresses compensation equity while helping you understand how the organization ensures fair pay and addresses pay gaps.
9What are your mentorship and sponsorship programs, and how do you support career development for underrepresented groups?
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What are your mentorship and sponsorship programs, and how do you support career development for underrepresented groups?
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Why this works
Evaluates career support while helping you understand how the organization supports career advancement for diverse employees.
10What are your community engagement and social responsibility initiatives, and how do you support diverse communities?
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What are your community engagement and social responsibility initiatives, and how do you support diverse communities?
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Why this works
Assesses community impact while helping you understand how the organization supports diversity in the broader community.
11What are your data collection and reporting practices, and how do you track diversity metrics and outcomes?
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What are your data collection and reporting practices, and how do you track diversity metrics and outcomes?
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Why this works
Evaluates transparency while helping you understand how the organization collects and reports on diversity data and outcomes.
12What are your employee feedback and engagement surveys, and how do you address diversity-related concerns?
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What are your employee feedback and engagement surveys, and how do you address diversity-related concerns?
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Why this works
Addresses employee voice while helping you understand how the organization listens to and addresses diversity-related feedback.
13What are your leadership development and succession planning practices, and how do you ensure diverse leadership pipelines?
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What are your leadership development and succession planning practices, and how do you ensure diverse leadership pipelines?
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Why this works
Assesses leadership development while helping you understand how the organization develops and promotes diverse leaders.
14What are your flexible work and accommodation policies, and how do you support diverse employee needs?
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What are your flexible work and accommodation policies, and how do you support diverse employee needs?
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Why this works
Evaluates inclusive policies while helping you understand how the organization accommodates diverse employee needs and circumstances.
15What are your recruitment and talent acquisition strategies, and how do you attract diverse candidates?
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What are your recruitment and talent acquisition strategies, and how do you attract diverse candidates?
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Why this works
Addresses talent attraction while helping you understand how the organization attracts and recruits diverse talent.
16What are your performance evaluation and feedback processes, and how do you ensure bias-free assessments?
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What are your performance evaluation and feedback processes, and how do you ensure bias-free assessments?
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Why this works
Evaluates evaluation fairness while helping you understand how the organization ensures fair and unbiased performance evaluations.
17What are your employee retention and turnover rates by demographic, and how do you address any disparities?
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What are your employee retention and turnover rates by demographic, and how do you address any disparities?
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Why this works
Assesses retention equity while helping you understand how the organization tracks and addresses retention disparities.
18What are your diversity and inclusion budget and resources, and how do you allocate funding for D&I initiatives?
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What are your diversity and inclusion budget and resources, and how do you allocate funding for D&I initiatives?
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Why this works
Evaluates resource commitment while helping you understand how the organization funds and supports D&I initiatives.
19What are your diversity and inclusion challenges and obstacles, and how do you plan to address them?
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What are your diversity and inclusion challenges and obstacles, and how do you plan to address them?
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Why this works
Addresses challenges while helping you understand the organization's awareness of D&I challenges and their plans for improvement.
20What are your diversity and inclusion successes and achievements, and how do you celebrate and share them?
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What are your diversity and inclusion successes and achievements, and how do you celebrate and share them?
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Why this works
Recognizes progress while helping you understand the organization's D&I achievements and how they celebrate and share success.
Best Practices for Evaluating Diversity and Inclusion
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Focus on Measurable Outcomes
Ask questions that help you understand specific metrics, goals, and progress. This ensures you can evaluate the organization's actual commitment to D&I.
Address All Aspects of D&I
Include questions about hiring, promotion, pay equity, and culture. This helps you understand the organization's comprehensive approach to diversity and inclusion.
Assess Leadership Commitment
Ask about leadership diversity, accountability, and resource allocation. This helps you understand if D&I is truly a priority at the highest levels.
Question Sequences
The Leadership and Accountability Sequence
The Equity and Fairness Sequence
Common Pitfalls
Don't Focus Only on Demographics
Avoid asking only about numbers and percentages. Include questions about culture, policies, and actual inclusion practices.
Don't Ignore the Challenges
Avoid focusing only on successes. Include questions about challenges, obstacles, and areas for improvement.
Don't Skip the Accountability
Avoid focusing only on initiatives. Include questions about accountability, measurement, and actual outcomes.