Making Diversity Count
Chief diversity officers are taking their place at the highest levels of corporate America, which is having an impact on business school curriculums.
By Peter Galuszka
In mid-January, corporate America sent another signal that it is paying more attention to diversity issues, and business educators are taking notice.
American International Group Inc., one of the nation’s largest insurers, announced the appointment of its first chief diversity officer, Terri D. Austin. The lawyer and 17-year veteran of AIG will oversee diversity initiatives within the company and advise the company’s top brass of situations among its suppliers, vendors and customers.
While AIG’s announcement was decidedly low key, the naming of another CDO at a powerful U.S. company suggests that diversity is becoming more of a factor in the corner offices of corporate America. Marquee firms like Food Lion, Ford, IBM and Merck now have CDOs.
As a result, diversity issues are becoming a hotter topic in business schools. “Most definitely, the symbolism has been bridged,” says William T. Lewis, director of the Office of Diversity Initiatives at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. “Its been important for companies to communicate to their internal and external constituents that they are committed to diversity.”
