Embracing Change to Create a More Inclusive, Equitable World
Among the many lessons life has offered in the last few years, perhaps one of the most universal yet challenging is this: change is constant. While this has always been true, the pace of that change has intensified. Thanks to the widespread adoption and application of technology, modern life moves at a speed that seems almost unimaginable in the context of human history. The experiences and perspectives of each new generation changed much more gradually in the past. After all, throughout most of history, the world typically wasn’t all that different on any given day than it had been 15 years earlier.
However, this is no longer the case. The differences between today’s Gen Z and Gen Alpha students and their Millennial and Gen X parents (or Baby Boomer grandparents) is sometimes stark. These young people are passionate about their beliefs and willing to fight for what they believe is right, even if that means upending traditions at times.
College campuses often take center stage in this push for progress, as students are eager to remedy the inequities of the past and create a more diverse and just world. Sodexo’s 2022-2023 Student Lifestyle Survey recently found that a college’s efforts to promote a diverse and inclusive student body are among students’ top three considerations in choosing where to enroll.
Unfortunately, racism and inequality are pervasive, complex issues that are not easy to solve. And while college campuses may be flashpoints for social change in response to students’ efforts, they are also often large, long-standing, venerated institutions and pillars of the local community, making change difficult and slow.
Overcoming Barriers to Change
The latest chapter of the President to President thought leadership series delves into this issue. In “Effecting Change While Respecting the Past,” Furman University President Elizabeth Davis, Ph.D., describes how to navigate the sometimes complex changes that are a necessary part of becoming a successful modern university while also respecting the institution's culture and history. She describes how the best intentions can be met with reluctance or even anger from some alumni and community members. Davis offers tips on how campus leaders can work with stakeholders to ensure that changes are made carefully and respectfully. Despite the inherent challenges, she also highlights the benefits of progress and changes that move the campus towards a more diverse, equitable and inclusive future.
Change is an Ongoing Process
Diversity, equity and inclusion are core to Sodexo’s mission. We also recognize that we must frequently reevaluate to ensure we continue evolving our approach. In 2021, Sodexo did just that, transitioning from a focus on diversity and inclusion to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I). Equity ensures fair treatment, equal opportunity and access to information and resources for everyone. Achieving equity requires recognizing and removing barriers at all levels, from individual obstacles to systems that perpetuate inequality.
DE&I are central to Sodexo’s mission to create tangible improvements to people’s daily lives, and it’s crucial that we foster this commitment at all levels of the organization. We recently launched our Inclusion and Belonging Champion program, which enables employees to nominate colleagues for recognition of their efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. Sodexo recognizes nominees who exemplify this commitment in four categories: promoting a sense of belonging, demonstrating respect, enhancing client/customer experiences and making a difference in the community.
Driving Changes to Create a Better World
Colleges, schools, businesses, community organizations – all of these are poised to be the driving force behind progress. Change can be scary, especially when we focus on the uncertainties of a future that may look different from what we’ve always known. But we must also recognize that the world (and the humans who live here) has never been perfect, and in fact it has often excluded and discriminated against many people. There is so much room to improve by making our world a place where people no longer feel marginalized but instead feel welcomed and celebrated as unique individuals. Change is the only way we can move forward together and ensure that everyone feels respected and included.