At the recent digital INCLUSION Festival, we learnt from Shailaja Sharma, Group Head of Learning and Development and DEIB at IHH Healthcare.
Shailaja shared her decade of experience of advancing DEI learning and development: “Asia is unique in its diversity, equity and inclusion challenges and opportunities,” says Shailaja.
Notably, 177 million people in Asia are below the poverty line (source: ADB).
“Social mobility is a particular issue in Asia,” says Shailaja, who was the first Asian to be awarded a Distinction on the topic of DEI in her Masters in Change program at INSEAD in 2018.
Shailaja is based in Singapore, leading the group Learning, Development and DEI agenda for one of the largest private sector healthcare companies.
“Ten years ago there was almost no community of DEI practitioners or professional training which was designed specifically for an Asian audience. This has all changed now, as the DEI agenda gains momentum. At IHH, we developed a research based market led DEI strategies and programs that are specific to the region.”
You can access Shailaja’s session on-demand as she shares her decade of experience of advancing DEI learning and development including:
- Emphasising the professionalism of DEI and the growing demand for comprehensive training
- Recognising the importance of business acumen in effectively driving diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
- Advocating for deeper understanding of the commercial aspects of the business to effectively influence decision-making
- Discussing the role of ongoing training and development in equipping professionals with the necessary skills to navigate and impact the business landscape
To find out more and access the session, see here: https://diversity-network.com/inclusion-registration/
Shailaja’s thesis for her Masters was about women at work – to observe and analyse the response to the stereotype threat experienced by Asian women in organisations. You can read Shailaja’s thesis here: Thesis -Stereotype threat in orgns and impact on Womens performance (1)
