By Marcel Bandur, Candidate, The NUS MBA
#MeToo, #TimesUp, and #BlackLivesMatter are just some of the conversations around equality that have been front and centre in the media recently. The impact of these movements has been tremendous; creating global campaigns and affecting politics.
However, these are still conversations that are rarely happening in the workplace.
That is why the NUS MBA Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Club recently launched “The NUS MBA Inclusive Leadership Manual” to groom the next generation of inclusive leaders. This unique manual provides an Asian perspective on inclusive leadership.
My fellow MBA candidate Rashmi Saraogi, who lent her creative spirit manual and made it come alive, shares my passion and enthusiasm. “I got immediately interested in working with Marcel on such a unique idea. Creating an inclusive workplace has always been my area of interest. I truly believe that we need to treat everyone equal regardless of the differences,” she said.
The NUS MBA candidate Rashimi Saraogi
“It is all about tapping in the positive energy of diverse people and benefiting from the synergy generated. The ideas mentioned in the manual would act as a ready reference for me and my cohort to embrace D&I in our future workplaces and I wanted it to be as handy as possible,” said Rashmi.
Motivation for the Manual
When COVID-19 struck, the fatigue of online webinars and virtual events made me rethink ways to tap on the collective knowledge of the D&I Club’s ecosystem under a common umbrella project. I envisioned an accessible, practical, and one-stop resource from which everyone can benefit.
Throughout the year, we had collaborated with local and international corporate partners who champion workplace inclusivity. Through various events and talks organised by the club, our ecosystem of experts and practitioners kept growing in size and vibrancy. This network provided us with a wealth of best practices and information that we could tap on.
My idea was to present simple 10 action points per each theme that capture best practice, are easy to follow, and bring about real difference. The themes centred around three areas: Gender Equality, LGBTQI+, and Disabilities. These topics have been the focus of the NUS MBA Diversity & Inclusion Club (formerly the Women in Business Club) since its inception in August 2019, as they reflect the current debates at a workplace.
Unlocking the potential in diverse workforce does not need over-engineering. It’s often the small things that matter and that’s what this manual highlights.
An Asian Perspective
My fellow MBA candidates take great interest in D&I, but are often overwhelmed by the jargon, complex debates, and cultural sensitivities. Being in Asia where cultures tend to be more conservative, this was even more complicated.
Ultimately, we are leading from Asia and our approaches to workplace inclusivity need to be informed from within the region.
Our MBA candidates are the future of leadership and I’m certain that diversity and inclusion will keep the centre stage as corporate values. Unlocking the potential in diverse workforce does not need over-engineering. It’s often the small things that matter and that’s what this manual highlights.
