The Impacts of Diversity and Inclusion in the Rail Industry
Real Estate Committee Feature
Nikol Daniels – Manager Real Estate US
Canadian Pacific
CP Racial Diversity Council Member
International Women's Day was March 8. The theme was #ChooseToChallenge. Challenge the status quo. Challenge bias. Challenge inequity. The number of women in leadership roles not only in ARDA, but also within their own organizations, is on the rise. The industry has likewise made significant gains on diversity in areas of race, ethnicity, and gender identity. Why is it important to keep this momentum? It allows us to attract and retain employees, build respect and inclusion, express authenticity while interacting with a diverse community, and ultimately drive revenue.
Employees who differ from most of their colleagues in religion, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, and generation often hide important parts of themselves at work for fear of negative consequences. This is called “identity cover,” and it makes it difficult to know how they feel and what they want, which makes them vulnerable to leaving their organizations.[1] Continuous engagement with a diverse group of people challenges our biases. When those biases are acknowledged and checked, people can be seen as individuals. This creates a culture of respect and inclusion that allows employees to be more comfortable expressing themselves. An inclusive culture improves employee satisfaction, increases employee engagement and makes employees more likely to stay with an organization.
