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National Engineers Week: Why Diversity Matters

By Mr. Michael Sanderson P.E., PTOE, LEED AP posted 02-21-2018 01:17 PM

  

Often times people assume that it’s an activist plot, this diversity thing. That somehow diversity matters only if you are motivated by left-leaning conspiracies. Not true. I am a pragmatist – a small business owner and a capitalist. I am motivated by what makes sense. I like to make decisions with data and facts. And the facts are perfectly clear. Diversity produces better outcomes. Period.  Research shows that organizations with diverse teams, with participants of different genders, races, ethnicities and backgrounds of all types, are simply better at developing creative solutions. In addition, the research is also crystal clear that when the tide rises, it rises for all. For example, a report recently published in the Harvard Business Review shows that as more women participate in the workforce wages rise, not just for the women but for everyone. Lastly, as if these reasons weren’t enough, demographic trends loom large. Women make up more than 50% of students in U.S. colleges and those identifying as non-white will soon represent the majority of our U.S. population. In other words, if we want to have a viable workforce in our companies and in our Institute, we will need to expand our tent. This is not an opinion; these are facts. Creating organizations in STEM fields that embrace, encourage and support diversity, is important for all these reasons – We will create better outcomes. We’ll all get paid more. And we’ll ensure the long-term sustainability of our profession. Oh yeah, and it’s the right thing to do. Happy Engineers Week – everyone!

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