Why companies need to change how they think of Diversity

As a Cuban-American I continue to be shocked through out my young corporate career at how some companies look at “Diversity”.

I once saw a new employee chart where there was two check columns for gender and diversity. Then I saw a hispanic marketing initiative campaign using primarily sombreros as their creative.

I don’t want to be considered diverse just to be checked off on a box to meet quota. I want to be considered diverse because I bring diversity of thought to my company. Being Cuban-American, I can tell you that not all Latinos wear sombreros. That marketing campaign will only partially work for the Hispanic demographic.

Its time to stop thinking of us in numbers or reaching quota but more as a potential to drive business growth in a new way. The world is becoming more and more globalized, if corporations do not realize the potential of diversity they will lag behind.