Carla Harris on Diversity and Inclusion – Part 2

In part two of this exclusive four-part video series, Carla Harris, the senior vice chairman, managing director, and senior client advisor at Morgan Stanley, talks about leadership and diversity.

Harris, whose successful career on Wall Street spans more than three decades, says: “If you are a powerful, impactful, and influential leader, you must be intentional about diversity because we are all vulnerable to unconscious bias.”

Diversity and inclusion are a must

Known for her eight pearls of intentional leadership, Harris shares anecdotal experience to emphasize the fact that diversity of thought has a huge impact on an organization’s go-to-market strategy — and its long-term success.

“If you do not have diverse thinking at your decision-making table, you’ll have a gap in your go-to-market strategy. You’ll expose yourself unnecessarily and exceedingly to competitive threats,” she adds.

Harris takes things one step further and explores why businesses aren’t further along in their diversity and inclusion journey. For over 30 years, she says, diversity has been seen as a nice-to-do as opposed to as a strategic, competitive initiative.

This needs to change if businesses are ever to succeed. D&I shouldn’t be an after-thought, it should be at the core of every business decision and leaders must be intentional about it.

Make sure you check out part one where Harris talks about authenticity, trust, and clarity. She also discusses how the younger generations require leaders to offer constant feedback, to motivate and inspire.