11 Business Leaders Who Understand the Value of Diversity

“I believe that having women in positions of authority and on our board has indirectly helped Birks & Mayors weather the current economic crisis.” – Thomas Andruskevich, President and CEO, Birks & Mayors, Inc.

“If you don’t have women involved in the leadership of a company, you’re leaving 50 percent of the population on the sidelines.” – Charles Baker, Former CEO, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

“It’s all a matter of searching for high‐quality people, since the characteristics of a company are measured by the management team.” – Bill Campbell, Chairman of the Board, Intuit

“Diversity and inclusion help us do our jobs faster, better, more completely and more uniquely than the competition. The longer I’m in business, the more I realize that diversity and inclusion deliver real business value.”
- Douglas Conant, Former President and CEO, Campbell Soup Company

“Having both women and men in senior management roles brought different perspectives to our deliberations and successfully kept the leadership team focused on implementing our strategic plan.” – Sidney W. “Chip” Emery, Jr., Chairman and CEO [Retired], MTS Systems Corp.

“If you have a board that is largely homogeneous, then it’s going to be very difficult to benefit from the full range of talents and experience required to thrive in today’s global economy.” – Eric Foss, CEO, Pepsi Beverages Company

“Having women in a company’s senior leadership ranks brings a new perspective to the decision‐making process.”
- Donald Fry, President and CEO, Greater Baltimore Committee

“We now have so many key positions that are filled by women that I no longer think of it as diversity. It’s become a part of what we are as a company, which is satisfying.” – Jeffrey Joerres, Chairman, CEO and President, Manpower Inc.

“Companies searching for new board members should try to cast a wider net. They’ll find no shortage of qualified women candidates.” – TK Kerstetter, President and CEO, Board Member, Inc.

“I make sure we’re recruiting and filling the pipeline. I believe in it enough to drive it through the organization so that we consider a diverse candidate for every open position.” – Charles G. “Chip” McClure, Chairman, CEO and President, ArvinMeritor

“Often it is the women directors who push other board members to recognize their full potential.”
- John W. Rogers, Jr., Chairman, CEO and Chief Investment Officer, Ariel Investments