MBA student Cassi Matthews helped organize a recent panel discussion at the David Eccles School of Business that took on the important topic of diversity. Here, she shares her thoughts on the rationale behind the discussion, and some of what she learned.

Cassi writes: 

Diversity is a hot topic around the business school. There are a lot of misconceptions and ideas about it that leave a bad taste in many students’ mouths–not because students don’t care about equal rights, but because it is unclear how it affects the workplace.

When the idea to have a panel on diversity came up, my goal was to clear up these misconceptions, to give students a reason to grasp diversity efforts, and to show them how they can utilize and measure diversity once they are out in the business world.

The “Diversity to Dollars: Leveraging Employee Differences” panel came together perfectly, and the interest from faculty, staff, and local business executives made the project even more exciting! It is apparent that diversity is not just a hot topic at the business school, but also to executives and leaders in the business world.

Dr. Abe Bakhsheshy, professor in the Management department and Daniels Professor of Business Ethics, moderated the panel. As a leader of our Daniels Ethics Initiative, Dr. Abe’s participation in the event heightened the level of the ethical commitment we have as business leaders to include and accept all people regardless of race, gender, age, or sexual orientation.

Panelists included Senator Luz Robles, Jeanine Wilson from Corporate Talent Advisors, Connie DeIanni from Zion’s Bank, Mark Bishop from the LDS Church, and Mary Anne Berzins with the University of Utah. The level of experience and the passion for diversity among the panel members was inspiring. Each member was able to bring insight and experiences that prove that diversity efforts are worth it, and are an imperative function in today’s business world.

A key takeaway for me is that diversity is not about meeting quotas or what boxes are checked on an I-9, it is about leveraging employee differences to best meet the needs of the company. People with different backgrounds and experiences have different perspectives, skill sets, and knowledge.

So many companies value innovation and creative atmospheres, how can that happen if everyone is the same?

“Diversity to Dollars: Leveraging Employee Differences” was co-sponsored and presented by:

  • The Graduate Women in Business Club – Our mission is to engage, develop, and support women in the Eccles Business School Graduate programs through education, connection, and empowerment
  • Out for Business – Out for Business is a student organization at the David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah whose goal is to foster acceptance, respect, and support for the LGBT community, both on campus and beyond.
  • Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), University of Utah Student Chapter- “Serve the Professional, Advance the Profession”