A groundbreaking new book, "Beyond Diversity: 12 Non-Obvious Ways to Build a More Inclusive World," co-authored by diversity and inclusion expert Jennifer Brown and trend curator Rohit Bhargava, challenges conventional approaches to fostering inclusivity by advocating for a deeper exploration of shared human experiences alongside individual differences. The publication posits that current global conversations about diversity often inadvertently emphasize what separates people, overlooking the numerous commonalities that can serve as powerful foundations for building truly inclusive environments. This work, an excerpt of which provides an illustrative introduction to its core concepts, argues for a shift towards an intersectional understanding of identity, urging individuals and organizations to adopt a "wide-angle lens" in their pursuit of belonging.
The Evolving Landscape of Diversity and Inclusion
The discourse surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has gained significant momentum in recent decades, becoming a critical area of focus for corporations, educational institutions, and governments worldwide. However, despite increased awareness and investment, many initiatives struggle to achieve their intended impact. A 2020 McKinsey & Company report, "Diversity Wins: How Inclusion Matters," found that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability than companies in the fourth quartile. For ethnic and cultural diversity, this figure rose to 36%. Yet, the report also highlighted that progress remains slow, and many organizations still face challenges in translating diversity into genuine inclusion and belonging.
One of the central challenges identified by Brown and Bhargava is the tendency for diversity conversations to become siloed. Conferences, workshops, and advocacy groups frequently specialize in specific dimensions of identity – racial justice, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, disability advocacy, ageism, and so forth. While these focused discussions are undeniably crucial for providing safe spaces and addressing specific systemic injustices, the authors contend that they often fail to reflect the complex, multi-layered reality of human identity. This "splintered approach" can inadvertently reinforce divisions, preventing the cross-pollination of ideas and shared understanding necessary for a truly inclusive world.
The Power of Shared Humanity: Lessons from Denmark
The book opens with a compelling reference to a viral social experiment conducted by Danish television channel TV2 in 2017, titled "All That We Share." The campaign, conceived by the creative agency Bates Y&R Copenhagen, gathered diverse groups of people – including those with tattoos, medical professionals, different ethnicities, and various ages – who initially stood apart, visibly uncomfortable. A host then posed a series of unexpected questions designed to uncover shared experiences: "Who among you was the class clown?" "Who are stepparents?" "Who has been bullied?" "Who feels lonely?"
With each question, individuals from disparate initial groups stepped forward, finding common ground and forming new connections. They embraced, posed for photographs, and returned to their original clusters with a visibly altered sense of camaraderie. The exercise powerfully demonstrated that despite superficial differences, a profound reservoir of shared experiences and emotions unites people. The campaign quickly garnered international acclaim, accumulating nearly 300 million views globally on YouTube and winning a prestigious Gold Cannes Lion award, among others like the Eurobest Grand Prix. Its success underscored the universal human desire for connection and the transformative potential of recognizing commonalities.
Understanding Intersectionality: A Wide-Angle Lens
Central to "Beyond Diversity" is the concept of intersectionality, a term first coined by American lawyer and civil rights advocate Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw in 1989. Crenshaw developed the theory to describe how race, class, gender, and other individual characteristics "intersect" with one another and overlap, creating unique layers of discrimination and privilege. Her work initially focused on the experiences of Black women, highlighting how they faced marginalization not just as women or as Black individuals, but specifically as Black women, a distinct form of oppression that single-axis analyses failed to capture.
Brown and Bhargava extend this academic framework into a practical call for a "wide-angle lens" in DEI efforts. They argue that embracing intersectionality means moving beyond defining individuals by a single label and instead recognizing the complex tapestry of social identities that shape each person’s perspective. This approach encourages a holistic understanding, acknowledging that an individual’s experience as, for instance, a Hispanic gay man over 50 with a disability, is unique and cannot be fully understood by examining each identity in isolation.
The Authors’ Vision: From Virtual Gathering to Transformative Framework
Jennifer Brown, founder and CEO of Jennifer Brown Consulting and author of "Inclusion: Diversity, The New Workplace & The Will To Change," brings decades of experience advising Fortune 500 companies on diversity and inclusion. Rohit Bhargava, a renowned expert on non-obvious thinking, marketing, and innovation, known for his "Non-Obvious" series of books, contributes a unique perspective on identifying hidden trends and reframing complex challenges. Their collaboration stems from a shared conviction that current DEI conversations, while vital, are often incomplete.
The inspiration for "Beyond Diversity" originated from a virtual event conceptualized in late 2020. The authors aimed to convene a diverse group of a dozen or so D&I experts from various fields, explicitly to bridge the "siloed" discussions prevalent in the space. This initial idea blossomed into a more extensive effort, involving hundreds of conversations and intense development, ultimately leading to a "groundbreaking gathering of voices" that laid the foundation for the book’s framework. This process, as the authors note, began fundamentally with "listening" – a core tenet of their proposed approach to inclusivity.
The book directly addresses the "what if" scenarios: What if conferences and corporate programs were designed to intentionally bring together people and perspectives that might never otherwise interact? The authors envision dialogues where, for example, a champion for gender pay equity could find common cause with a disability advocate demanding more accessible digital experiences, or a racial justice educator could exchange insights with a researcher combating age-related biases in the workplace. These individuals, though fighting different battles, are all pioneers for equity, and an intersectional approach reveals the systemic threads that connect their struggles.
Implications for Business and Society
The implications of adopting an intersectional and commonality-focused approach are far-reaching. For businesses, this means moving beyond superficial diversity metrics to cultivate genuinely inclusive cultures where every employee feels a sense of belonging and psychological safety. A 2019 report by Deloitte and the Newman Institute highlighted that an inclusive culture is directly linked to higher innovation (83% of respondents), better business performance (72%), and greater employee retention (81%). However, achieving this requires a nuanced understanding of how different identities intersect and how individuals navigate both shared and unique challenges within the workplace.
The traditional model of establishing Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) for specific identity groups, while beneficial, can be augmented by fostering cross-ERG collaborations and initiatives that highlight shared interests or challenges (e.g., parenting, mental wellness, career development). This can help dismantle internal silos and build bridges across different employee populations.
Beyond corporate settings, the book’s framework holds significance for educational institutions, public policy, and community development. Educators can design curricula that emphasize both cultural appreciation and universal human themes. Policymakers can craft legislation that considers the compounded effects of various forms of discrimination, rather than addressing them in isolation. Community organizers can build stronger bonds by facilitating conversations that reveal shared aspirations and struggles among diverse populations.
The Call to Action: Beyond the Party, Towards a Mixtape of Understanding
Vernā Myers, Vice President of Inclusion Strategy at Netflix, famously stated, "Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance." Brown and Bhargava expand on this powerful analogy, asking: "what if everyone was not only invited to the party and asked to dance, but also left with a mixtape filled with music they would love, but had never had the chance to hear before?" This metaphor encapsulates their vision for true inclusion – an environment where individuals not only feel welcome and engaged but also gain enriched perspectives and discover new connections through exposure to different experiences and viewpoints.
The book underscores the critical role of listening, as highlighted by Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, author and psychologist: "Sometimes the assumptions we make about others come not from what we have been told or what we have seen on television or in books, but rather from what we have not been told." This emphasizes the importance of active listening and seeking to understand the unspoken narratives and unique challenges faced by individuals at the intersections of their identities.
"Beyond Diversity: 12 Non-Obvious Ways to Build a More Inclusive World" is not merely a theoretical exploration but a practical guide. It offers actionable strategies for moving past the limitations of single-axis diversity discussions and fostering environments where both differences and commonalities are celebrated. By embracing an intersectional mindset and actively seeking out shared humanity, individuals and organizations can move closer to building truly equitable, empathetic, and inclusive societies. The book serves as a vital resource for anyone committed to deepening their understanding of belonging and transforming the current landscape of diversity and inclusion into a more cohesive and impactful movement.
