In observance of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development on 21 May, Dentsply Sirona kicked off a week of diversity and inclusion-focused activities on 17 May.
With 15,000 employees in locations around the world, diversity at Dentsply Sirona is a vibrant part of the company’s DNA. With this year’s Diversity Week, the company underlines its commitment to diversity and inclusion (D&I) across all levels of the organisation.
The activities celebrate the diverse aspects that define employees as individuals within the larger Dentsply Sirona family. For instance, one of the activities is a podcast series where employees spoke about their personal experiences and journey.
Employees are invited to join discussions and talk about diversity and inclusion with colleagues and with members of their leadership team. A virtual cookbook visualises the diversity of Dentsply Sirona employees by presenting dishes enjoyed by employees globally. Employees are invited to share their favourite recipes – to cook, experience, and get to know the stories of their colleagues.
Taking action for a brighter world
D&I is part of Dentsply Sirona’s commitment to taking action for a brighter world and ensuring a sustainable business framework.
Dan Key, senior vice president, chief supply chain officer, and diversity & inclusion council leader at Dentsply Sirona, said: “The respect that we show toward individuals reflects our values as a company. Our employees are the heart of our business and the source of our greatest strength. Their commitment and their diverse backgrounds and perspectives enable us to develop innovative solutions that drive dentistry forward. To encourage that strength, we must ensure that employees feel inspired and empowered to achieve their full potential by bringing their whole selves to work every day.”
Dentsply Sirona is constantly seeking ways to foster an inclusive culture and diverse workforce.
Lisa Yankie, senior vice president, chief human resources officer and communications, and co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Council at Dentsply Sirona, emphasised: “Diversity, equal opportunities and inclusion pave the way for the future success of Dentsply Sirona as a global innovator in the dental market. We believe that diversity and inclusion is a competitive advantage and bringing people from diverse backgrounds together as a team benefit all of us. According to a study by McKinsey, companies with an ethnically and culturally diverse board of directors increase the probability for higher profits by 43%*. At Dentsply Sirona, half of the Board of Directors is gender or ethnically diverse demonstrating our commitment to lead by example.”
D&I Council and Employee Resource Groups established
Dentsply Sirona established a global Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Council to develop organisational awareness through training, career coaching, networking, ongoing communications, and talent development to ensure all employees feel empowered to do their best work.
The D&I Council comprises 14 demographically and functionally diverse employees from around the globe. The council evaluates current policies and processes to intentionally increase the awareness and impact of D&I priorities as well as increasing leaders’ ability to discuss and be held accountable for driving sustainable diversity, inclusion and equity outcomes.
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) drive the momentum of D&I even further. As global networks, the ERGs are open to all employees with similar personal backgrounds and interests and foster conversations about diversity and inclusion.
Melanie Jenkins, senior global manager, diversity & inclusion and early career programmes at Dentsply Sirona, explained: “The ERGs are a cornerstone of our Diversity & Inclusion Strategy at Dentsply Sirona. Groups like Black Organisation for Leadership & Development (BOLD) or DS Women help strengthen diversity and the promotion of underrepresented groups by empowering, connecting and fostering employees to support them in their personal and professional development.”
Currently, nearly a thousand employees actively participate in Employee Resource Groups around the world and it is growing every day. More ERGs will be launched in the next months, starting with the following:
- PRIDE: promoting an open, inclusive, and respectful work environment for LGBTQ+ and allies
- DS Early Career: providing support and networking opportunities for employees in the early stages of their career
- Veterans: connecting active-duty service members and vets to support the transition to a civilian work environment and foster professional development; and
- APAG – the Asian Pacific American Group: focused to provide support and resources for professional and personal development of Asian Pacific employees
*Vivian Hunt, S. P.-F. (2018, January). McKinsey. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Business%20Functions/Organization/Our%20Insights/Delivering%20through%20diversity/Delivering-through-diversity_full-report.ashx
