MIT Sloan Management Review Article on Why Belonging Is Key to Building the New Workforce

Businesses are spending more money on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives than ever before. By one estimate, the global market for DEI reached $7.5 billion in 2020, and it is expected to more than double by 2026. But such financial commitments have been followed by a slew of reports questioning the results of all that spending — including ones that say such programs have “largely failed” and often “implode.”

At Degreed, my team has taken a different tack by building a program around DEIB — adding belonging as an essential element. In our recent study with RedThread Research on how to create a DEIB culture, we defined belonging as “the sense of security and support one has resulting from a belief in being accepted and valued for being their ‘authentic self.’”

About the Author

Susie Lee is senior vice president of global business transformation and executive officer for diversity, inclusion, and belonging at Degreed.

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