Hiring for Diversity

About the Authors

Arthur Woods is a social entrepreneur and LGBTQ+ advocate whose work focuses on equity, inclusion, and technology. He is the co-founder of Mathison, a platform dedicated to equitable hiring practices. Woods has been at the forefront of creating systems that help organizations diversify their workforce and reduce bias in their hiring processes.

Susanna Tharakan is a leader and researcher focused on advancing diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces. She leads DEI initiatives at Sisense and is becoming a thought leader in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space. Together, Woods and Tharakan bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the topic of diversity hiring, offering practical strategies for building more inclusive organizations.

Main Idea

Hiring for Diversity: The Guide to Building an Inclusive and Equitable Organization by Arthur Woods and Susanna Tharakan provides a comprehensive playbook for implementing a diversity hiring strategy. Using the authors' research-backed Equal Hiring Index® and their work with leading employers, the book offers actionable steps to create an inclusive hiring process. It emphasizes the need to reframe diversity hiring as a long-term strategic priority and mobilize collective efforts across organizations to achieve diversity goals.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Setting the Stage: Going from Intent to Impact
3. What Needs to Change
4. Building Your Diversity Hiring Vision, Goals, and Reporting
5. Understanding Underrepresented Job Seekers
6. Designing an Inclusive Brand and Candidate Experience
7. Writing Inclusive Job Descriptions and Candidate Communication
8. Diversity Sourcing
9. Minimizing Selection Bias
10. Developing Fair Interviews
11. Ensuring Equitable Job Offers
12. Mobilizing Your Organization in Diversity Hiring

Introduction

The introduction sets the stage by highlighting the urgency and importance of diversity hiring. The authors acknowledge that many organizations have good intentions but lack the strategic approach needed to make meaningful progress. The book aims to provide a roadmap for transforming those intentions into impactful actions that lead to a more inclusive and equitable workplace.

Setting the Stage: Going from Intent to Impact

Woods and Tharakan emphasize the importance of moving from intent to impact in diversity hiring. They discuss the common pitfalls organizations face, such as focusing solely on metrics without fostering an inclusive culture. The authors argue that real progress requires a shift in mindset, viewing diversity hiring as a strategic priority rather than a checkbox exercise.

“If we are serious about increasing representation in our organizations, we have to begin with a unified and inclusive definition of diversity.” - Arthur Woods and Susanna Tharakan

This section also introduces the concept of collective ownership, where every member of the organization plays a role in advancing diversity. The authors highlight the need for continuous learning, adaptation, and commitment from all levels of the organization.

What Needs to Change

To create sustainable diversity, organizations must abandon outdated thinking and adopt new approaches. The authors outline several key changes that need to happen:

• Start with Inclusion: Organizations must foster an environment where everyone feels empowered and included.
• Long-term Strategic Priority: Diversity hiring should be seen as an ongoing journey, not a one-time initiative.
• Collective Ownership: Everyone in the organization should be mobilized around diversity hiring goals.

“To improve diversity, we have to start with inclusion.” - Arthur Woods and Susanna Tharakan

The authors stress that these changes are not quick fixes but require a fundamental shift in how organizations think about and approach diversity.