Equity, Diversity, & Belonging

Equity, Diversity, and Belonging (EDB) are guiding principles that help keep everything we do focused on the heart of our work — people. We can only move toward greater equity and foster a sense of belonging if we are committed to listening, uncovering, and ultimately changing ourselves, our organization, and our prevailing systems. This is what EDB means to us:
CONTENTS

Equity

We stress the importance of equity beyond equality: Universally, all people are equal, but through our prevailing systems, not all people are treated equally by society and its institutions. Equity ensures all individuals have the same starting point to access opportunities by distributing resources and guaranteeing that institutions operate to overcome systemic barriers.

Diversity

Diversity is the representation of our various identities as societies and individuals. We believe that diversity is critical to building resilient societies and an important source of creative tension.

Belonging

Belonging recognizes that all people hold different identities and experiences. It acknowledges that these differences constitute a shared humanity. In a space where everybody belongs, individuals have agency and tools to co-create and participate in that space.

WHY EDB MATTERS TO US

EDB and Responsible Leadership

Leadership as it has previously been defined and practiced has often reinforced inequalities and perpetuated the global challenges we face today. Responsible Leadership requires more from those in power. To lead responsibly means to ensure that those who are led feel included in a common quest, no matter who they are. Responsible Leadership requires the ability to see and acknowledge systemic barriers that are excluding people and marginalizing them, and to work toward solutions that enable a peaceful, just, and regenerative future for all.

What We're Working On

Our Commitment

Our EDB work is ongoing.  We believe that articulating our progress and being vulnerable about where we could do better is an essential part of tackling the work authentically — a practice we encourage in Responsible Leaders and one we take seriously in mirroring as an organization. Our EDB work would not be possible without the Responsible Leaders Network. We are thankful for the initiatives and groups such as the Gender Alliance, the Black Responsible Leaders Caucus, and the Truth & Reconciliation Committee for continuously challenging and encouraging us to advance our work on Equity, Diversity, and Belonging.In 2021, we made EDB one of our focus topics. To us, none of these three principles are merely a topic, but a way in which we engage with people. Here are the key initiatives where we’re focusing our efforts now and looking forward toward the culture we aspire to live out through our organization, the Responsible Leaders Network, and beyond:

Team members discussing in a group.

EDB Team

In early 2021, the BMW Foundation established a team dedicated to elevating the topic of EDB. Made up of members from all areas of the Foundation, the team’s role is to advise and support key internal processes to celebrate and uplift diversity, strengthen equity, and foster a culture of belonging for all team members. In June 2021, the team began working on a strategy to implement EDB across the entire Foundation.

Internal Learning JourneyAt the BMW Foundation, all team members are a part of the Internal Learning Journey: a series of conversations and workshops to investigate the status quo of EDB at the Foundation, identify learning opportunities and provide spaces for team members to grow their understanding of EDB. In 2022 we held workshops on privilege and power, inclusive language, and gender equity. We also continue to offer bi-weekly open spaces to discuss how matters related to EDB are present in the Foundation’s work, ensuring that team members have space to exchange with and challenge one another, and to learn together and from one another.
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EDB at Our Gatherings

As an organization that convenes diverse groups, we see it as our responsibility to create spaces in which everyone feels invited, seen, and heard. Over the last decade, we have been refining how we host events – from the people and program to the physical places in which we convene. To ensure that our events are constructive spaces of learning, we have developed a set of commitments for how we come together. This is in addition to a set of guiding principles for the Responsible Leaders Network.

Equity, Diversity, and Belonging

Events Manifesto

As an organization that brings people together, we see it as our responsibility to create safe spaces in which everyone feels invited, seen, and heard, to ensure they can be their full selves. Equity, diversity, and belonging (EDB) are intrinsically linked to our work and to how we strive to host events. We would like to ensure that our EDB approach goes beyond singular activities and is systemically implemented in every event we plan – from the people and program to the physical places in which we convene.

EDB Events Manifesto