So you aspire to be a diversity, equity, and inclusion leader. Wondering whether you’ve got what it takes to lead — the right mix of skills, education and experience? Take our 10-question quiz to see how you stack up.
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True or False: Most CDOs possess expertise beyond the scope of DEI in order to also lead disparate functions such as workplace safety.
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53% of the chief diversity officers (CDOs) in S&P 500 companies have an additional role unrelated to diversity and inclusion, according to Russell Reynolds. One example is Ian Brown, a DEI Think Tank founding member who oversees diversity, well-being, and workplace safety and violence prevention at Duke Health.
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True or False: You've spent the first 20 years of your career with one employer, and you're looking for a new gig where you can comfortably devote yourself for the next 20 years. A CDO role is perfect for you: Companies never waver in their support for DEI, and neither will you as a CDO, right?
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CDOs actually have the shortest tenure in the C-suite at less than two years, according to Korn Ferry. Veterans in the industry, like Keith Woods who has served as the chief diversity officer at NPR since 2010, tell Senior Executive DEI it’s not always easy to stick around. Woods says he was “one negotiating point away from leaving the organization at one time several years back, because the support was so thin.”
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True or False: It’s necessary to speak a second language — or several of them — to be a CDO.
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While it isn’t a requirement, Jes Osrow, co-founder of the consulting firm The Rise Journey, says, “If there is a large population that speaks a language other than your primary language, it could be a great way to connect with that group. A requirement? No, but I would say that hiring someone more senior who does speak one or more non-dominant language can be helpful for work product, general support, and employees who don't speak the dominant language to feel more included.”
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True or False: Leading DEI at a company requires thick skin. CDOs must deal with opposition from across the workforce and the general public.
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Most DEI leaders deal with skepticism throughout their careers — internally and externally. Although 56% of employed Americans say DEI at work is a good thing, according to Pew, that number lessens across certain demographics. For example, fewer than half (47%) of white employees say DEI is a good thing while 21% say it’s a bad thing.
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Which of the following is not a characteristic of successful CDOs?
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An effective DEI leader is one who doesn’t have a silo mentality since they’re required to work with teams across the organization.
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True or False: To be a CDO, you have to be a person of color.
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Of course the role of chief diversity officer isn’t exclusive. According to The Washington Post, approximately 10% of CDOs at the 50 most valuable companies with a diversity leader are white.
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True or False: Most CDOs report to the CEO, so you need to have previous experience collaborating with and working under one.
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While you will collaborate with company leaders from the top-down, The Washington Post reports most CDOs report to the human resources department. Some report to the CEO, while others may report to the COO or chief administrative officer.
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Which of the following is not a skill you need to be a CDO?
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While CDOs are responsible for creating, advocating for, and supporting a DEI budget, they aren’t typically responsible for external fundraising.
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True or False: You need a master’s degree to be a CDO.
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It doesn’t hurt to have a master’s degree, but it isn’t a requirement for a majority of CDOs. Senior Executive DEI speaks with CDOs who carry a variety of undergraduate degrees, including social justice, human resources management, and law.
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True or False: You've been writing about DEI and consulting on DEI matters for nearly a decade now. That kind of longstanding commitment to DEI alone will make you stand out when applying for a corporate CDO role.
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Most job listings we see for CDO positions require management experience, too. Indeed's career guide for CDOs suggests you should have at least two years as a team leader to seek out a C-level role.
Links and Resources Related to This Quiz
(Note: links will open new tabs to preserve your work in the quiz above.)
- A Leader’s Guide: Finding and Keeping Your Next Chief Diversity Officer (Russell Reynolds Associates)
- Bracing Yourself for the DEI Haters (Senior Executive Media)
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace (Pew Research Center)
- Diversity Wins: How Inclusion Matters (McKinsey & Company)
- How Chief Diversity Officers are Meeting the Challenges of Today and Tomorrow (United Minds)
- NPR’s Chief Diversity Officer Shares The Evolution of DEI in Public Radio (Senior Executive Media)
- The Next-Gen Chief Diversity Officer (Korn Ferry Institute)
- The Striking Race Gap in Corporate America (The Washington Post)
- Unlocking the Potential of Chief Diversity Officers (McKinsey & Company)
- Voya Financial’s Chief Diversity and Corporate Impact Officer Advocates for Disability Visibility in the Workplace (Senior Executive)
- Your Chief Diversity Officer Might Soon Be Planning Their Exit—And It’ll Be a Costly Loss (Fortune)
- Your Chief Diversity Officer Is Likely Leaving (Korn Ferry Institute)
- What Is a Chief Diversity Officer and What Do They Do? (Indeed)
