Beyond Diversity: Equity and Inclusion as an overlooked opportunity for investors, a recent white paper by Susheela Peres Da Costa, BA, MA, CIMA, focuses on why the E and I part of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are so critical to the equation. In this special podcast presentation, Research Analyst Ben Larsen sits down with Susheela to learn more about her extensive research on DEI in investing. The two discuss why DEI is important to the industry and to investors, and how DEI principles can be applied to improve a company’s culture and ultimately performance.

“We [Regnan] were involved in the early days in helping to create the conversation that brought [DEI] back into the sphere of company intention, and to give investors a language to talk about it, to inquire better about it, to compare it, evaluate companies, and ultimately to secure that better performance,” Susheela explains. She goes over the basic elements that she has found to be critical in building a culture of inclusivity: fair, safe, and open. “We encourage curiosity,” she says in discussing how to create an environment in which people are able to bring their full selves and apply their full talents at work. “Starting from that point of curiosity, your first steps should be inquisitive. That approach that starts from assuming that you don’t know what you don’t know is much more likely to make sure that you are focusing on the right things, instead of the answers you think you need.” Ben and Susheela talk about some of the challenges leaders encounter, and the importance of aligning incentives with big-picture goals.

Watch or listen to the full podcast discussion on YouTube or on Soundcloud.

You can read Susheela’s white paper, Beyond Diversity: Equity and Inclusion as an overlooked opportunity for investors, here. Read or download Arnerich Massena’s white paper, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Investing, here.