Dan Lasik, Partner

The Importance of Diversity Education in the Workplace: A Workshop for Virginia Tech Faculty and Staff

Agenda for the day

► Why diversity and inclusiveness is important► Perspectives from Virginia Tech alumni► How you can make an impact

The global business environment

► Global Trends:► Increased sophistication of global markets► Outsourcing/Offshoring► Impact of US Regulations► Convergence of accounting standards► Shift in demographics

► Our clients are global► Domestic companies with operations abroad► Foreign companies with domestic operations► Investors have a global focus► Cross border capital flows

Why diversity and inclusiveness is important to Ernst & Young.

EMEIA

People: 68,000+Revenue: $11 billion

AmericasPeople: 41,500+Revenue: $10 billion

Driving seamless, consistent, high-quality client service worldwide

Asia Pac

People: 27,000+Revenue: $2billion

Japan

People: 7,000+Revenue: $1 billion

► Diversity and inclusiveness. We must be the clear leader in diversity and inclusiveness in order to recruit the best talent, develop our people to  their full potential and team effectively.

► Global mindset and integration. We must extend our leadership in global integration and mindset in response to clients' desires for seamless global service, and the shift of capital from West to East and from developed to emerging markets .

Ernst & Young’s Transformational Priorities

INCLUSIVENESS

DIVERSITY

Diversity & Inclusiveness at EY

Visible and invisible differences, thinking style, leadership style, gender, ethnicity, religious background, sexual orientation, age, experience, culture etc.

A quality of the organizational environment that maximizes and

leverages the diverse talents, backgrounds and perspectives

of all employees

Mix of our people

Leveraging the mix

Execute on Campus Build Pipeline/

Systemic Change

Student Pathways to EY Students University

Attract high school students to priority schools

Accounting & Business Awareness Programs

Employer Branding

Inclusiveness Visits

Faculty Diversity and Inclusiveness Roundtable

Faculty Inclusiveness Award

NEW: Thought Leadership: Inclusive

Business Schools

Influence freshman to choose Accounting /Business as a major

NEW: Ernst & Young’s Launch ProgramEmerging Leaders Summit

Offer early exposure opportunities within EY

Discover TaxHorizon Internship

Encourage and support MSA/MST degrees

Supporting Master’s Degrees at Priority Schools

High Performing Staff and Seniors

National ConferencesHoward University Leadership Program

Driving our Inclusiveness Recruiting Strategy:From high school to high performing EY staff and seniors

Our Expectations…

► Universities► Recruits

Perspectives from Virginia Tech Alumni

► Ashley Perry ’11, Assurance Staff, Richmond

► Andre Crawford, Transfer Pricing Manager, Detroit

Making an impact

► Share with you a glimpse of the learning experience that all of our partners and senior managers have attended

► Provide you with a few resources

“Frames of Reference”

Our individual “system of meaning”:

• How we perceive, evaluate, and relate in a social context

• Biases and preferences we apply in our interactions based on visible and invisible cues

Factors influencing our Frames of Reference

AgeSexPhysical & Mental QualitiesSexual OrientationSkin ColorPersonalityEtc.

Gender IdentitySocio‐Economic StatusEthnicity/RaceRegional CultureDisabilityReligionGenerationEtc.

Life ExperiencesEducationProfessional TrainingWork BackgroundMarital StatusParental StatusLifestyleEtc.

Biological Social/Cultural Individual

Example: The ladder of inferenceFrame of reference in action

Jane speaks once during classroom seminar

Jane is a junior and should speak up to contribute

Jane knows the content yet is not assertive enough to speak up during class

Jane may not feel comfortable in a Big 4 environment

Jane would not be a strong candidate for Big 4 internship

Ladder of Inference, Source: The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook by Peter Senge

Add meanings

Observable data

Make assumptions

Draw conclusions

Adopt beliefs

Take actions

Select data

Frame of Reference

Example: Change the frame of reference

Jane is a strong candidate for a Big 4 internship

Jane made a very insightful comment on the issue

Jane would be successful in a Big 4 environment

Jane’s technical skills would be valued on an engagement team

Add meanings

Observable data

Make assumptions

Draw conclusions

Adopt beliefs

Take actions

Select data

Frame of Reference

Jane speaks once during classroom seminar

Ladder of Inference, Source: The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook by Peter Senge

Insider-Outsider dynamics

Insiders

► Have the formal and/or informal power

► Set expectations and reinforce and reward

► Have the most to gain from the maintenance standards

Outsiders

► Have little or no power► Expected to adhere to the

dominant standards► Are put at a disadvantage

Depending on the situation and circumstances, each of us can be either an insider and outsider.

Resources:

► Is your business school environment inclusive?► Building a global mindset.► Global and Inclusive leaders.