| | December 2020MANAGEHRMAGAZINE.COM8In MyOpinionBy Ruchi Jalla, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, BAE SystemsFour years ago, our country experienced a series of horrific events, including the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, followed quickly by back-to-back police involved shootings of Alton Sterling ­ shot in Louisiana ­ and Philando Castile ­ shot in Minnesota, seven times at close range in front of his girlfriend and 4-year-old daughter during a traffic stop. I had spent years as a practitioner in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), but I suddenly felt ill-equipped to respond. I knew the moment was important and felt that we had a responsibility to do something. So, at BAE Systems, Inc., the organization started talking about topics we had previously shied away from, such as race and systemic advantages. We heard from leaders who shared with greater vulnerability and authenticity. Slowly, I felt we were building a foundation.Then things changed again. 2020, among other things, brought a global pandemic. And then the death of George Floyd propelled the world into an international reckoning with racism. Once again, I found myself re-evaluating the role of DEI and my own role as Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer (CDIO) in answering the call. Since June, there has been a barrage of DEI positions flooding IT IS TIME THAT ORGANIZATIONS DEFINE THEIR "WHYS."Ruchi Jalla
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