{"id":50754,"date":"2019-10-15T18:43:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-18T18:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=50754"},"modified":"2022-11-01T15:43:15","modified_gmt":"2022-11-01T22:43:15","slug":"how-equality-drives-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/au\/blog\/how-equality-drives-innovation\/","title":{"rendered":"How Equality Drives Innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Inequality could be putting your business at a disadvantage at a time when winning the innovation game is more important than ever. This makes equality a greater business advantage than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It would be easy to be disheartened by the World Economic Forum\u2019s latest report<\/a> on gender equality. At the current rate of change, it will take 108 years to close the Global Gender Gap, based on the indexes of economic participation, educational attainment, health and survival and political empowerment. With women only making up 34% of managers globally, the ever-persistent glass ceiling makes the economic opportunity gap the most dire. It is expected to take more than 200 years to close completely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yet, as I looked around the room at the NZ CXO Council Conference I spoke at earlier this year, it was impossible not to be encouraged by the actions of attendees like Skycity\u2019s Liza McNally, Paymark\u2019s Maxine Elliott and ally Tony Snushall from Inzone Industries \u2014 champions for change who are making real progress by creating diverse workplaces where equality is the number one priority. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I included the WEF stats in my presentation not to discourage, but to inspire and bring awareness. When it comes to inclusion and equality, we are not done. There is a challenge to be met, so now is not the time to take our feet off the pedal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Salesforce, we prioritise equality because it\u2019s the right thing to do. The reality is though, equality makes business sense too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your customers expect innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The pressure on businesses to constantly innovate has never been greater. Our research<\/a> shows that 40% of customers will pay more for products that are first to market and 68% of customers expect the rate of innovation from companies to accelerate. Seventy five percent expect companies to use new technologies to create better experiences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most effective ways of meeting customers\u2019 demand for innovation and driving business success is to make equality central to your business. There are two aspects to gender equality in the workplace: equality of representation, and equality of time, space and attention given to a diverse range of voices. <\/p>\n\n\n

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At the current rate of change, it will take 108 years to close the Global Gender Gap and more than 200 years to close the economic opportunity gap.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n