Enhancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Fresh Approach at Leeds School of Business

Leeds alum Dr. Vic Marsh is making waves in the world of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) with his groundbreaking research on how minority leaders can act as allies in workplace initiatives. In his recently published paper, “An ally by any other name: Examining the effects of racial minority leaders as allies for advancing racial justice,” Marsh and his co-authors delve into the complexities of how racial minority leaders are perceived when advocating for diversity initiatives.

During his time as a PhD student at the Leeds School of Business, Marsh discovered a bias in how white and non-white leaders were perceived when advocating for the same diversity initiatives. This led him to explore solutions to mitigate backlash against non-white leaders and improve support for DEI efforts in organizations.

Marsh’s research found that racial minority leaders engaging in allyship with those of the same race were perceived as less effective allies due to assumed favoritism, leading to lower employee evaluations and decreased support for DEI efforts. However, the paper also offers a solution in the form of “voice amplification framing,” which encourages minority leaders to amplify the voices and ideas of lower-level employees of the same race in their allyship.

According to Marsh, incorporating voice amplification into training for minority leaders can lead to a more inclusive workplace without risking backlash. The positive feedback from minority leaders who have implemented this approach underscores its practical impact and the potential for creating lasting change in organizations.

Moving forward, Marsh plans to continue exploring how moments of organizational conflict can be leveraged to drive change in DEI initiatives. By actively managing crises and seizing opportunities for transformation, Marsh believes that the ongoing discussion and implementation of DEI in the workplace can be steered in a more positive direction.