Despite Kamala Harris being selected as president-elect Joe Biden’s running mate, only 10% of senior level corporate positions in the US are held by a woman from a racial or ethnic minority, according to statistics from Gartner TalentNeuron™.
The data was revealed in a report from Gartner which takes an in-depth look at how underrepresented talent can be advanced in the future.
“There is no two-hour training remedy for this challenge. Organisations need to assess their current systems and processes to mitigate bias and address organisational factors that prohibit equal opportunity for advancement,” says Lauren Romansky, Managing Vice President, Gartner.
“Nearly every company today would state that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is a business priority, even during the COVID-19 pandemic,” comment Gartner who revealed a survey of DEI heads showed 69% are prioritising the advancement of underrepresented talent.
However, another recent Gartner survey of 113 HR leaders showed 88% feel their organisation has not been effective at increasing diverse representation.
In the report, 3 Actions to More Effectively Advance Underrepresented Talent, Gartner identify the following organisational barriers:
- Unclear career paths and steps to advancement
- Too little exposure to senior leaders
- Lack of mentors or career support
Gartner identified three actions HR can take to reset how underrepresented talent is advanced.