The Initiative on Workplace Inclusion (IWI) was launched at Tuck in 2022 and is already yielding important work that is helping further the mission of creating more inclusive workforces. Ashley Zwick, executive director of the Initiative for Workplace Inclusion, gives us a glimpse into what she and the team have been working on.
What is the Initiative on Workplace Inclusion? When was it founded at Tuck?
One of the most pressing imperatives facing business organizations and broader society today is building truly inclusive workplaces—along lines including race, gender, and class—and thereby transforming organizations and the broader world. Today only seven of the 500 CEOs of the Fortune 500 companies are Black. Only 52 of the 500 CEOs of the S&P 500 companies are women. We know of no leader of any world-class organization who does not see workplace inclusion as central to their strategic success.
To play a more prominent role in this effort, the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth launched the Initiative on Workplace Inclusion in 2022. The IWI expands decades of our school’s work in this area by establishing a presence that will contribute to developing and leading inclusive workforces. The Initiative identifies, frames, and debates the important issues. It supports research that generates knowledge that is disseminated among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers. It inspires our students to help them succeed as inclusive leaders.
Who leads the IWI at Tuck?
Dr. Ella Bell Smith is the founding faculty director of the Initiative, I (Ashley Zwick) am the executive director, and Kara Wakefield is the program manager. We have MBA Fellows who work with us on a variety of projects, and we also have faculty affiliates.
What are the major goals that you have set for the IWI?
Several of our offerings use the term “co-conspirators,” which we define as someone who goes beyond mere alliance; they are active, relentless agents of change working from the inside to foster inclusivity and equity. We believe this moment in history calls for co-conspirators instead of “allies” who often come with their own conditions: “I will support you, but here are my terms, and if it’s not looking good and safe for me, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to do anything.” Allies typically don’t make a difference in the long term, but some allies become co-conspirators over time.
In terms of specific activities, we host an annual research soiree every summer, a series of roundtable events that bring together thought leaders in workplace inclusion, produce a podcast entitled Co-Conspirators at Work, and publish a blog that marries theory and practice.
How are Tuck students getting involved?
We have a robust group of nearly 20 MBA Fellows who work with us on the podcast, our blog, and our roundtable events. We are also taking our fellows to Alabama in April of this year for a Freedom Riders Trek, led by Professor Bell, to learn more about the legacy of slavery and the importance of knowing and understanding history when leading diverse teams.
Is there any specific work related to women in the workplace that the initiative has undertaken that you find particularly interesting?
We recently hosted a conversation with Dr. Paul Gruenwald, the Global Chief Economist at S&P, to discuss their new economic research, entitled “Gender Disparities in The Labor Force Across Sectors Fuel Wage Gaps In North America.” We hope to continue working with S&P and to collaborate on future research conversations.
Tuck launched the Initiative on Workplace Inclusion (IWI) in May 2022. For 122 years, Tuck has confronted the most complex and challenging issues through its research, teaching, and application of ideas. While Tuck has long engaged with workplace inclusion and transformation—from our 40-plus years of Diversity Business Programs in executive education to our 2021 roll-out of a DEI Action Plan—we aspire for greater impact.
The Initiative on Workplace Inclusion expands our School’s work in this area by establishing a presence that will contribute to developing and leading inclusive workforces. The Initiative will identify, frame, and debate the important issues. It will support research that generates knowledge that can be disseminated among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers. It will inspire our students to help them succeed as inclusive leaders.
The Tuck Women in Business (WIB) club provides mentorship, networking, and career development opportunities for current students. It is an inclusive community focused across social, professional, and academic pillars meant to foster discussion and further gender equity.
To learn more about WIB and the Tuck experience of current students, please reach out to our WIB Club leadership team or one of our Tuck Ambassadors by using this website to filter by club interest.
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