In-Depth
Voices of Diversity: Oris Stuart
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer National Basketball Association
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Define diversity to you; why is it important? We define diversity in its broadest sense, from primary dimensions such as ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation and physical ability, to other important dimensions like experience, culture and thinking style. Overall, it’s imperative that we recognize our similarities to forge ties and build trust so that we can leverage our differences to drive innovation and performance.
Opportunities missing in sports: The sports industry is unique in that organizations tend to be smaller and the entry-level positions are often highly coveted and hard to obtain. More internships and well-paying entry-level positions could help to create more access to diverse candidates for longer-term career opportunities. It may also help to create more awareness earlier in the career cycle that these opportunities exist.
Call to action for sports: Strategically speaking, approach diversity in hiring as an evergreen process. Companies should always be recruiting by proactively interacting with a diverse pool of candidates and exploring facets of industries both inside and outside of sports. We constantly look for opportunities to engage with a more diverse group of potential employees and vendors, including during key events and initiatives, and through collaboration with our many partners.
