In-Depth
Voices of Diversity: Warde Manuel
Athletic Director, University of Michigan
Rick Osentoski
(Comments excerpted from the AXS Sports Facilities & Franchises conference in June)
How do we get better on diversity and inclusion? I think constantly churning the pool. A lot of it also starts with me and my other colleagues to prepare people and mentor [them]. In particular, [for] minorities and women, it’s getting better, it’s not perfect.
I’m going to hire the best people for Michigan. We’re going to open the pool to be a wide swath, but it’s up to us to prepare everyone, and prepare women and minorities to take that step when they’re called upon to sit across from me, to sit across from you, to sit across from presidents and search committees to … present themselves in a way that shows that they can lead an organization and be successful.
And that’s not rocket science what we do, and it’s a lot about the fit. You can’t go around and say “Well, I didn’t get the job because I’m black” or “I’m a woman” or whatever. You didn’t get the job. A lot of jobs I didn’t get, a lot of white guys didn’t get it either. So you just move on and you keep working.
