Elevate Voice, Expand Role of Chief Diversity Officer Globally, Says CDO Colllaborative Group

Diversity and inclusion leaders, more and more seen as contributors to building businesses, see a need to experience global issues on a practical, working scale, according to True Blue Inclusion, a collaborative CDO resource group.

Washington, DC (I-Newswire) February 5, 2013 - Building on twelve months of intensive interaction, diversity and inclusion leader members of True Blue Inclusion today announced specific focus issues and venues for 2013 that address the growing role of the Chief Diversity Officer at the global level.

"Leading corporations see and use the Chief Diversity officer to build business," advised Catherine Smith, Managing Partner of True Blue Inclusion, a resource for diversity and inclusion professionals. "Our members -- all leaders in diversity and inclusion -- will in 2013 expand their business acumen through heightened collaboration on issues key to winning in intensely competitive global markets."

For the first time, True Blue Inclusion will convene venues in international locations: plans call for members to gather in London, UK, in April and Johannesburg, South Africa, in October this year.

"We are serious about enhancing the Chief Diversity Officer's knowledge, network and experience," said Smith. "Our members believe that it's essential to see and feel the international environment at a real, practical, lesson-building level. And to do that, one simply has to be there. You have to be an engaged part of the global scenario to appreciate nuances in diversity and inclusion that are not necessarily a part of what happens here in the US."

By design, True Blue Inclusion builds expertise of a wide array of business topics among its diversity and inclusion leader members. Last year, for example, members gained hand-on knowledge about branding strategies, economic management, viral and social media, political trends and thought leadership.

"Since our beginning, True Blue Inclusion's made a point of bringing non-traditional and contemporary expertise to our CDO members," added Smith. "We believe that to be highly effective within a company or organization, the CDO needs tools well apart from what's usual for many people in this role."