There are times in life when it is worth pausing to reflect on the principles that matter most to us, and to ask whether we are prepared to stand by them. One of those values, for me, is diversity: the belief that we can all benefit as individuals, organisations and societies when we open our hearts and minds to different ideas, experiences and ways of seeing the world.
For much of my life inclusion, fairness and acceptance of others have felt like shared values, not because they require us to agree on everything, but because they ask us to recognise the dignity and humanity we share. But today, the conversation feels more complicated.
The language we use around diversity has become increasingly polarised. In some quarters, the word itself has become associated with political correctness, virtue signalling, public relations or that terrible word, ‘wokeness’.
I think that misses something important. It can obscure the simple human reality behind the debate: our difference is part of what makes communities interesting, creative and ultimately human.
You don’t have to look far among the ranks of world leaders to find those seeking to shift the conversation away from diversity, equality and inclusion, towards a stronger emphasis on nationalism and putting the interests of their own people first.
Sense of unity
This month I found myself in the perfect place to celebrate the power and the benefits of bringing people together rather than setting them apart. I was in Boston, Massachusetts, for a members’ networking event. It was a vivid reminder of what we can gain when we work together and learn from other people whose experiences are different from our own.
I felt a real sense of unity among the group to support each other
They were ACCA members from 14 countries who had all moved to the US to make a career and a future. Some had been members for more than 25 years, while another was an affiliate who had only just completed his exams. One had driven six hours from New York. One had flown in especially from Los Angeles.
They all came together to network, learn from each other, share ideas, and discuss the challenges and opportunities the profession faces. They also heard me, a Brit, share a fireside chat with our Irish American Council member, Joe O’Regan.
I felt a real sense of unity among the group to support each other, with conversations that moved way beyond formal niceties and into a real sense of connection. It was inspiring.
Timeless ideals
Boston is a city with a few stories to tell about making nations that are dedicated to the proposition that people are created equal, with certain unalienable rights including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Those ideals don’t grow old; they endure through changing times and the passing of political debates.
It makes me proud to lead an organisation where a basic sense of fairness and of giving everyone a fair opportunity, whoever they are and wherever they come from, is an important element in our vision of a brighter future.
