![\"FIU](\"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/FIU-COB-alumni-share-lessons-in-diversity-compressor.jpg\" "\\"FIU")
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The challenges and opportunities presented by issues of diversity and inclusion are an increasingly important part of business\u2019 growth strategy. For many businesses, ranging from global ventures to small businesses, creating new initiatives and enhancing existing programs is a top priority.<\/p>\n
As the topic commands greater attention, FIU Business brought together a group of human resource specialists to discuss inclusion and diversity within the workplace as part of its Alumni Panel series.<\/p>\n
\u201cDiversity is still an issue because it\u2019s difficult,\u201d said Marc Weinstein, director of the 12-month Master of Science in Human Resource Management<\/a> program and clinical professor, Department of Management & International Business, who served as panel moderator.<\/p>\n Flexibility and education were cited as key components for a true change in the diversity culture, ranging from executives to employees.<\/p>\n The November 1, 2017 Alumni Panel featured insights from top-level executives across a broad range of companies:<\/p>\n \u201cFlexibility is key,\u201d insisted Diz, a 21-year veteran at Visa who leads human resources oversight across Latin America and the Caribbean plus the Miami office. \u201cYou need to understand that cookie-cutter doesn\u2019t work.\u201d<\/p>\n The speakers agreed that there is much work to be done and achieving success is a long-term work in progress.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of companies are still playing catch-up,\u201d said Antelo. \u201cSome look at diversity as numbers, metrics. One of the shifts that needs to happen is to change the culture, celebrate differences, increase acceptance.\u201d<\/p>\n Increasing awareness and action.<\/em><\/p>\n Making a change in an industry that has long been dominated by men was no small feat for Royal Caribbean Cruises.<\/p>\n In 2014, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo was named CEO of Celebrity Cruises, becoming the first woman to helm one of Royal Caribbean\u2019s brands. A year later, Kate McCue became the first American woman to captain a cruise ship when she took the helm of Celebrity Summit.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been diverse, but what we do with it is what\u2019s relevant,\u201d said Mesa, pointing out that Royal Caribbean has established diverse employee resource groups. \u201cOur focus has been on inclusion, and that has really taken off in the last three years.\u201d<\/p>\n At Miami Dade College, some of the key instructors are the students themselves, Marks noted.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are a multi-cultural arena, with students from 190 countries, speaking over 90 languages. Exclusion is probably not visible to the casual observer; as we strive to reflect the community in which we live and work. Campus halls are alive with student\/faculty work groups, the sounds of music, or visual art that is part of MDC multicultural life,\u201d said Marks. \u201cThis generation doesn\u2019t give a second thought to inclusion, it just happens. It is engrained in MDC\u2019s employee landscape\/culture to mirror the image of our students and that of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n The College of Business\u2019 Master of Science in Human Resource Management (MSHRM)<\/a> and Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management<\/a> programs were ranked No. 2 in the U.S. by Leadership Excellence<\/em>, a publication of\u00a0HR.com, at the annual 2017 LEAD Awards.<\/p>\n![\"Jacqueline](\"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/FIU-diversity-and-inclusion-panel-compressor.jpg\" "\\"Jacqueline")
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![\"Laura](\"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Laura-Marks-compressor.jpg\" "\\"Laura")