Clarkston Consulting unveils 10-year DEI goals
Clarkston Consulting, a business consultancy focusing on the life sciences, retail, and consumer industries, has announced a set of 10-year corporate goals for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
The goals were mapped out over the last year through a collaborative process between the firm’s diversity council, senior leaders, and employees. The new DEI targets address leadership, recruiting, employee engagement, marketing, and other areas.
The major pillars include a representative partner group by 2032 that matches the firm’s racial/ethnic, gender, and LGBT identity makeup, and a representative firm composition that matches national averages in the above categories. As of the 2020 US census, the country is 58% white, 19% Hispanic, 12% Black, and 6% Asian. According to a 2023 Gallup poll, 7.2% of Americans identify as LGBT.
The firm is also targeting internal and external recognition for “trailblazing” DEI practices, with both internal and external parties identifying Clarkston as a leading firm embodying DEI values.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that we provide a consistent and equitable career experience for all of our stewards – one that is inclusive and representative of all our key stakeholders and the community as a whole," said CEO Tom Finegan. "We will directly align our firm and leadership goals – as well as establish internal and external accountability and reporting – to ensure success."
Clarkston has also created shorter-term three- and five-year goals to ensure progress and accountability on its ten-year targets. The Durham, NC-headquartered consultancy will also in the coming months launch a reporting site for its DEI goals with regular updates on progress – further ensuring transparency and accountability.
“Clarkston takes great pride in our firm's diversity and our dedication to creating a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization for our people and our clients," said president Mike Hackett. "We see this 10-year plan as a concrete step in our continuous DE+I journey, as well as an invaluable opportunity to improve our organizational capabilities, too."
Clarkston was founded in 1991 and has more than 450 professionals across offices in Durham, NC; Roanoke, VA; Atlanta, GA; Bridgewater, NJ; and Detroit, MI. The firm’s consulting services span strategy, M&A, supply chain, quality and compliance, sales and marketing, people and change, digital and technology, and data and analytics.
