Diversity Dance: Stepping into a more inclusive future with FICCI conclave

FICCI concluded the two-day '2nd edition of FICCI DE&I Conclave’ designed to bring together leaders and professionals from diverse sectors to discuss and explore strategies for fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in the workplace and society. Day one of the Conclave was a Masterclass, and day two was the Conclave.
In a video message, Dr.Anish Shah, President of FICCI, emphasised the global shift towards recognising DE&I as essential for sustainable growth. He noted that diverse and inclusive teams are more innovative, productive, and resilient.
Padma Bhushan Rajashree Birla, Chairperson of FICCI Aditya Birla CSR Centre for Excellence, highlighted the milestone nature of this conclave. She emphasised the importance of collectively embedding DE&I processes in workplaces and beyond. She described diversity, equity, and inclusion as interconnected dimensions that affirm an organisation’s commitment to fostering diverse cohorts of individuals.
Keshav Suri, Chairperson of FICCI DE&I Task Force and Executive Director of The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, stressed the importance of empowering marginalised communities. Sudakshina Bhattacharya, President and CHRO of HDFC Ergo General Insurance, shared her organisation’s focus on improving diversity and creating an equitable workplace.
FICCI also announced the launch of ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Awards’ to recognize organisations promoting DE&I within their workplaces. The awards highlight best practices, innovative programs, and impactful initiatives driving DE&I forward.
The conclave featured two fireside chats. The first chat was between Dr. Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson and MD of Bharat Hotels Limited, and Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairperson and CEO of Salesforce India. The second fireside chat gathered notable figures from the Indian film industry. Moderated by Rajeev Masand, renowned Indian Film Critic and Senior Journalist, the panel included Faraz Arif Ansari, Film
Various topics, including Employee Resource Groups, Supplier Diversity, Data and Metrics, and Navigating a Multigenerational Workforce, were discussed. Speakers included Nikhil Taneja, Ramkrishna Sinha, Divya Srivastava, Shweta Singh, Shahvir Irani, Shriram Parthasarathy, and Thierry Van Helden.
The event concluded with a cultural performance by Dancing Queens, India’s first professional dance group comprised of transgender individuals. The program was supported by The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, HDFC Ergo General Insurance, Aditya Birla Group, Keshav Suri Foundation, and Corteva Agriscience.