The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Chief Officer Awards were announced March 17, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person May 10.
Next is Chief Diversity Officer finalist in the Public & Private Company category Dana Rixter, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at BAE Systems, Inc. Here, she talks about career development opportunities, creating a sense of belonging, how her mindfulness practice helps keep her centered and more.
What key achievements did you have in 2022/2023?
The African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” serves as a north star for our DEI efforts. Our executive leadership DEI Council chaired by our CEO, Tom Arseneault, is the perfect example of what’s possible when a diverse group works together inclusively on a shared mission.
Our employees’ sense of belonging improved by 4%, on average, in the past year, according to our annual inclusion survey focused on psychological safety, connection and valuing differences. Women of Color’s responses to the inclusion questions improved the most (up 8%) – likely the result of our intentional focus on this intersectional demographic group; their sense of belonging is now on par with other demographic groups within the company.
Several of the career development programs and opportunities we are providing to those in underrepresented groups are successfully enabling people to thrive. Participation in our cross-cultural and reciprocal mentorship program more than doubled in 2022 with participants referring to it as “transformative” and “the reason I am staying at BAE Systems.”
Additionally, retention rates for the BAE Systems women who’ve graduated from The She-Suite’s Brand Leadership Institute program are in the high 80s, over a third of them have been promoted, and 100% of their managers say they’ve observed positive changes in their direct report’s skills, mindset and confidence. Lastly, 50% of our Employee Resource Group leaders were promoted to their full-time positions last year. That statistic is truly remarkable!
Ultimately, the collective equity and inclusion efforts I’ve mentioned helped positively impact our diversity in leadership goals. At the end of 2022, representation of women in mid-level manager, director and senior leader roles increased as did the representation of People of Color in mid-level and director-level positions. While our work is nowhere near done, we’re really proud of the fact that women comprise 62% of our executive leadership team.
What has made you successful in your current role?
People, practices and purpose: these three words capture what has made me successful in my current role. First and foremost, my magnificent DEI team members, our CHRO and CEO and our entire ecosystem of leaders and DEI champions are all integral to my success. It truly takes a village!
Secondly, my mindset and mindfulness practices help to keep me centered. Living and leading with an open mind and open heart, embodying my values of curiosity and compassion, and balancing the duality of grit and grace are essential to my way of being.
Lastly, in terms of purpose, I seek progress and not perfection. I remember that DEI is a journey, and the work we do does not begin nor does it end with just me. Having humility and avoiding ego-driven outcomes keeps me grounded and ensures I can keep things in perspective.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the future of the nation?
Our primary focus areas going forward will continue to be Career, Culture and Community, with inclusive, holistic well-being as a golden thread weaving through and underpinning everything we do. There are numerous crises facing our communities right now, and people have been in prolonged, chronic states of alert and distress. This stress compounds for communities of color.
Addressing the well-being of our employees is crucial to the health and sustainability of our company, workforce and society-at-large. We have already been sharing the message of inclusive well-being both internally in sessions with managers as well as externally with different audiences, including most recently at the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Convention. We look forward to discovering and optimizing additional opportunities to cascade this message throughout the year.