Sameness Is Not an Asset: Building Equity at Work

Maisha Glover, senior vice president who leads the client service team for Booz Allen's Defense Military Intelligence/Space team, shared her insights on the systemic challenges women and people of color face while advancing to the top of the corporate ladder at a virtual event for female partners and vice presidents.  

She kept the conversation going about equity, belonging, and being yourself, with guidance for the next generation, in a recent issue of Booz Allen’s “Unstoppable” magazine.

Read on for highlights of the conversation. 

I see it as the norms, practices, procedures, and policies we have in place that ensure someone’s identity is not what determines the opportunities afforded to them or other workplace outcomes. 

We’re already moving in the right direction. Women of color are being promoted and hired in key leadership roles across the firm. Addressing standards and processes has been part of this process, as has turning data into action. 

But there’s still more we need to do around culture and people. We need to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is not a separate topic, program, or tactic. It needs to be an integral part of our business and growth discussion and overall business operating model. 

We also need to be sure everyone feels like they belong. There’s equity in belonging. And when we talk about belonging and inclusion, it’s something we can all do right now. We do not need to wait for a policy or procedure.

To increase women of color representation within all levels of the firm, we need to ensure promotion and advancement opportunities. Representation matters—when people see a leader who looks like them, it really matters. Not only is it inspiring, but it also creates a sense of belonging. It was empowering when I found out about Booz Allen’s strong female leaders. It made me want to join the firm and be part of that group. 

I would say exactly what I would say to any person joining the firm, emphasizing that I understand the challenges firsthand. 

• Jump into the current. We're moving quickly and accelerating as a firm. We’re delivering the mission expertise that our clients need for today and tomorrow. We’re thinking creatively and innovating. So, get in there—jump into the mix.  
• Be an ally. Learn to support a group of people that you don’t directly align with. I’m an ally of—but not a member of—the LGBTQ+ community. Being an ally helps you have a different perspective. You gain empathy, dedication, commitment, listening skills, and understanding. You move the needle by becoming an ally.  
• Be you. The way we collectively transform a mission, the business, or our workforce, is for everyone to be themselves. The firm needs you to be you. Sameness is not an asset. 

Unstoppable Together is Booz Allen's global, employee-led DEI movement. Through the power of storytelling, it empowers people to change the world by deepening their understanding of the complex issues facing the modern workforce.