Nellie Borrero, now Accenture’s senior strategic adviser for global inclusion and diversity, shares stories from her nearly 40-year journey in building DEI practices at the company in her new book, “Unwavering: Rejecting Bias, Igniting Change, Celebrating Inclusion.” She recalls instances of racism she faced when she first joined the company in 1986, including being given roach spray as a Christmas gift and being referred to as the “token hire.” However, despite these challenges, Borrero remained determined to change the company’s culture and increase diversity and inclusion within the organization.
In 2020, Accenture set goals for racial and gender representation in its U.S. workforce, aiming to increase the number of Hispanic U.S. employees from 9.5% to 13% by 2025 and the number of Hispanic U.S. managing directors from 3.5% to 4.7%. These goals are part of the company’s commitment to fostering a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Borrero discusses the importance of these goals in an interview with The Associated Press and explains why Accenture is dedicated to achieving them despite legal challenges to DEI policies by conservative activists and elected officials.
Borrero emphasizes the significance of creating room for allowing mistakes in the DEI space, acknowledging that allies may unintentionally offend or hurt others. She stresses the importance of giving each other grace in the process of educating and understanding one another. While she recognizes the risk of going backward in terms of diversity and inclusion efforts, she believes that organizations that understand the business value of diversity will continue to support these initiatives.
Despite challenges and pushback, Accenture remains committed to its diversity and inclusion goals, holding itself accountable for progress. Borrero acknowledges that while there has been progress in increasing representation of Latinos and Black individuals in managerial roles, there is still work to be done. She describes the intense effort and strategic approach required to make meaningful changes and expresses determination to continue pushing for progress in diversity and inclusion within the company.
The Associated Press’ coverage of women in the workforce and state government is supported by Pivotal Ventures. The AP is dedicated to providing unbiased and informative content, and maintains its journalistic standards while working with philanthropic partners. The organization remains focused on advocating for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and beyond, aiming to create a more equitable and representative society.
