Corporate Coaching and Recruitment Awards 2021

Leading Champions of Diversity in Recruitment - Canada When it comes to accessing talent, it pays to look towards a more diverse working environment. The team at Synergy Executive & Boards Consulting Group have spent years leading the way when it comes to the creation of brave, safe and inclusive spaces. We take a closer look at their success, following their triumph in Corporate Vision’s Corporate Coaching and Recruitment Awards 2021. In a variety of sectors, diversity is seen as a buzzword, but the value of a diverse workforce cannot be undervalued. Put simply, diversity of thought and skill brings richness to organizations which is reflected in stronger business results. It pays to be able to refer to a broad talent pool. In Canada, visible minorities make up 22.3% of the total population yet only 4.5% were directors at FP500 companies as of 2016. With more and more businesses embracing diversity more openly, the team at Synergy Executive & Boards Consulting Group have their eye on removing the barriers that limit people from reaching C-suite level. The work of Synergy Executive & Boards Consulting Group, therefore, is to take the guesswork out of recruitment and empower companies to put diversity at the forefront of all of their actions. Working across Canada, alongside various private companies, crown corporations and non-profits, the team have been proud to achieve extraordinary success. With deep understanding of the way in which inequalities are systematic at senior level position and on boards, it’s little wonder that this is a team that can also challenge the status quo in this regard and make a real difference to how organizations are run. The team have worked alongside renowned organizations such as Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC), BC Housing, UBCP Actra and the Government of British Columbia to adapt their hiring processes while also reflecting the internal hiring practices of the business. By being responsive to the client’s needs while retaining the trust of BIPOC candidates, these organizations have been able to access the talents of people they might otherwise have missed. Key to this is the level of trust in the Synergy Executive & Boards Consulting Group’s approach which means that candidates do not self-select themselves out of the process. The challenge facing the team at the Synergy Executive & Boards Consulting Group is that many organizations will only talk the talk. Despite the Federal Government in Canada passing Bill C-25, also called the Diversity Bill, many organizations have simply ignored the need to change. This lack of determination to move with the times has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic which has uncovered the enormous disparities and inequalities that exist within companies. The need to embrace diversity has never been more obvious. Looking ahead, the Synergy Executive & Boards Consulting Group has set its eyes on new heights of success. The way forward for the company currently looks to include an expansion of the team into new territories such as the UK and USA. Having already made an incredible impact within Canada, this growth reflects the demand which is increasing on an international stage. In 2022, the team are also aiming to assist 150 companies to reach their diversity goals too. The overall ambition of the Synergy Executive & Boards Consulting Group is to become irrelevant within 10 years because their mission will have been achieved. Everyone will be treated equally and diversity of thought within every c-suite and boardroom will be the norm. This is not a certainty, and in fact seems increasingly unlikely in spite of many people’s best efforts, but it’s a target nonetheless. When it comes to reinventing the workforce, it pays to start at the top and that’s precisely where this talented team excel. Company: Synergy Executive & Boards Consulting Group Contact: Trish Mandewo Web Address: https://synergyonboards.com/ Email: [email protected] Corporate Coaching & Recruitment Awards 2021 17