This whitepaper explores the issue of intersectionality, an important aspect of diversity, equity, and inclusion that organizations need to consider. Intersectionality is defined as “the notion that social identities, such as race, gender, sexuality, class, marital status, and age overlap and intersect in dynamic ways that shape each individual. In other words, all of us possess more than one social identity (that is, an unmarried Asian female over 40 is at once unmarried, and Asian, and female, and over 40).” This is an emerging and important topic for organizations to learn and embrace.

This resource suggests that organizational leaders need to develop a specific set of social skills in order to engage with employees in a respectful and inclusive way, while also acknowledging their intersectional identities. These skills of “emotional maturity” require that leaders be more self-aware, empathetic, and self-regulated as a way to model the behavior they expect from their teams.

While this report was written for the private sector, the knowledge and advice that it offers is sector-agnostic. The lessons on how to improve leadership and organizational cultures apply across every sector because the organizational dynamics required to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion and respect intersectional identities are still the same.

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