Fortune India MPW: Workforce should mirror both population and customer, say experts

At a time when organisations across the world are working on transformation in the workforce to better serve their customers, a panel of experts, during Fortune India's Most Powerful Women in the Business event today, shared their valuable insights on the importance of diversity at the workplace. While companies are taking significant steps toward recruiting and retaining diverse workforces, experts believe that the workforce should mirror both population and customer.

Speaking on the discussion on 'Workforce Mirroring Consumers: The Great Connect' at Fortune India's MPW Awards event, Anil Verma, CEO, Godrej & Boyce, says women play a leading role in decision-making for appliances, furniture, and home interior stuff. So for businesses like Godrej & Boyce, which are engaged in consumer goods like appliances, furniture, locks, and security solutions, women employees act as influencers who mirror consumers by relating the fact that what they want.

Verma adds, "the willingness to give charge to people irrespective of their gender brings diversity.”

P.S. Vishwanath, CEO, RandstadIndia, says diversity brings progress. “Diversity at the workplace is not a compromise, it’s a must-have today,” he says.

He further says, “Talent is scarce as well as borderless, and it liked to be what they are. So, we need to provide an environment where people can bring their true self forward, and for those corporate needs to make changes as quickly as possible. Otherwise, they are going to be redundant.”

Santosh Iyer, MD & CEO, Mercedes Benz, says that a lot of women are buying luxury cars today, which shows transformation is happening in society. Talking about diverse work culture, not only from women's perspective but region-wise, he says that it brings positive spirits and transformation within an organisation, which has now become a mantra for the successful business model.