Industry GuidanceDiversity, Equity & InclusionDiversity, Equity & Inclusion RoadmapDEI: Organizational Policy and Infrastructure

Organizational Policy and Infrastructure

Practices that establish organizational policies, strategies and programs that assert internally and communicate externally the organization’s support for advancing D&I.
Organizational Policy and Infrastructure
Attract and Promote Diverse Talent
Build and Sustain Inclusive Cultures
Due Diligence and Investment Decision-Making
Reporting and Benchmarking

Develop and Share Organization’s D&I Statement/Strategy

Develop and publicize a statement of support and/or overview of strategy for advancing D&I within the organization and the PE industry at large.

  • Go to Blackstone
    Blackstone
    Blackstone's D&I website shares its commitment to recruitment, retention and engagement, offering descriptions and videos of the firm's extensive D&I programs, a showcase of diverse employees, and links to resources.
  • Go to Business Development Bank of Canada
    Business Development Bank of Canada
    The BDC highlights their organizational commitment to diversity as part of the Careers section of their website.
  • Go to Canadian Institute of Diversity and Inclusion
    Canadian Institute of Diversity and Inclusion
    The second in a series of toolkits entitled: Locking in Your Leadership – Toolkit for Developing a Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
  • Go to The Carlyle Group
    The Carlyle Group
    The Carlyle Group dedicates a portion of its website to articulate its D&I strategy, including statements of support from co-CEOs, links to employee resource groups, spotlights, news and initiatives.
  • Go to Diversity VC Toolkit
    Diversity VC Toolkit
    Diversity VC has designed a toolkit (currently in beta form) to help VC firms promote D&I within their own firms but also in the companies they fund.
  • Go to Gardenswartz & Rowe
    Gardenswartz & Rowe
    Gardenswartz & Rowe offer training and consulting services to support an organization’s D&I strategy.
  • Go to Intermediate Capital Group (ICG)
    Intermediate Capital Group (ICG)
    ICG's webpage includes the firm's D&I vision, highlighting initiatives and professionals involved in the effort.
  • Go to Kapor Capital
    Kapor Capital
    Kapor Capital publishes a Founders’ Commitment to help portfolio companies make collective progress in the areas of diversity and inclusion.
  • Go to KKR
    KKR
    KKR's "Commitment to Diversity" web page includes a history of D&I at the firm, firm metrics, testimonials, initiatives and partnerships with D&I organizations.
  • Go to Pantheon
    Pantheon
    Pantheon commits publicly to be advocates of diversity in the workforce, with charter commitments, gender priorities, initiatives, and firm insights.
  • Go to World Economic Forum
    World Economic Forum
    The WEF paper "Ensuring a Level Playing Field - Women in Private Equity" offers an action plan for investment funds to recruit and retain the best and brightest.

Form an Organizational DEI Committee

Establish and operate a D&I committee which recommends programmatic objectives, drives progress, and is responsible for outcomes within the organization.

Establish a Chief Diversity Officer or Champion

Establish a leadership position for an individual to champion D&I policies within the organization.

  • Go to Carlyle Names Chief Diversity Officer
    Carlyle Names Chief Diversity Officer
    Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group announces that Kara Helander has joined the firm as Chief Diversity Officer.
  • Go to NYC Comptroller Appoints Director of D&I
    NYC Comptroller Appoints Director of D&I
    New York City Comptroller announced the appointment of Chavon Sutton as Director, Diversity & Inclusion – a newly created position within the Bureau of Asset Management.

Develop a Diversity Policy for Service Providers

Establish an organizational diversity policy and strategy regarding the selection of service providers and suppliers.

  • Go to BASF Supplier Diversity Policy
    BASF Supplier Diversity Policy
    The BASF Supplier Diversity Program is designed to promote and strengthen relationships with minority and women-owned businesses, and those with significant minority and female representation.
  • Go to Frost Included
    Frost Included
    Frost Included designs and implements inclusive procurement systems that increase supplier diversity and simultaneously help reduce procurement costs.
  • Go to Popular Bank Diversity Policy
    Popular Bank Diversity Policy
    Popular Bank includes in its Diversity Policy a commitment to fostering business relationships with diverse service providers.

Develop Partnerships with DEI Organizations

Build relationships with third party organizations that promote the advancement of D&I in the PE industry.

  • Go to 100 Women In Finance
    100 Women In Finance
    Through Education, Peer Engagement and Impact, the organization furthers the progress of women who have chosen finance as a career, and enables their positive influence over pre-career young women.
  • Go to Association of Women in Finance
    Association of Women in Finance
    The Association of Women in Finance (the "AWF") is a group of finance professionals dedicated to supporting the advancement of women in finance.
  • Go to BLCK VC
    BLCK VC
    BLCK VC was formed to connect, engage, empower, and advance Black venture investors by providing a focused community built for and by Black venture investors.
  • Go to ELLE Invest
    ELLE Invest
    Elle Invest provides a voice to women in Quebec empowering them to achieve success in the VC/PE industry.
  • Go to Forté Foundation
    Forté Foundation
    Forté is a non-profit powered by an alliance of talented women, universities, and corporations from diverse backgrounds, industries, and career stages, united to shake up the status quo.
  • Go to Girls Who Invest
    Girls Who Invest
    Girls Who Invest is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the number of women in portfolio management and executive leadership in the asset management industry.
  • Go to Level 20
    Level 20
    Level 20 is a not for profit organisation dedicated to improving gender diversity in the European private equity industry.
  • Go to The MLT Racial Equity at Work Certification Programs
    The MLT Racial Equity at Work Certification Programs
    The MLT Black and Hispanic Equity at Work Certification programs are comprehensive, collaborative, and confidential racial equity improvement systems with four key components: Measurement, Roadmap, Support, and Recognition.
  • Go to Pride at Work Canada
    Pride at Work Canada
    Through dialogue, education and thought leadership, Pride at Work Canada empowers employers to build workplaces that celebrate all employees regardless of gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
  • Go to Private Equity Women Investor Network (PEWIN)
    Private Equity Women Investor Network (PEWIN)
    PEWIN is the pre-eminent organization for senior women leaders in private equity, providing opportunities to network, share ideas, make deep connections with peers, and empower each other to succeed.
  • Go to Synergist Network
    Synergist Network
    Synergist Network seeks to connect women in the first decade of their investing careers and provide them with the infrastructure, network, and business acumen critical for long-term success.
  • Go to Tech Funding Equity Opportunity Pledge
    Tech Funding Equity Opportunity Pledge
    The Opportunity Pledge and its corresponding framework are designed to serve as a first step for institutional investors to analyze their role in and optimize their progress toward achieving tech funding equity.
  • Go to Women's Awareness Initiative (WAI)
    Women's Awareness Initiative (WAI)
    WAI is taking action to bridge the gap and address gender diversity in the short term.

Establish Harassment and Discrimination Policies

Develop, implement and communicate a formal Code of Conduct that addresses harassment and discrimination, with reporting and investigative procedures that ensure respect for all.

  • Go to BDC Code of Conduct
    BDC Code of Conduct
    In the spirit of upholding the highest standards of ethics valued by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), the Code brings together information on compliance requirements and the principles of ethical conduct that underlay BDC’s business.
  • Go to Employment and Social Development Canada Code of Conduct
    Employment and Social Development Canada Code of Conduct
    The ESDC Code of Conduct explains and demonstrates how the Treasury Board Code and Policy will be applied.
  • Go to ILPA Guide to Code of Conduct
    ILPA Guide to Code of Conduct
    ILPA developed a publicly available guide to create a Code of Conduct that covers harassment, discrimination and workplace violence.
  • Go to NVCA Sample Codes of Conduct
    NVCA Sample Codes of Conduct
    NVCA has compiled a number of resources for venture capital firms and startups to reference and adopt to address harassment and promote a more diverse and inclusive ecosystem.
  • Go to United Nations Humans Rights Standards of Conduct for Business
    United Nations Humans Rights Standards of Conduct for Business
    The present Standards of Conduct build on both the UN Guiding Principles and on the UN Global Compact and offers guidance to companies on how to meet their responsibility to respect everyone’s rights – including, in this case, the rights of lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and intersex (LGBTI) people.

Support DEI Efforts at Industry Associations

Support and contribute to D&I efforts at private equity industry trade associations.

  • Go to Australian Investment Council (AIC)
    Australian Investment Council (AIC)
    The Australian Investment Council views gender balance as a major priority and acknowledges its crucial leadership role in addressing the current imbalance. The AIC website includes the Associations' commitment as well as tools and resources for members to employ and explore.
  • Go to British Venture Capital and Private Equity Association
    British Venture Capital and Private Equity Association
    An integral part of the BVCA’s mission is to promote diversity within the industry and support firms to build inclusive environments in which everyone can thrive. Efforts are organized around: Governance & Women in Finance Charter, Events & Networking, Research and Outreach & Careers.
  • Go to Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA)
    Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA)
    The CVCA ensures members have the insight they need when it comes to empowering greater industry diversity and inclusion. The Association has a Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Diversity & Inclusion Resource Library and opportunities for members to engage across the D&I spectrum.
  • Go to Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA)
    Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA)
    EMPEA’s gender initiatives focus on three key areas: 1) researching and reporting on the state of gender representation within fund managers; 2) developing a toolkit to assist fund managers with key challenges identified by the research; and, 3) introducing an awards program to recognize fund managers making significant progress towards improving gender representation at the firm and portfolio levels.
  • Go to Institutional Limited Partners Association Diversity in Action Initiative
    Institutional Limited Partners Association Diversity in Action Initiative
    ILPA is pleased to support d&I within the private equity industry through a series of tools and best practices, including the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Roadmap, Due Diligence Questionnaire and Guide to Developing a Code of Conduct for Harassment, Discrimination and Workplace Violence.
  • Go to National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC)
    National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC)
    The National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC) is a Washington DC-based trade association that serves as the largest network of diverse-owned and emerging private equity firms and hedge funds. Through education, advocacy and industry events, the NAIC is focused on increasing the flow of capital to high-performing diverse investment managers often underutilized by institutional investors.
  • Go to The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA)
    The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA)
    Through its VentureForward program, the NVCA is committed to expanding opportunities for men and women of all backgrounds to thrive in the venture ecosystem through education, best practices and policies, model documents, talent management and research.

Support PE Industry Events Advancing DEI

Encourage attendance and engagement at private equity industry events that promote D&I ideals.

  • Go to Falk Marques Group Events
    Falk Marques Group Events
    Falk Marques Group LLC develops and produces professional conferences, insightful industry news and event content and unmatched networking opportunities for an international audience of senior-level women in private equity, venture capital and alternative investments.
  • Go to NAIC Events
    NAIC Events
    The National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC) hosts ongoing events that bring leading diverse investment managers together with chief investment officers, institutional investors and industry professionals for networking and insight into industry trends. Events provide a platform by which advocacy, business opportunities, and investment strategies are explored.
  • Go to PEWIN Events
    PEWIN Events
    PEWIN was created to connect and increase the success of women in private equity. Membership is by invitation only. Regional and global events include panels and roundtables, gatherings in conjunction with industry conferences, dinners and charitable causes.
  • Go to Women's Association of Venture and Equity (WAVE) Events
    Women's Association of Venture and Equity (WAVE) Events
    WAVE is a membership-based association of professional women who work in or are affiliated with the private equity and venture capital industry. WAVE holds numerous regional events throughout the United States each year promoting personal and professional development of its members.

Support and Promote DEI Research in the PE Industry

Review and share broadly current research and publications focused on diversity and inclusion in the private equity industry.

  • Go to British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) Women in Limited Partners 2019 Report
    British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) Women in Limited Partners 2019 Report
    The purpose of this study was to build on the BVCA dataset from last year’s report to allow measurement of gender diversity in the wider industry while examining the type of roles women have and their seniority.
  • Go to CVCA State of Diversity & Inclusion 2019 Report
    CVCA State of Diversity & Inclusion 2019 Report
    This benchmarking report identifies a number of opportunities for improvement and meaningful action items that organizations can take to embed D&I best practices into their organizations.
  • Go to NVCA-Deloitte Human Capital Survey
    NVCA-Deloitte Human Capital Survey
    The NVCA–Deloitte Human Capital Survey was designed to capture critical data on the workforce at venture capital (VC) firms, develop a baseline understanding of demographics within the VC industry, and uncover the current state of diversity and inclusion (D&I) across the industry.
  • Go to Preqin Women in Private Equity
    Preqin Women in Private Equity
    This fact sheet analyzes the demographics of more than 280,000 industry professionals on Preqin's database to assess the current representation of women at private equity firms worldwide by geography, seniority and role type.
  • Go to World Economic Forum
    World Economic Forum
    The Global Gender Gap Report benchmarks 149 countries on their progress towards gender parity across four thematic dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment. In addition, this year’s edition studies skills gender gaps related to Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Hold or Participate in Organizational DEI Awards

Host or participate in awards program for initiatives /attitudes/ actions which promote the D&I ideals within the organization or the PE industry at large.