Wrapping up week 1

Well done for completing week 1! This week we started looking at where ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ stemmed from, how it relates to legislation, and where D&I initiatives may be falling short. You heard how the course team defines diverse innovation, and discussed the importance of creating spaces where people feel they can experiment, fail, improve and innovate.

We looked at behaviours that can support diverse innovation, and heard the course team talking through examples of what companies are doing in this area. We explored the business benefits of developing and maintaining diverse and inclusive teams, and you mapped the benefits of doing so in your own context.

Next, we investigated the other side of the coin – what we risk losing out on, and the harms that could be caused by not supporting diverse innovation. We heard from Alex, Adiba and Nathan about how products can fail if they do not consider diverse audiences and their different needs.

Next week, we will start to focus on how identity and context plays a role in diverse innovation, and what is needed to foster diverse work cultures. We’ll examine good practices through a series of case studies, and then discuss the role of trust in supporting diverse innovation.

To wrap up the week, we’d love to hear what your biggest take away has been. Perhaps there was a discussion where you gained a new perspective from a fellow learner, or a video or statistic that stood out? Share your thoughts with each other below, and as always, deepen your learning by reading and responding to other peoples’ comments.