Advancing Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion!
In today’s modern landscape,
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) have emerged as crucial pillars shaping
organizational culture and success. This paradigm shift underscores the
importance of fostering an environment where every individual feels valued,
empowered, and respected. Amidst these transformative times, leaders like Dr. Tamara
Fletcher have played pivotal roles in driving DEI initiatives forward.
With a
wealth of experience and a deep commitment to DEI principles, Dr. Tamara Fletcher serves as a beacon
of inspiration within her field. Holding the position of Director of Global DEI Advancement at CDW, Tamara brings strategic
vision and unparalleled dedication to her role. Her journey into the realm of
DEI has been marked by resilience, purpose, and a relentless pursuit of
authenticity. Tamara’s journey is intricately intertwined with the mission and
values of the organization she represents. As a leader in the space, Tamara
embodies the ethos of progress, empowerment, and inclusivity. Her dedication to
creating positive change echoes throughout her professional endeavors and
personal convictions alike. Through her leadership, Tamara strives to cultivate
environments where diversity thrives, equity is championed, and inclusion is a
lived reality for all.
Let’s delve deeper to
learn more:
Driving DEI Forward
Tamara
holds responsibility for the development and execution of the company’s broader
DEI Strategy. Her strategic oversight
encompasses three key areas. Firstly, she focuses on fostering an inclusive
culture within the organization. Secondly, she is dedicated to attracting and
empowering diverse talent while simultaneously creating strategies to ensure an
equitable and inclusive experience for coworkers throughout their tenure.
Lastly, Tamara works diligently to integrate DEI principles into CDW’s overall
business model.
Tamara also collaborates
closely with functional leaders, serving as a consultant and business partner
on all matters related to DEI within their respective domains while also
spearheading CDW’s Global DEI strategy.
Tamara’s
journey into her current role began through her active involvement in CDW’s
Business Resource Groups (BRGs). Seeking a path towards authenticity as a Black
Lesbian, she found solace and empowerment within the BRGs, where she could
embrace her identity, recognize her unique value, and contribute to fostering a
culture of inclusivity. Recognizing her contributions within the BRGs, Tamara
was approached to join the DEI team when a position became available. Despite
her background in chemistry, Tamara’s career trajectory shifted towards DEI,
aligning with her newfound purpose in life and career.
Fostering Authenticity
and Inclusivity
Tamara firmly believes in the
notion that everything unfolds according to a greater purpose. As a proud and
unapologetic Black Lesbian, she champions authenticity in the workplace—a
journey that hasn’t been devoid of challenges. Tamara’s personal experiences, which
were not without trauma and societal judgment, have shaped her advocacy for
openness, support, and allyship.
Driven by her own encounters
with exclusion, Tamara is committed to fostering an environment of inclusivity
and acceptance. Her engaging and welcoming approach not only cultivates a sense
of value and appreciation among colleagues but has also become synonymous with
her professional brand. This ethos has earned her credibility as a leader,
allowing her to authentically integrate DEI principles into her work in myriad
ways.
Empowering DEI Evolution
Tamara
has served as a leader in DEI at CDW for over a decade, reflecting on a
transformative journey within the organization. Throughout this time, CDW has
embarked on an evolution, initially emphasizing the importance of building
connections—a cornerstone of its overarching strategy. Subsequently, the focus
shifted towards raising awareness and empowering leaders and coworkers to
recognize their roles in nurturing DEI.
Equipped
with enhanced knowledge and understanding acquired through these foundational
connections, CDW grew into a more strategic phase. This phase is aimed at
fostering a sense of belonging for all coworkers while also seeking to
integrate DEI principles into its business practices, including our commitments
to the communities, customers, and partners that CDW serves.
Fostering Positive
Outcomes
The
strategy revolves around fostering a culture of DEI to stimulate enhanced
collaboration, innovation, and business outcomes. CDW is actively engaged in
creating environments where coworkers feel a sense of belonging, emphasizing
sustainability and meaningful engagement. As part of its DEI commitment, CDW
prioritizes providing spaces where colleagues can openly and safely share their
thoughts and needs, fostering cultural humility, empathy, and genuine
relationships across the organization. CDW implements comprehensive training
programs to support employees throughout their DEI journeys. The promotion of
BRGs, which Tamara has had responsibility for throughout her entire DEI career,
stands as a key pillar. These BRGs are open to all coworkers and serve as
invaluable platforms for networking, exposure, and community-building.
Notably,
the influence of BRGs has been instrumental in enhancing a sense of belonging
at CDW. Their impact is evident in the growing membership and increased
engagement among CDW coworkers in DEI initiatives and programming. These
efforts not only benefit CDW as an organization but also empower coworkers and
create a sense of community, allowing coworkers to envision their future
success at CDW with renewed enthusiasm.
Nurturing Diversity and
Action
As we
discussed CDW’s DEI journey with Dr. Fletcher, she highlighted that it is
difficult to pinpoint just one example of how the DEI strategy has positively
impacted the culture at CDW.
More
recently, amidst significant social unrest and divergence, Tamara has been at
the helm of ensuring that CDW has taken proactive measures to address these
challenges, providing spaces for coworkers to get involved. The company
initiated educational efforts, including global town halls and the
establishment of an enterprise-wide DEI education and awareness program. This program
offers training and resources for individual coworkers to actively promote
inclusion within CDW.
Furthermore, CDW introduced a
quarterly campaign known as Educate/Participate/Advocate, providing a framework
for coworkers to engage in educational activities, participate in initiatives,
and become advocates for others. The BRGs continue to play a vital role in
supporting coworkers, amplifying their voices, and fostering involvement.
Moreover, these strategic
efforts have empowered various functions to amplify DEI efforts throughout the
organization. Consequently, several functional DEI coalitions have emerged,
facilitating concerted action across different areas of the company.
Fostering Belonging and
Inclusion
Driven in
part by CDW’s dedication to DEI and Tamara’s leadership, there’s a deliberate
emphasis on fostering a sense of belonging among coworkers, enabling them to
leverage their full potential within the workplace. The company actively seeks
opportunities to collaborate with partners and customers, aiming to
collectively advance these initiatives. Additionally, CDW invests resources in
community endeavors to create innovation, economic growth, and social
inclusivity.
Overall, CDW remains steadfast
in its commitment to ensuring every coworker feels valued and embraced for
their uniqueness. With a focused approach and heightened accountability, CDW is
confident in its ability to drive improved business outcomes and cultivate a
more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.
Navigating DEI Challenges
with Integrity
Effectively
addressing challenges is an inherent aspect of leadership, one that Dr. Tamara
Fletcher thrives upon. The persistent challenge lies in reconciling divergent
perspectives and expectations. Tamara continuously seeks ways to address these
challenges while upholding the value and integrity of DEI efforts, ensuring
active engagement in the journey.
Striking
a balance between coworker expectations and legal and business obligations
remains a primary focus in navigating these challenges on a regular basis.
While definitive solutions may remain elusive, Tamara remains dedicated to
maintaining this delicate equilibrium in pursuit of meaningful progress.
Fostering Innovation
Through Diversity
In the
fast-paced realm of technology, change is the only constant. To stay relevant,
organizations must exhibit agility, and innovation stands as a key enabler of
this agility. True innovation arises when individuals feel empowered to
contribute fresh perspectives and ideas. Effective and compliant DEI
initiatives foster psychological safety and a sense of belonging, creating
environments where diverse viewpoints can flourish. In such safe spaces,
individuals are more inclined to share innovative ideas, ensuring
organizational relevance and agility amidst continuous change.
While the
importance of agility and industry relevance extends beyond the technology
sector, Tamara believes that CDW’s purpose and commitment to DEI underscores
the significance of technology in enabling greatness. CDW is committed to
leveraging technology to empower individuals to achieve remarkable feats.
Central to this commitment is the acknowledgment that equitable opportunities
are essential for fostering greatness. Moreover, organizations in the
technology industry possess a unique capacity to drive digital equity by
providing access to technology in the communities where employees and customers
reside and operate. One such example of this is CDW’s Legacy Excellence
Program, launched in 2023 in partnership with four distinguished Historically
Black Colleges and Universities to address challenges faced by HBCUs related to
the digital divide, infrastructure gaps, and underrepresentation of diverse
talent in STEM careers. The program combines technology investments,
fellowships, scholarships, education, and career opportunities open to all of
the member HBCU schools’ students to help build a more diverse and inclusive
workforce at CDW.
Empowering DEI for the
Future
Over the
past decade, Dr. Tamara Fletcher has witnessed firsthand the growing
appreciation for DEI among coworkers. The organization has actively engaged in
courageous conversations, extended support when needed, adapted to changing
social landscapes, and recognized the collective responsibility of fostering a
culture of DEI and belonging.
Looking
ahead, Tamara envisions a future where coworkers feel empowered to champion DEI
in their daily interactions and strategic endeavors. She sees DEI becoming a
fundamental component of the organizational fabric, with its principles
ingrained at the forefront of all operations. With the momentum gained and the
unwavering commitment of CDW to DEI and all coworkers, Tamara is confident that
the organization is well-positioned to realize this vision in the next phase of
its journey.
Sustainable Impact
Through Persistence
In the
realm of DEI work, the analogy of a marathon versus a sprint holds significant
weight, particularly because immediate gratification is rarely achieved. Dr. Tamara
Fletcher operates under the understanding that as a DEI leader, she may be
sowing seeds whose fruition she may not witness firsthand. However, this
realization doesn’t deter her from remaining steadfast in her commitment.
Organizations seeking quick
fixes or easy victories are unlikely to generate sustainable impact. Instead,
those willing to persist through change, opposition, and obstacles while basing
their strategies on facts and data are positioning themselves to make enduring
differences for generations to come.
Empowered by Purpose
Navigating
modern-day challenges, Dr. Tamara Fletcher draws strength from her unwavering
sense of purpose. As a leader in the DEI realm, she recognizes that every
action and experience contributes to her personal growth and her ability to
positively influence the lives of her colleagues. Tamara’s dedication is fueled
by the purpose she sees in shaping a better future, both personally and
professionally, not only for herself but for her family and all those they
encounter.
While balancing personal and professional commitments can be demanding, Tamara finds solace in her loving and supportive family: her wife, Hollye, and their two daughters, Ryann (5) and Reese (2). They serve as a constant reminder of the purpose behind her pursuits as a DEI leader. In the workplace, Tamara ensures her team comprehends the significance of purpose in their personal and professional lives. She strives to create an environment where they feel empowered to make meaningful contributions in both spheres, allowing them to fully invest themselves in their work and personal pursuits.