Yesterday evening Diageo Global Travel concluded its popular series of evening discussions, ‘The Sunset Sessions’, at TFWA Cannes with a conversation exploring how diverse teams can drive stronger performance.
The panel, hosted by The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie featured Diageo Global Scotch Director John Williams; Sarah Branquinho of Women in Travel Retail and Dufry Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer; and Flemingo Travel Retail Category Head of Wines & Spirits, Perfume & Cosmetics Nandhini Srinivasan.
The speakers explored the important work still needed to build in broader inclusion and diversity within the travel retail industry, driving home the message that diverse teams are creative and representative of the traveller.
John Williams, Diageo Global Scotch Director, said: “Diverse teams are more productive, more creative and better at solving problems – this leads to higher performance for everyone.
“As a global business in 180 markets with more than that in brands, we are reaching out to consumers of different backgrounds, cultures, shapes and sizes across the world. The only way to do that well and make the connections we need is with diverse teams.”
Williams shared Diageo’s diversity journey, noting great change in the composition of the company’s Board in the last ten years. In contrast to a decade ago, 60% of the Diageo Board members now are female and 30% ethnically diverse.
Continuing with this theme, Williams said: “We don’t just stop at leadership, we look across the whole of our businesses through marketing, sales and every other role. You have to be audacious with the targets you set; diversity has to pervade through your recruitment, retention and engagement policies.”
Sarah Branquinho noted that two-thirds of Dufry’s employees are women, “but as you go up the pyramid, it becomes a lot less”.
She said: “As an industry we need to consider how we can promote change to create opportunities for individuals to progress regardless of gender, colour, ethnicity and more, and just as crucially, how we develop an inclusive culture that enables diversity to thrive.”
Branquinho said she doesn’t believe in diversity quotas, and asserted that there is much work to be done to bring women up to higher levels in organisations.
She added: “I think we need to make sure that we bring on talented women and try and break down the barriers which are stopping them applying for [senior] jobs.”
Nandhini Srinivasan called for a “top down” approach to tackling diversity issues. “It has to be a part of the organisation culture,” she said. “We need to have vision in driving change and one day reach the position that maybe we don’t even have to talk about this anymore. It [diversity] becomes a way of life, I think that’s where we need to get to.”
Yesterday evening’s Sunset Session concluded the engaging series of panel discussions Diageo Global Travel held in partnership with The Moodie Davitt Report at Beach Village 1 at Majestic Beach Bar. You can read accounts of the first two sessions here and here.
TFWA visitors can continue to visit Diageo’s exhibition space and bar at the Beach Village, Majestic Beach until the end of today.
