As a company that has always encouraged its associates to bring their authentic selves to work, 84.51°, a retail data science, insights and media company, was in a prime spot to embark on a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) journey. However, when it began building its DEIB road map in 2016, leaders didn’t know what it would take to create a culture of inclusion and belonging where all associates felt they could thrive.

For associates to fully embrace an inclusive culture, the organization needed a road map influenced by insights from their associates. That’s where the “Insightful Inclusion Council” came in and began to shape what the map would look like. The council was comprised of associates from across the business, including 84.51°’s president, several executive leaders, and a diverse mix of associates at all grade levels and functions. This group was a very integral part of building a strategic framework and helping to prioritize what should be included in the DEIB roadmap. Based on feedback from one-on-one associate interviews, the team was able to narrow down what the company’s focus areas should be.

In 2018, 84.51° rolled out their three-year DEIB road map company wide, and since then, there’s been a tremendous change in its culture. Much of the success is due to commitment from senior leadership to not only support the mission, but to also back up their commitment by demonstrating inclusive behaviors

The company’s “Inclusive Leader Journey” is an eight-week transformative experiential program built on research regarding intrinsic inclusion from Janet Reid, PhD. and Vincent Brown. It was rolled out as a pilot in the fall of 2021 and the initial program included the company’s president along with his executive leadership team and two other groups of executives. The journey was then offered to all managers in the first two quarters of 2022 with plans to offer the program to all associates. 84.51° believes all associates are leaders – regardless of title – and they all should consistently demonstrate inclusive leader behaviors and foster psychologically safe environments where everyone can thrive and show up authentically.

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