The Next Step in Tech: Representation that Builds Innovation

Kargo’s Chief Client Officer Jeannine Chao Collins joined moderator Shelley Zalis, CEO of The Female Quotient, and Najoh Tita-Reid, Global Chief Marketing Officer of Logitech, at the #EquityLounge at #CES2023 in January to discuss the importance of diversity and representation in the workplace. Together these inspiring female leaders explore the growing chasm created by the increasing number of minority women leaving the workforce and the lack of action taken to thwart this troubling trend. The future is most assuredly female and yet so little is invested in women and even less in minority women. As Kargo’s CCO Collins explains, representation and diversity is good for business. In order to stay profitable, relevant and innovative, businesses must make diversity a corporate imperative, and DEI initiatives must be valued and weaved into the company's DNA.

Along with Tita-Reid, Collins discusses the importance of holding management accountable for both their actions and the culture they promote. Managers must be trained to foster a culture that is intolerant of micro-aggressions and instead, welcomes all voices and perspectives. In turn, women must have the courage to use their voice to speak out against toxic work environments and choose managers who make DEI a non-negotiable part of their value system.

They explore the benefits of a flat corporate structure where titles no longer exist and all employees are encouraged to exercise a leadership mindset. As Collins deftly explains, we need more voices in the conversation and more “Chief Listeners”.  Flat organizations without titles promote representation and equality which leads to innovation and greater profitability. 

Listen to these three leaders discuss how more diversity leads to more perspective which results in a better bottom-line and then ask yourself: “What Chief are you?"