Leading Diversity for Competitive Advantage - by Peter Linkow (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Despite investing billions of dollars, the world's institutions are making scant progress toward the promise of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The central cause: top leaders lack the means to construct and implement comprehensive diversity strategies that are responsive to the unique circumstances of the organizations they helm.



Leading Diversity for Competitive Advantage: The Twelve Strategic Competencies provides the evidence-based strategic models, methods, tools, and templates that top leaders require to create equity and inclusion and drive sustainable diversity competitive advantage in talent and customer markets. Peter Linkow, who has devoted his career to the study and practice of diversity and business strategy, delivers the full range of competencies that top leaders need to guide their organizations to strategic diversity success.

Review Quotes

"A sweeping and urgent guide to corporate DEI advancements. Linkow delivers a comprehensive strategy manual for increasing diversity in the workplace. Linkow's long experience in the field is evident on every page, and his extensive use of graphs and charts is effective, making his big book a surprisingly easy read."-Kirkus Reviews

"This book is an opportunity for a look in the mirror. For line executives to understand when it is anchored in marketplace and talent, you can't duck; for practitioners---this is not social work 101 and is not for everyone. It is to prod you to look at yourself, leader or practitioner, assess your culture and situations, and determine how to work together to ensure the culture, those situations and business performance will be better years after your departure." Ted Childs, strategist at Ted Childs LLC and former Vice President for Global Workforce Diversity at IBM

"Distilled from Linkow's considerable practical experience are enduring insights about effective change management in our time. The future belongs to those who can master the principles of DEI leadership set forth here. This book offers clear thinking masterfully written. It should be read by all who care for their organizations and want to make a lasting impact." W. Carl Kester, George Fisher Baker Jr. Professor of Business Administration

"As a DEI practitioner for more than 30 years, I can attest that Peter's recommendations are spot on in every regard. He speaks to the reader assuming they are an adult with positive intent. I will be recommending this book early and often to my clients and mentees as the primary book they need to grasp and implement what constitutes a sound systems methodology for developing a high impact strategy that is aligned to the culture they are operating in. I also want to commend Peter for including the community I identify with, people with disabilities, thoughtfully throughout the book." Deb Dagit is President of Deb Dagit Diversity LLC and former Chief Diversity Officer at Merck

"In this critical moment, Leading Diversity for Competitive Advantage is a must-read about seizing opportunities that advance diversity and competitive edge together. Drawing on deep expertise, Peter Linkow offers the potent guidance leaders and influencers need to take on their most significant DE&I challenges. Clear, highly engaging, and distinctive, this book will prepare and energize you to launch strategies that take DE&I and your business to the next level." Rebekah Steele, coauthor of INdivisible

"Peter Linkow has written a down-to-earth, easy-to-read and practical handbook on how not only to think about diversity but how to take steps, both within oneself and one's organization, to make significant progress towards an equitable society." Mike Markovits, a leadership consultant and former HR executive at GE and IBM

"Peter Linkow introduces the values and deep work in which organizational leaders must engage to achieve diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces. His lifelong work in becoming an ally is something all business leaders should emulate if they want to be effective leaders in a global and multicultural economy." Amanda Fernandez, CEO of Latinos for Education

"Peter Linkow not only exposes the deeply innate problems with diversity, equity and inclusion, he shows us how to fix them. This book is an imperative for changing what Linkow says is, 'progress proceeding at a glacial pace.'" David H. Hughes, coauthor Thoughtware: Change the Thinking and the Organization Will Change Itself.