Improving diversity, racial equity, and inclusion in our world can seem like a daunting task. However, there is evidence that improving diversity, equity, and inclusion can lead to better business outcomes. Mckinsey and Company report that the greater the representation, the higher the likelihood of outperformance. Companies with more than 30 percent women executives were more likely to outperform companies where this percentage ranged from 10 to 30, and in turn, these companies were more likely to outperform those with even fewer women executives or none at all.

Additionally, the Harvard Business Review explains that diverse companies are 70% more likely to capture new markets than those that have a lack of diversity. Furthermore, People Management notes that diversity drives better decisions: researchers found that diverse teams outperformed individual decision-makers in making a business decision up to 87% of the time.

Understanding how diversity impacts business outcomes, Isaac Hughley partnered with Optimist Business Solutions to support diversity, racial equity, and inclusion. Specifically, Hughley is helping coach more African American women to be certified problem solvers. Hughley is among a group of distinguished Six Sigma Black Belts supporting African American women in an effort to certify them as Six Sigma Green Belts.

The “Six Sigma Racial Equity Initiative” was inspired by Optimist Business Solutions owner, Joy Mason. The program includes six classes — one each day for six weeks — and ends with a test and project. The first cohort includes 12 women and will end in December 2021. Mason’s next cohort will begin in April 2022.