| | FEBRUARY 2025MANAGEHRMAGAZINE.COM19it differently and must learn about their new environments from the ground up. Learning new dynamics takes time, as does establishing the reputation or seniority that can give employees the confidence to advocate for themselves and others. DEI leaders are uniquely positioned to help employees overcome these barriers in less time. We also engage with our local communities. We have a long-standing partnership with the Lower Eastside Girls Club to build a career recruitment pipeline. We work with Historically Black Colleges and Universities in partnership with the Shawn Carter Foundation and BeyGOOD to provide educational and professional opportunities for students in those communities. To date, more than 100 students have received scholarships as part of this initiative. We also partner with North Carolina A&T to create a curriculum for students in the creative industries.Craftspeople are a key part of our industry. We've developed an apprenticeship program as part of the LVMH Métiers D'Excellence Institute, where we focus on recruiting and uplifting women and underrepresented groups to this field of work. We are currently working to expand this program to reach other underrepresented groups in the USA. Globally, we are partnering with our regional teams to create locally relevant programs to increase access for underrepresented groups. We are excited to share that we are beginning the global expansion of our programs in 2024. Stephanie, can you tell us more about the second pillar of your DEI strategy? What is Tiffany's approach to DEI from a business perspective? Stephanie: As Mary has noted, a crucial part of our business is understanding our clients. Our motto is that everyone is welcome at Tiffany, and the way we make that true is by ensuring that our clients see themselves reflected in our workforce. Luxury depends on world-class service, which requires insights into all the nuances that could make interacting with us meaningful. We recognized and seized the opportunity to be more intentional about engaging with our clients from diverse backgrounds. According to the US census of 2020, 40% of the US population is diverse. And as of 2045, the US will be a minority-majority country. Today, over 50% of people under 18 are already diverse (US Census 2020 data). Our clients of the future will be from diverse backgrounds.To better connect and recognize our internal talent, we actively engage with our employee resource groups to obtain market insights, gain insight into product preferences, and understand the nuances of different cultures. We partner with our teams in our stores to ensure everyone has a moment of joy when they enter one of our stores. We strive to connect by authentically understanding and respectfully reaching our clients from diverse backgrounds. If we truly understand their specific needs and aspirations, we will be able to deliver the best possible experience to our clients in the most authentic way. Lastly, you mentioned the third pillar of your strategy is your commitment to the Brand. Tiffany is strongly committed to the arts. Can you tell us more?Mary: Tiffany has always been committed to the arts, and in 2022, we launched Tiffany Atrium, our social impact platform. With Tiffany Atrium, we aim to create a path and shine a light on artists and designers from historically underrepresented groups to bring fresh ideas of luxury to the forefront. To launch this initiative, we partnered with multidisciplinary artist Derrick Adams, who created an artwork auctioned with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the residency Adams founded to support Black artists in his hometown of Baltimore.Stephanie: I was pleased to lead a workshop during our "Lift As You Climb" Symposium created in partnership with Derrick Adams' The Last Resort Artist Retreat. It was an important moment as we brought together artists, non-profit leaders, and companies committed to the arts to work together on activating the levers to increase access and lift barriers for artists of color in the cultural space. Many works of art are considered jewelry, so we must recognize and highlight the creativity of artists. DEI is about expanding these entry points and making them wider so more people can participate. As the only true American luxury brand, Tiffany & Co.'s innovative spirit, drive for excellence, and commitment to inclusion propel us forward. All these pieces are important because when the whole sector advances, we advance, too. Our strategy has a 360-degree approach and is rooted in our people, our business, and our brand
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