Building a more diverse, inclusive culture

02 The Solution

Expediting the implementation of an inclusion training program

Given the urgency of addressing this issue, the working group began moving at lightning speed. During the summer of 2020, the group decided it wanted a program in place by year’s end.

This program, which started with a two-hour session for 35 senior executives, has grown rapidly. To date, the company has trained more than 15,000 employees, created a certified Change Agent model, and established even loftier goals for 2022.

1 PHASE ONE

Fundamental DE&I Training—INCLUDE Model

Hearst’s Conscious Inclusion training used the Korn Ferry INCLUDE model as its foundation. This model is designed to increase awareness of biases in the workplace, help people behave in more intentionally inclusive ways, and foster a more inclusive and diverse culture. 

To accomplish these goals, the INCLUDE model emphasizes seven behaviors:

After training executives, Hearst rolled out four-hour leadership sessions to each division. By the end of the first quarter, more than 800 leaders had completed the sessions. Bennett recalled, “Korn Ferry opened up the conversations at the leadership level, giving people a place to converse around the topic. The conversations were robust and authentic.”

To ensure that all employees had access to the content, Hearst also launched the Korn Ferry 30-minute eLearning module that was rolled out to 15,000 employees. The eLearning has also been embedded in the Hearst Onboarding Program so that all new joiners have the opportunity to understand the company’s commitment to inclusion.

The momentum snowballed from there. The Hearst Talent Center of Excellence rolled out the INCLUDE training using a train-the-trainer model.

To reinforce the program and its takeaways, the company branded the training as Hearst INCLUDE, incorporated Korn Ferry workbooks, offered giveaways including merchandise, and even created a deck of cards with the INCLUDE model’s principles.

2 PHASE TWO

Certified Change Agents

Hearst recently instituted a Change Agent program that allows both leaders and individual contributors to participate in a six-month deep dive on an inclusion topic. After completing the program, participants graduate and become certified Change Agents. The Hearst Include Certified Change Agent Program provides employees with a deep dive training using Korn Ferry’s INCLUDE Model. In 2021, more than 1,000 colleagues had completed all six of the INCLUDE modules and graduated as Change Agents. Hearst has empowered the Change Agents to make a significant difference in their work communities.

Attendees focus on building a safe environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their own experiences. They’ve learned how to include others and how to make sure that everyone has a voice. Bennett explained, “Korn Ferry helped us create an opportunity for employees at all levels to learn more about the dimensions of diversity and learn how to build an environment that offers psychological safety, allowing people to feel safe sharing their own experiences. That’s never been done before at Hearst.”

3 PHASE THREE

2022 and Beyond

In the next phase, Hearst’s Change Agents will start having an impact on what projects the company tackles. Heather Ragone, Hearst’s Vice President, Development of Talent and Learning, said, “We’re asking them to weigh in on policies. We’re asking them to participate in their division employee resource groups, DE&I committees, and internal initiatives so they can shape what we’re doing. We’re seeing overwhelming interest and support from Change Agents who want to take action in our company and at home in their community.”