In this roundtable, a topic so important to our future will be discussed—inclusion and belonging.

Thanks to a growing consciousness around issues like social justice, gender equality, and climate change, consumers expect more from their favorite brands.

In fact, 84% of consumers say it’s important to them that a company supports charitable causes and half of Americans would switch to a company that supports a cause they believe in.

But these efforts need to go beyond just good marketing. Those that embrace diversity and foster inclusion in their staffing plans—from their C-suite to their storefront—resonate more with consumers than those that don’t.

And here’s the kicker: They reap the benefits.

Research shows that companies in the top 25% for gender diversity outperform their competitors by 15% and those in the top 25% for ethnic and racial diversity outperform their competitors by 35%. In other words, the richer and more diverse the gene pool is, the better companies perform.

So, jumping off from that, let’s dive into a thoughtful discussion on why the inclusivity movement is so much more than just good marketing and what Gap Inc. and its brands – Old Navy, Athleta, Gap and Banana Republic are doing to bring diversity to the bottom line of the business and into their products.

Panelists:

Bahja Johnson | Head of Customer Belonging, Gap Inc.

Alexandra Gardner | Senior Designer, Athleta

Stephennie Factor | Technical Designer, Banana Republic

Moderator:

Martin Cooper | Founder, OrchisArts, Ltd.