Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio leverages AI and behavioral insights to forge a new era of inclusive, strategic decision-making in organizations.
Meg Virag | September 20, 2023
Organizations have access to more data than ever before. But knowing more about customers and employees doesn’t always make it any easier for leaders to make decisions. How can leaders improve their talent and innovation processes using the data already at their fingertips?
Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, a prominent expert in behavioral and data science, leadership and inclusivity, says, “Leaders require data to illuminate the path ahead, because without data, uncertainty can rattle the business and bring decision-making to a halt.”
With over two decades of experience in big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and a deep expertise of the interplay between race, gender and leadership, she emphasizes, “Data gives a solid foundation to help leaders identify and select opportunities, build consensus, break silos, and wire their businesses for agile, optimal centers of talent and innovation.”
Cecchi-Dimeglio’s frameworks leverage scientific insights and data, showcasing the potency of nudging in strategic problem-solving and leadership decisions. She sheds light on nuanced cues that employers can use, promoting positive employee actions that align with company goals.
An inventor who holds several patents for software and SAAS tools that help de-bias performance reviews, her scalable strategies directly tie results to tracked data, instead of “gut feelings,” taking the weight of decision-making off leaders’ shoulders and giving them confidence as they move forward.
As the co-founder and Faculty Chair of the Leadership Research Initiative for Women and Minority Attorneys at Harvard Law School and affiliated faculty at Harvard Kennedy School, Cecchi-Dimeglio has a long track record of helping organizations harness the power of data to foster inclusivity.
This is on full display in her new book, “Diversity Dividend: The Transformational Power of Small Changes to Debias Your Company, Attract Diverse Talent, Manage Everyone Better and Make More Money” (MIT Press, September 2023), which takes a systemic approach to diversity, equity and inclusion, breaking down the “people life cycle” in organizations and providing science-backed solutions that drive successful DEI outcomes.
Empowering and encouraging, Cecchi-Dimeglio helps leaders move their organization into a future where decisions are informed by data, biases are minimized, and all employees feel invited to contribute their best ideas. Always looking ahead, she offers sound advice to visionary leaders:
“Buckle up! You’re going to be amazed by what AI has coming.”
In an era where data drives decisions, inclusivity is the competitive edge for organizations seeking sustainable success. Stern Strategy Group connects you with renowned thought leaders whose insights, strategies and management frameworks help organizations fuel growth and disruptive innovation to better compete in a constantly changing world. Let us arrange for these esteemed experts to advise your organization via virtual and in-person consulting sessions, workshops and keynotes.
