Studying the current state of DEI in the events industry

By Smita Tharoor, Founder, Tharoor Associates and Co-founder, Culturelytics

To create effective change, you need a clear view of where you are now. So, as a first, vital phase in the EIC’s landmark Equity Acceleration Plan, the EIC Equity Task Force has conducted a study of EIC membership to determine the current state of diversity, equity and inclusion within the workplace across the events industry.

The aim of the study is to establish a clear benchmark by which to measure progress on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for the industry, and to inform the development of resources and recommendations in the subsequent phases of the Equity Acceleration Plan.

The study has been conducted in two phases. First, a series of focus group discussions were held with industry leaders on the EIC Board and Equity Task Force to identify key issues across different parts of the industry. A short, AI analytics-based survey was then distributed across EIC membership globally, giving respondents the opportunity to share personal experiences and their views on what is needed to improve DEI in the sector.

The study findings will be set out in a report and will be used to create a series of targeted educational courses, tools and resources that people across the industry can use to support our shared goal of building a more diverse, equitable and inclusive future.

To conduct this study, EIC partnered with Tharoor Associates, a London-based consultancy specialised in addressing unconscious bias, and Culturelytics, a data analytics company that uses advance AI technology to analyse organisational culture.

It is very forward-thinking of the EIC to conduct a global survey assessing DEI in the events industry. It’s the first of its kind, and Culturelytics are thrilled to have facilitated this initiative.

You can find out more about the Events Industry Council's Equity Acceleration Plan here.