A global consumer packaged goods company (CPG) had a clear vision for DEI, believing the best way to connect with consumers is to embed their voices into the business. With this end in mind, they set five-year gender and ethnic employee representation goals.

However, after two years of recruitment efforts, little gain in representation had been achieved. The organization’s representation goals would not be met unless changes were made.

The company hired a full-service Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) consultancy to analyze relevant talent acquisition data and identify areas for improvement. This consultancy contracted Data Larks to support their project team in gaining strategic alignment with the end client’s business strategy and crafting a compelling data story with the assessment findings.

PLAYING A SMALL PART IN DRIVING BIG SUCCESS

The DEI consultancy assigned a team of two talented employees to lead the engagement. These individuals were chosen for the project based on their unique skill sets to ensure the end client benefited from the right level of data and consulting expertise.

Data Larks was contracted to provide CPG subject matter expertise and ensure the report and recommendations engaged the clients in a persuasive, data-driven story to inspire action. 

The consultancy employees conducted 80% of the project work. They cleaned and analyzed the people data provided by the client and conducted most stakeholder interviews. They also charted all findings. This allowed the consultancy to maximize employee utilization and allow each party to shine in their areas of expertise.

Data Larks complemented the project team’s skill sets and provided a different perspective and approach to the research design. Data Larks collaborated with the team to develop stakeholder interview guides, review key business documents, research the end client’s competitors, and distill the data findings into the insights that would matter most. And with the insights in hand, craft a unique data story to communicate findings.

Data Larks played a small but critical role in supporting the consultancy's talented employees by filling in gaps in industry expertise and data storytelling skills. The cost was minimal, as employees were fully utilized. However, the impact was strong, as the approach empowered the team to apply their greatest talents, which fostered a new client relationship.

RESULTS

1. TRUST: The findings were presented to key stakeholders, including several senior leaders. The audience engaged with the data story, asking questions and sharing perspectives. The DEI consultancy demonstrated expertise to build valuable trust.

2. ACTION: The end client applied assessment findings to implement several changes to their talent management strategy, such as enhancing their employer branding and refining their sourcing strategy.

3. GROWTH: The end client also requested an additional contract with the consultancy to develop a DEI implementation plan.