Where CRE Could Improve on Diversity and Inclusion

IRVINE, CA—JLL was recently recognized with the 2018 Commercial/Multifamily Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Award from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The award celebrates company initiatives that were specifically developed and designed to increase internal diversity and inclusion within a company’s leadership and employee base. We caught up with Grant Clarke, JLL director of diversity and inclusion, about the firm’s inclusion policies, where the industry standard could improve and more in this exclusive Q&A.

GlobeSt.com: What diversity and inclusion policies does JLL have, and what spurred them?

Grant Clarke: At JLL, diversity and inclusion is not about creating advantages for some – it’s about removing barriers for all. Our people are the most important element of our business, and we take pride in a culture that is inclusive of all backgrounds and experiences:

• Thousands of JLL employees take part in JLL’s various employee resource groups which provide a platform to celebrate diversity, surface great ideas, network with peers and make meaningful connections across the organization
• Among other initiatives, JLL offers a targeted development program for senior and mid-level African American talent through the Executive Leadership Council. From 2016 to 2017, the firm saw a 22 percent increase in African American leaders within senior officer-level roles.
• JLL has 60% more female professionals and officer-level employees than the industry average. In addition, women hold 40% of the company’s board of director seats – more than twice the average of the Fortune 1,000.

GlobeSt.com: Where could the industry stand to improve, and how?

Clarke: We realize that talent is everywhere so we have expanded our reach within and outside our industry. We are focused on two key opportunities: to increase the diversity of new hires at the officer level; and to expand our talent pipeline. We pride ourselves on having industry leading hiring practices and in 2016 (the latest numbers we have) 53% of our director-level hires were diverse candidates.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about this topic?

Clarke: Diversity and inclusion should be a high priority for every organization, no matter the industry. Drawing from different perspectives and experiences is critical to ensuring a business operates at a high level and meets the needs of clients.

Clients and third-party organizations continue to recognize JLL globally for its ethics, corporate citizenship and commitment to being an employer of choice. JLL has collected the following US and global awards in the last year:

• One of World’s Most Ethical Companies, Ethisphere Institute, 11th year in a row
• LinkedIn Top Companies, second year in a row
• Working Mother 100 Best Companies
• Perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index, fourth year in a row
• 2018 Military Friendly Employer, Victory Media
• BLACK ENTERPRISE’s 2018 50 Best Companies for Diversity