2. SHAWN R. OUTLER
Macy’s | Group Vice President, Multicultural Merchandising and Vendor Development

JOB HIGHLIGHT: Works closely with vendors to give Macy’s customers access to the brands that best suit their lifestyles.“As the world changes, demographics change. We need to make sure we are changing at the same time, so we are currently working on a Macy’s academy [for which] we’ll select about 20 participants from across the country who we think have the potential to do business with Macy’s [and] put them through a seven-week program. It is very important that we educate them on how to do business with us, the things that they can expect and what it means to be a successful vendor.”

3. SUSAN AKKAD
The Estée Lauder Companies | Senior Vice President, Global Multi-Cultural Marketing

JOB HIGHLIGHT: Blends marketing, cultural intelligence and product innovation to identify and increase opportunities to make MAC Cosmetics, Clinique and other ELC brands appealing to different ethnicities around the world. “In Clinique’s case, instead of taking market shares from someone else, they have created the market [for products that reduce hyperpigmentation] with the launch of Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector. It really addresses uneven skin tone, which is a major skincare concern for African-Americans … As women of color are using this product and getting compliments on their skin, and [with] word of mouth within the community so important, it is expanding our base and advocacy, so it can only grow.”

4. LINDA W. CLEMENT-HOLMES Procter & Gamble | Senior Vice President, Global Diversity and Global Business Services

JOB HIGHLIGHT: Develops and enforces a diversity strategy globally to ensure it remains a focus for the company, which includes recruiting and retaining employees with varied backgrounds. “Our growth strategy is inspired by P&G’s purpose to touch and improve more consumers’ lives, in more parts of the world, more completely. We cannot execute our growth strategy effectively, nor fulfill our purpose fully, if we fail to inclusively leverage and continually strengthen the diversity of our organization. We [alone] won’t know how to partner with local retailers to win with their shoppers in their stores, kiosks, sari-sari shops and bodegas.”

5. TODD CORLEY
Abercrombie & Fitch | Senior Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion

JOB HIGHLIGHT: Has increased the number of ethnic and racially diverse in-store managers and models in his unprecedented role. “The goals are many: to teach people what to do in certain situations that they may face in the workplace, practice their ability to coach others on how to do these things differently and have a skill around conducting difficult workplace conversations. Our training is built around issues or concerns for people from different racial and ethnic groups as well as different religious backgrounds.”