This article originally appeared on Nielsen.com.
We’re proud to share that Nielsen is among nearly 250 companies named to Forbes’ first list of America’s Best Employers for Diversity. The list recognizes employers that realize not only the business imperative of a diverse and inclusive culture, but also the importance of creating an inclusive work environment. Nielsen’s efforts to instill a culture where associates feel they can be themselves, make a difference, and grow their career helped us gain this recognition.
The list was compiled by independently surveying 30,000 employees at companies across the U.S. Those selected were asked to rate their companies on general diversity practices as they relate to gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age and disability inclusion. Indirect recommendations for Nielsen from diverse professionals outside the company were also considered. Key performance indicators and metrics for diversity were also part of the ranking.
“When a prospective employee takes stock of what matters to them in a company, the degree to which [the company] values and supports diversity and inclusion is frequently near the top of their list,” said Chris Louie, SVP, People Analytics & Talent Acquisition at Nielsen. “This honor indicates to professionals considering opportunities at Nielsen that we take diversity and inclusion seriously and are committed to giving all of our associates a welcoming environment and the chance to be heard and make a difference.”
We also received high marks on three KPI: the presence of a dedicated diversity and inclusion executive and team, proactive internal and external communication of our diverse culture and philosophy, and executive- and board-level gender diversity.
This is Nielsen’s third recognition from Forbes in the past year. We were previously named to the Just 100’ list, compiled by Forbes and Just Capital, and placed 30th on the Most Innovative Companies list.
“At Nielsen, we strive to infuse diversity and inclusion into everything we do—from ensuring our employees feel they have a seat at the table to making sure their voices are heard. In an effort to help our clients anticipate trends or create ‘the next big thing,’ we look to our employees to provide valuable insights about consumer behavior that only a diverse workforce can accurately and authentically portray,” said Angela Talton, Chief Diversity Officer, Nielsen. “Our placement on the Forbes list of the best employers for diversity is a testament to Nielsen’s belief that we see and value our employees as individuals with different skills, experiences, abilities and cultural backgrounds and that these differences fuel our ability to providing superior results for our clients. We know our employees are indeed our sustainable competitive advantage, and therefore, diversity and inclusion at Nielsen isn’t just a department but everyone’s responsibility.”
Read more about the criteria and see the full list of honored companies, and learn more about Nielsen’s Diversity & Inclusion strategy.