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Olin Business School
Washington University in St. Louis | Olin Business School
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​Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at WashU Olin

Diversity is a core value at WashU Olin, and our approach to supporting it is intentional and determined.

  • We value diverse backgrounds and strive to create a community of inclusion, mutual understanding and respect.
  • We encourage open, ongoing dialogue to foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive climate.
  • We appreciate all aspects of identity for the richness it adds to the Olin experience.

DEI at a Glance

Our DEI Roadmap

Dean Mark Taylor appointed a DEI task force in summer 2020—including faculty, staff and students from within Olin and across WashU—to guide the school toward identifying unjust systems and practices, and offer sustainable strategies to infuse solutions throughout Olin, from recruiting students and faculty, to curriculum improvements, to research. The task force has concluded its work, and now work groups are developing specific goals and measurable performance indicators to uproot systems of racism within our community.

Events keep DEI top of mind

Joyce Trimuel We regularly welcome speakers to the WashU Olin community who address the intersection between business and diversity, equity and inclusion. Speakers in our Leadership Perspectives series have highlighted a variety of issues from a DEI lens. And the Olin Africa Business Club was proud to host former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo at a 2020 event. At the beginning of the fall semester, the Olin Diversity and Inclusion committee hosts a Diversity Expo to introduce students to DEI resources at the business school and WashU. Diversity Expo 2019


DEI Resources

The Diversity and Inclusion Committee (ODIC), made up of faculty, staff and students, serves an essential role to help shape the future of diversity, equity and inclusion at WashU Olin. In addition to fostering a culture of belonging, the committee contributes to the strategic priority of creating a world-class organization that attracts, retains, empowers and includes a diverse population. The committee advocates for recognizing and valuing differences in lived experiences among individuals, as well as learning from the diversity found in the community and globally to change the world, for good.

Helpful links


Supporting DEI through courses and programs

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion • This class explores the impact of diverse organizational and multi-cultural contexts, with topics relevant to the workplace and our interactions, perceptions and outcomes by exploring difference in terms of nationality, ethnicity, age, cultural values, gender differences, sexual orientation and different abilities.

Women in Leadership Course • Students learn from transformational women leaders who share their experiences, insights, and advice with the class. They engage in deep reflection about their career expectations and pathways to become effective and inclusive leaders in increasingly diverse organizations.

Africa Business Landscapes Course • A look at conceptual frameworks for understanding sectoral opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa in areas like finance, manufacturing, tech, agriculture, natural resources, retail and tourism. Business opportunities are framed in the context of political change, the legacy of colonialism, urbanization, and trends in transportation and communication infrastructure development.

BOLD at Olin • The BOLD (Business Opportunity and Leadership Development) Program is a weeklong immersion experience for high school women, exposing them to leadership concepts, successful business women and business career opportunities available to them.

Olin Fleischer Scholars Program • This week-long educational experience highlights business career paths for high school students with limited financial resources, underrepresented populations and first-generation college students.

Olin Future Women in Business Weekend • Designed for motivated high school juniors and seniors, this transformative program empowers young women to discover their leadership potential through two days of learning, networking, and personal growth.

PhD Early Career Professional Development Workshop • This workshop is geared toward providing diverse doctoral candidates and first-year faculty members with tools to guide them during their first years of academic employment.

Asia Business Network • This course examines the structures and the behavioral principles which govern the major business networks of Asia. Students develop an understanding of how the regions business networks operate for successful engagement with the dynamic economies of Asia.

Madagascar Sustainability Initiative • This course focuses on sustainable development in rural subsistence economies, using Madagascar as a case study. Students from diverse disciplines are challenged to develop and assess the feasibility of projects that can have a positive impact on communities constrained by poverty.

Words matter: some important definitions

Inclusion means all members feel respected, have a sense of belonging, are supported, and can participate and achieve their goals. It’s an intentional practice of acceptance aimed at recognizing, understanding and celebrating all members of our community.

Diversity covers all aspects of human differences including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, ability, religion/spirituality, political, physical appearance, sex, nationality, military/veteran status, neurodiversity, geography, cultural and language.

Equity refers to fair and just practices and policies that ensure all members are able to prosper.

Equitable means acknowledging all needs are not the same.

For more information, contact our diversity, equity and inclusion manager, Jacqueline Carter [she/her/hers].

slack@wustl.edu
314-935-4730



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