Diversity as a competitive advantage

Kitzbühel | issue 52 | Winter 2022

According to a study conducted among German top management in late 2021, diversity is rather seen as an end in itself than as a necessity for business success. But then, other studies see diversity as an essential success factor, increasing revenues by 20% and attracting the best talents. Is it therefore negligent to say that diversity is simply an end in itself? This and other questions were discussed by moderator Ariane Bertz with progressive speakers who gave their expert opinions during the latest Audi Talk live from Kitzbühel.

Decisive competitive edge

“Diversity is certainly not an end in itself. The thought that German companies still view it that way almost makes me sad,“ acknowledged Eveline Breitwieser-Wunderl, Diversity Manager at Porsche Holding, which includes Audi Austria, and she emphasized that “diversity is seen as a crucial competitive factor in our company.” Hermann Sporrer, co-founder of SHEconomy, believes that companies “that don’t address the subject of diversity, or address it too late, will find themselves at a competitive disadvantage.“ According to Florian Gschwandtner, diversity must be lived from the top. “Companies need diversity as the foundation for innovation and competitiveness,“ says the business angel. And as investor and bestselling author Tijen Onaran warned, “if one simply does it for image reasons and if what’s inside is not truly what it says, it will backfire.”

Did you miss the Audi Talk? No problem, just scan the QR code and watch the Audi Talk in full length.