The easiest way to do that is making sure the team communicates in a manner that encourages diversity and inclusion in every space. The communication style, pattern, inclusivity in terms of ideas as well as events/products of the organisation need to be assessed by everything across different cultures, genders, ages, spaces etc. to ensure that the entire working of the organization, even if it is remote is inclusive.

I'm a diversity and inclusivity champion in my personal and professional life. I embrace diversity with all my heart and believe that holistic empower of modern society is possible only if we include the perspectives of people from diverse backgrounds. Everyday, I make very conscious effort to ensure that there is diverse representation of people in any venture that I build or even an event that I organise. I always set clear expectations (from the very first interaction) with people that I engage with- be it my team or external stakeholders. I let them know that I believe in diversity and help them understand the importance of it. This helps me in warming up with them and also helps them become more tolerant towards their co-workers.

My language has always been inclusive. I use words like Chair(wo)man, or brown/black woman leader, transgender leader etc., Some people might argue against this and say words like Chairperson or 'just' leader might be more inclusive. But I highlight on their identity to emphasise on the hurdles they had overcome to reach wherever they are. Emphasising on identity wherever needed, not only shows their grit but also it will be catalyst for the world to eventually become more inclusive space where words like Chairperson or 'just' leader will used without any qualms.

You could say “I like the way you (state a positive thing that was done). This will make the compliment genuine, and not sound routine.

I respect my subordinates as an equal contributor to the team, regardless of their designation. Every hog makes a wheel and even an intern can have an extremely innovative and game changing idea or suggestion. I listen. Listening is the starting point to a more inclusive and collaborative effort. When I like the suggestion, I will not hesitate to implement the and give them due credit. This will encourage them to come forward with more such valuable ideas and will also give them the ownership towards the project. In a hybrid environment, it is more important to respect others' personal commitment while working on professional goals. Both aspects should be finely balanced while we seek delivering excellence in work.

Mentorship is the backbone of all my endeavours. mentorship is a two way process where both the mentor and mentee gain knowledge. My approach towards my team has always been mentoring. It will help us all gain perspectives. Many a times, in professional settings it has also helped me overcome unconscious biases that the team might have over a female leader. The moment, my team mates feel that I share my knowledge without any hesitation, beyond what they know of me, they understand me better as a human. From that point, whatever bias they might have had on me, will vanish. This is something that came to be as an added advantage. Moreover, it also gives them a safe space to open up to me, without being judged

II'm a non-religious person and that makes it easier for me to embrace and respect all religions. I celebrate every religious event of the people I work with. This includes, wishing them via text to giving them small gifts to make them feel more included and feel much at ease with me. I love to hear the stories behind every festival and how they celebrate it with their families. Growing up, my parents brought us to every religious institutions, be it a temple, church or a mosque. That has made me more tolerant and see the humans. I'm planning to practice the same with my one year old daughter. Apart from religious festivals, I do believe in celebrating special days like women's day to acknowledge the contributions to the society

When engaging with remote teams of significant physical distance and diverse cultural backgrounds, I trust it's important to make them feel connected. Being mindful of cultural, social, and religious aspects goes a long way in making everyone feel seen, heard, and appreciated. We recently celebrated our diverse workforce during Pride Month by organizing an internal talk show, with the speakers from various departments, representing the LGBTIQ+ community and it was a resounding success! This activity inspired the team members to embrace and respect the diversity among their peers. It's these moments of celebration and recognition that help us connect, and build stronger bonds within our team.

In my opinion a constructive 360 degree feedback mechanism keeps everyone and everything in check. "360-degree feedback is a component of the performance management process whereby evaluations of employee performance are collected from supervisors, subordinates, peers, and customers. This feedback can be used for employee performance appraisal and development." Source - Gartner So, in a D&I context, implementing a 360 can definitely enhance the health of a work environment.

Fostering diversity and inclusion in remote or hybrid work environments requires organizations to offer equal opportunities for career advancement and encourage underrepresented employees to take on leadership roles. Establishing virtual Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) based on shared identities or experiences; addressing bias and microaggressions through guidelines and training; regularly reviewing performance and ensuring fair compensation; supporting mental health and well-being; organizing virtual social events and measuring progress through employee feedback and tracking key metrics helps organizations monitor diversity and inclusion initiatives. Organizations can create diverse work environment by implementing these strategies.

Celebrate various differences through events and teach the difference between “not seeing color” and celebrating color. Use events to highlight different foods from various cultures, proper pronunciation of names, and create a workplace culture that encourages people to be authentically themselves.