Aida, SVP of Global Inclusion

"When you create an environment where people are empowered to contribute their ideas and feel respected, the company thrives."

Please define what “inclusion and diversity” means and explain your role.

“Inclusion” is the environment we create that allows differences to thrive. To be successful, our companies must create an environment that draws on the strengths of diversity. When inclusion lives within a company, all voices are heard. This leads to new ideas, new services and, ultimately, drives innovation and guides business strategies. My role is to bring industry best practices that will allow us to accelerate our environment of inclusion so that it becomes part of our DNA.

“Diversity” refers to the numerous facets we bring to our companies. We all bring diverse perspectives, careers, and cultural experiences to Parexel every day, around the world. However, diversity is much more than ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, gender identity, and sexual orientation. It means that we respect, support, and value these differences. And companies that leverage diversity win in the marketplace because this becomes a competitive differentiator.

Why is it important to ensure fairness and inclusion in Parexel’s workforce?

Nurturing a fair and inclusive environment enables employees to bring 100 percent of their skills and capabilities to work daily. When we fail to provide a workplace where individuals can thrive, creativity, innovation and productivity suffer because employees feel they must pretend to be something other than what they are. This ‘covering’ results in an incredible amount of wasted energy trying to ‘not be yourself’.

Aida and other Parexel Women leaders attending the Linkage Women in Leadership Institute.

How will this give Parexel a competitive advantage?

If we value employees for who they are, we’ll have a more engaged workforce that strives to create their best work. It’s important to be authentic, to be yourself, and to be real. When you create an environment where people are empowered to contribute their own ideas and feel respected, the company will thrive and have a competitive advantage.
It’s so important that our workforce feels seen and heard and that they can work in an environment where they feel a sense of belonging. In this way, we truly create an environment where we all grow and flourish.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

I am a passionate advocate for inclusion, fairness and belonging outside of work as well. I’ve served on various boards, including the Advisory Board for Working Mother Magazine, Howard’s Pharmacy School Advisory Board, Women’s Fund, the Partnership Inc., and Harvard University JFK’s Women’s Leadership Board.

Outside of my career interests, I enjoy hiking and swimming and spending time with family, friends, and my beautiful dogs.