Kelly Worden, vice president, ESG and investing for health at the International WELL Building institute (IWBI), participated in a video interview at Nareit’s REITworks: 2023 Conference in Las Vegas on June 28-29.
Worden noted that IWBI is focused on transforming health and wellbeing globally through better performing buildings and communities. IWBI has various evidence-based standards, including the WELL equity rating that was introduced last year.
Worden highlighted the growth of interest in DEI matters over the past couple of years. As for low-hanging fruit in this area, she stressed the need to focus on internal operations and how a workforce is comprised. Companies should conduct a DEI assessment and set goals and milestones, and importantly, be transparent with investors about the process, she added.
Meanwhile, recent political backlash in the United States over DEI and ESG matters “makes us double down on core concepts,” Worden said. She noted that, “regardless of what we’re calling it, the actual concepts matter and the global investor community has decided that these do matter and that they’re going to continue to incorporate them into their investment decision-making .”
As for real or perceived challenges to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce, Worden noted that companies point to difficulties in finding talent. However, this is “very addressable,” she said.
Retention of talent, however, is a real challenge. “That’s the real litmus test” about whether a company has changed its internal culture, she said.