From Intent to Impact: Advancing Socioeconomic Inclusion at Scale at EY - 2026 Next Practices Weekly

In this compelling Next Practices Weekly session, Andrea Ramsey, Global Director of Inclusiveness and Lisa Chau, Associate Director, Global Inclusiveness of EY explored how one of the world’s largest professional services organizations is advancing socioeconomic inclusion as a strategic business priority. Representing a workforce of over 400,000 employees across 150+ countries, they shared how EY is embedding inclusiveness into its enterprise-wide “inclusiveness for everyone” strategy - positioning socioeconomic diversity as a catalyst for equity, innovation, and long-term performance.

Moderated by Amber Burton and Eric Davis, the conversation emphasized the shift from intention to measurable impact. The discussion highlighted how leading organizations can dismantle systemic barriers, expand access to opportunity, and operationalize inclusive talent practices at scale, ensuring individuals from all socioeconomic backgrounds can thrive.

Key Topics Discussed

• Elevating Socioeconomic Inclusion as a Strategic Imperative
  EY is positioning socioeconomic diversity as a core pillar of its global DEI strategy - recognizing it as essential to unlocking broader talent pools and driving sustainable business outcomes.
• Expanding Access and Strengthening Talent Pipelines
  The speakers explored how intentional outreach, inclusive hiring practices, and equitable development pathways can increase socioeconomic mobility and diversify workforce representation.
• Addressing Systemic Barriers with Purposeful Design
  Organizations must go beyond surface-level initiatives by identifying and dismantling structural obstacles that limit access to opportunity, advancement, and career growth.
• Embedding Inclusion into the Fabric of the Business
  EY’s “inclusiveness for everyone” strategy demonstrates how inclusion can be operationalized across every level of the organization - integrating inclusive behaviors, leadership accountability, and scalable practices.
• Turning DEI Commitments into Measurable Impact
  The session underscored the importance of aligning inclusion efforts with business metrics, ensuring accountability and demonstrating tangible outcomes tied to culture, innovation, and performance.

Ultimately, the session reinforced that socioeconomic inclusion is not a standalone initiative, but a powerful lever for business success - one that, when embedded into core operations and supported by intentionally designed equitable systems, enables organizations to unlock untapped talent, strengthen culture, and drive lasting enterprise-wide impact; for those who missed the live discussion, the recording offers practical, real-world strategies to help translate inclusion into measurable results at scale.

Resources Shared

• Explore EY’s Social Mobility Storytelling Hub
  Discover powerful real-world stories, insights, and actionable takeaways that bring socioeconomic inclusion to life: EY Social Mobility Hub(opens in a new tab)
• Unpack EY’s Latest Data on Belonging and Disconnection
  Dive into the EY Global Belonging Barometer 4.0,(opens in a new tab) a comprehensive study of 5,000 workers worldwide highlighting the growing impact of loneliness and the critical role of belonging in performance and engagement.
• Activate EY’s Inclusion in Everyday Team Interactions
  Learn about the All In Moment(opens in a new tab) - a simple yet powerful team practice designed to ensure every voice is heard, valued, and included in meetings and decision-making
• Save the Date: Next Practices Now Conference 2027
  Join us in Scottsdale or virtually, March 23–25, 2027 and register by April 30 to lock in 2026 pricing

To ensure open discussion, this event was exclusively for HR practitioners. Vendors and consultants were not permitted to attend.