Racial (in)Justice: The necessity to create equity starts within our aulas

After the murder of George Floyd on May 25th, 2020, black and brown Esade students voiced the need for a space where they could think, discuss, and reflect on what racism is, and how it impacts individuals, groups, and societies. It became clear that race was not the only discussion point; discrimination on university campus was a wide and generic topic, with gender coming across as a salient theme. A very diverse range of opinions were expressed by peers on and off campus, which demonstrated that there was an urgent need to explore, understand, and educate one another.  

It was needed to start having uncomfortable conversations because change never comes easy, especially when it is about addressing someone's privileges. Even more, when you are addressing someone's  white,  gender or social economic privileges… 

When focusing on Europe, racial discrimination can be found in various spheres, including employment, education, healthcare, and social interactions. Challenges arise in fostering inclusivity, creating a sense of belonging in the workplace, breaking down stereotypes, and ensuring equal opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds. Workplace discrimination, limited access to quality education, and systemic biases are notable challenges that demand strategic solutions. 

Breaking down the "common sense"

How can more students stop and rethink, empathize and relearn, destroy and rebuild the "common sense" without a safe space? How can we, as an institution, build an inclusive and more expansive agora to develop the mindset needed to create more conscious leaders for tomorrow?  

It is said that questions open new perspectives and that is how the Esade Careers Elephant Talks were born: a safe space where students could kickstart uncomfortable conversations amongst each other and comment "the elephant in the room".  

Besides a safe space for conversations, our Esade MBA students indicated the need to interact with corporate leaders from underrepresented groups. The Talent Bite series was co-designed to install a sense of purpose and belonging within the students. More visibility for real role models that look like students from underrepresented groups with a willingness to openly talk about their struggles and their wins. 

Racial discrimination can be found in various spheres, including employment, education, healthcare, and social interactions

As time went by, it was evident that these initiatives, the Esade Careers Elephant Talks, and the Talent Bites-series were not going far enough: they were too sporadic, did not create synergies, and did not reach all students. Since they were not embedded in the course curriculum, they were perceived as peripheral to the program; hence, some students did not easily see their value.  

At some point, it became clear that the move into the classroom environment was necessary, especially if we wanted to reach students who had not yet acknowledged their privilege and, thus, struggled to empathize with people in different situations. As a result, at the end of 2020, Esade was one of the first Business Schools in Europe to incorporate an intensive elective module on racial injustice called: Racial (in)Justice. 

The course provides students with a potentially life-changing opportunity to face one of the most fundamental contemporary individual and societal challenges, in a direct and transparent matter. It also encourages them to answer with concrete and practical proposals to the following call to action: "What mindset are you fostering today to become an inclusive leader tomorrow?"

The impact of this initiative was recently recognized with the "Best Culture, Diversity & Inclusion Initiative" award from The Association of MBAs and Business Graduates Association (AMBA) at the Excellence Awards Gala Dinner. 

The butterfly effect: From the aula to the society

Offering a subject on racial injustice is crucial for business schools, as it prepares future business leaders to navigate a diverse global landscape. Understanding the impact on organizational dynamics is vital for effective management. Esade's MBA elective ensures that students not only grasp the complexities of the issue but also develop strategies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the corporate world.  

The business world is — still today — a vector of racial injustice. Coming to terms with it and seeing ways to address it is of utmost importance. Business leaders and strategy managers, with insights gained from such courses, can drive initiatives that contribute to dismantling systemic discrimination within their organizations and beyond. 

Moreover, the use of virtual reality (VR) for experiential learning adds a unique dimension to this elective, unlocking empathy and enabling students to confront instances of injustice in a deeply immersive manner. 

The business world is still a vector of racial injustice

The overall feedback from our Esade MBA students has been that the course is highly insightful, challenging culture fundamentals and providing inspiration for those who will manage teams and companies one day to do things differently. They have been highly recommending this course to peers and have suggested that it should be a core course to be delivered early in the programme, so as to allow students actively to embed a changed behavior during the rest of their MBA programme. 

One student indicated that introducing this course is an important sign that Esade does not tolerate any kind of discrimination and proactively provides tools so students can become better leaders. Other students indicated that, as future managers and leaders, it is imperative to learn from others around us about bias, how companies can be unwitting accomplices, and what they can do to change the narrative. 

Seeds are planted. By delivering this course, we will continue to foster social, political and cultural change that is enacted through the students. We know this because of conversations in the classroom: a Muslim student felt safe enough to share that, although he might not change his mind on how he was brought up to think about the LGBTQ+ community, he felt that he wanted to be more understanding and would find a way to respect others' identities without challenging his faith. 

This course is never about right or wrong. That has never been the aim. It is about empathy, mutual respect, and understanding. Once, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, said: "Tolerance of intolerance is cowardice". Our goal is to open conversations to create braver and more inclusive leaders for tomorrow. 

Ignasi Martí, Rita Mota and Angela Faust collaborated on this article.