NAREIM
September 9, 2021
Diverse professionals should be seen and heard
Diversity, equity and inclusion is going to be a serious consideration in manager selection.
For John McClelland, diverse professionals bring valuable insights that could benefit the investment decision-making process. Over the course of two interviews, in January while Principal Investment Officer, Real Estate at LACERA, and in July after retirement, John spoke to NAREIM about LPs as a steward for change and the industry's slow and steady progress on DEi.
He wants to see junior professionals represented at due diligence and onsite meetings. Not only can juniors learn from firsthand experience at these meetings, but it also shows that the manager values these professionals and takes DEi seriously.
However, DEi shouldn't be about elevating the token diversity person at the expense of reverse discrimination - but about advancing the best people and building supportive networks.