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TM Forum and the GLF partner to increase telco diversity and inclusion

TM Forum and the ITW Global Leaders' Forum are collaborating to make telecoms a world leader in diversity, equality and inclusion.

Joanne TaaffeJoanne Taaffe
08 Dec 2021
TM Forum and the GLF partner to increase telco diversity and inclusion

TM Forum and the GLF partner to increase telco diversity and inclusion

TM Forum has taken a new step to bring about greater diversity, equality and inclusion (DE&I) in the communications industry by partnering with the global wholesale carriers association, ITW Global Leaders’ Forum (GLF). Their aim is to collaborate to make the telecoms industry a world leader in (DE&I).

The move follows TM Forum’s recent successful trial of a new Global Inclusion and Diversity Score (IDS). The IDS will launch next year to allow organizations to measure and benchmark DE&I.

Currently the telecoms sector benchmarks performance across many areas of its business, but has no standard measurement for DE&I.

“Organizations need to go deeper, to understand the root causes of challenges in the same way that you…do for NPS [net promoter score]. And then you need to take targeted interventions that make the difference,” said Danielle Stekelenburg, Partner, Bain & Company, speaking during TM Forum’s DTWS conference.

Increasing DE&I makes sound business sense, because it will help telcos compete for the skills that will enable transformation, innovation and growth, says Keri Gilder, CEO, Colt, Chair of TM Forum Inclusion & Diversity Council and Member of the GLF.

“CEOs like myself agree that talent is one of our many concerns as the digital economy grows, and the same skills are required across multiple industries,” says Gilder.

“This is why we must put inclusion and diversity at the center of our strategy to be able to attract and develop the most critical element to our success – our people."

By working together, TM Forum and the GLF aim to increase executive-level support for DE&I initiatives; help companies acquire the information they need to take action and quantify their results; and raise awareness of TM Forum’s IDS.

Many communications companies are members of both the GLF and TM Forum, says Gilder and they are already working towards similar goals. For example, the GLF has produced reports to drive awareness on gender diversity within the telecoms industry and outlined steps to ensure gender diversity and inclusion. By combining forces, the two associations hope to make a greater structural impact.

“Collaborating with TM Forum on this next step is key to ensuring that real change is made and that our members work more closely together on this important journey,” says Elena Harris, GLF Community and Communications Manager.

Nik Willetts, CEO, TM Forum, points out that the communications industry should represent the societies it plays a part in reshaping through connectivity services, “and currently, it does not.”

“To have the most successful and well-rounded telecoms industry with the ability to attract top talent, we must address DE&I, and to do this it’s critical that we consider it as a strategic issue as well as a moral imperative,” says Willetts.