Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) is defined as the policies and programs that promote the representation and participation of different groups of individuals, including people of different ages, races and ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, genders, religions, cultures and sexual orientations. 

  • Diversity is the presence of differences within a given setting.
  • Equity is the process of ensuring that processes and programs are impartial, fair and provide equal possible outcomes for every individual.
  • Inclusion is the practice of ensuring that people feel a sense of belonging in the workplace.

As companies become more aware of the importance and benefits of having a diverse workforce, MHEDA has gathered a list of resources to help members gain a better understanding of what DE&I means to their business.

MHEDA-TV Videos

MHEDA Talks: Katie Yates on Gender Differences in the Workplace

December 22, 2022Duration: 26:06

Host Shari Altergott, Chief Experience Officer of The CX Edge talks with Katie Yates, Equipment Distribution Manager at Carolina Handling, about gender differences in the workplace, benefits of a diverse team, women […]

MHEDA Talks: Kelly McDonald on Diversity in the Workplace

December 14, 2021Duration: 33:14

Host Shari Altergott, Chief Experience Officer of The CX Edge talks with Kelly McDonald, speaker of author of 4 best selling books. They discuss the how diversity impacts the workplace […]

MHEDA Talks: Holly Duddy on Recruiting Technicians, CFT, and Diversity

March 22, 2021Duration: 25:01

Host Shari Altergott, Chief Experience Officer of The CX Edge talks with Holly Duddy, Corporate Recruiter, ProLift Toyota Material Handling. They discuss the challenges of recruiting technicians, the certified forklift […]

Hiring Best Practices for Material Handling

March 5, 2021Duration: 46:54

Hiring the right candidate is never an easy task. What you should really consider is to hire smart. Bringing on new employees is only one piece of growing your teams. […]

MHEDA Talks: Judy Hoberman on Culture & Women in Leadership

February 22, 2021Duration: 28:04

Host Shari Altergott, Chief Experience Officer of The CX Edge talks with speaker and author, Judy Hoberman. They discuss workplace culture, gender differences, women in leadership, building relationships, and more. […]

MHEDA Podcasts

MHEDA Talks: Women in Material Handling

October 13, 2023Duration: 28:17

Host Shari Altergott, Chief Experience Officer of The CX Edge talks with a panel of women in material handling: Amber Schenck, Field Service Supervisor at ProLift Toyota Material Handling; Kellie English, Sr […]

MHEDA Talks: Katie Yates on Gender Differences in the Workplace

December 22, 2022Duration: 26:03

Host Shari Altergott, Chief Experience Officer of The CX Edge talks with Katie Yates, Equipment Distribution Manager at Carolina Handling, about gender differences in the workplace, benefits of a diverse team, women […]

MHEDA Talks: Kelly McDonald on Diversity in the Workplace

December 14, 2021Duration: 32:57

Host Shari Altergott, Chief Experience Officer of The CX Edge talks with Kelly McDonald, speaker and author of 4 best selling books. They discuss the how diversity impacts the workplace […]

Talking Supply Chain: Diversity and Inclusion in the Supply Chain

October 4, 2021Duration: 32:40

On this episode of Talking Supply Chain, host Bob Trebilcock, editorial director of Supply Chain Management Review, talks with MHI’s Christian Dow and MHEDA’s Katie Richards about the results of the first […]

MHEDA Talks: Holly Duddy on Recruiting Technicians, CFT, and Diversity

March 22, 2021Duration: 22:41

Host Shari Altergott, Chief Experience Officer of The CX Edge talks with Holly Duddy, Corporate Recruiter, ProLift Toyota Material Handling. They discuss the challenges of recruiting technicians, the certified forklift […]

MHEDA Journal Articles

Inclusivity Is More Than Just a Word

Inclusion is often just a word used in businesses with little meaning. It is either a box companies check or a buzzword they use for recruiting. But what does it mean to practice inclusivity and make a conscious effort to have a diverse workforce? It all starts with a discussion.

Targeted Outreach and Support

By Nick Fortuna   Demographics aren’t destiny, so if the material handling industry and other business sectors want to build a more diverse workforce, it’s going to take a sustained effort. That’s a message from Kelly McDonald of Denver-based McDonald Marketing, a noted speaker and author on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Over the past […]

Women in Industry: Tania Gaskell Sode

TANIA GASKELL SODE COMPANY: Toyota Industries Commercial Finance (TICF) TITLE: Diversity+Equity+Inclusion Director YEARS ON JOB: 13 with Toyota, 4 at TICF The Diversity+Equity+Inclusion (DEI) Director position is a newly created role at Toyota Industries Commercial Finance (TICF). Our company provides loan and lease products for Toyota Forklifts and Hino Trucks. I am responsible for building and executing the […]

MHEDA LMS Training Series

Courses in the MHEDA LMS are only available to Members of MHEDA. If you are not a Member and want to learn more about joining, click here.

How to Be a Culturally-Ready, Culturally-Friendly Employer
This presentation will focus on how you can best reach and retain diverse workers by understanding varying levels of acculturation, differences in values, and how to increase productivity and retention among your diverse workforce. Length: 1 hour, Fee $99

How to Work With and Lead People Not Like You
This session will cover the many ways we can be different from one another and how those differences manifest themselves in work situations. Learn key ways in which you can effectively communicate, guide, and lead associates and colleagues who are not like you. Length: 1 hour, Fee $99

How to Market and Sell to People Not Like You
Diversity marketing comes in many forms: gender, race, age, life stage, language preference, sexuality, and hobbies or special interests. By recognizing these differences and tailoring your product, message or marketing efforts to reflect consumers’ uniqueness, you are validating the importance of a consumer group. Length: 1 hour, Fee $99

Register for the complete 3 part series for the discounted fee of $199!

Register Now (member login required)

MHEDA Women in Industry Initiative

The mission of this initiative is to inspire and draw women to the material handling industry by offering resources and a network that foster professional success while furthering the mission of MHEDA. The program includes opportunities to network with other women in the industry through MHEDA-NET groups, mentoring, special events at the annual convention, annual women in industry conference, and exclusive virtual sessions.

Get Involved

Other Resources

A Business Guide to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce discusses the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the growing workforce, and offers insight on how to promote diversity at your company.

Diverse and inclusive businesses have 19% higher innovation revenues, a 35% performance advantage over their homogenous counterparts, and are 36% more profitable.

A Blueprint for Diversity in the Workplace. This series of TED Talks discuss the basics on how to nurture and manage groups of people with different backgrounds and perspectives — on a micro and macro level. For more TED Talks about diversity, click here.

Diversity Recruiting in 2022. In short, a ‘diverse workplace’ describes a workplace where individuals from a range of backgrounds and experiences are employed. This includes age, sex, ethnicity and sexuality, as well as religion, political beliefs, physical abilities, and disabilities.

Removing Bias From Your Compensation Planning. Offering fair compensation is crucial to attracting and retaining hires. Fairness, transparency and diversity are top-of-mind for the next working generation. More employees want to see transparent and fair compensation that ensures workers are competitively paid. But unfortunately, despite the efforts of many businesses, compensation plans are still prone to bias.

3 out of 4 workers prefer diverse companies where minorities and genders are treated fairly in terms of compensation and responsibilities.

5 Powerful Ways to Take REAL Action on DEI. The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) lets you in on their strategies for constructing a more equitable organization through leadership and how to actively shift workplace culture toward inclusion and diversity. For more CCL articles on DEI issues, click here.

Workers Expect More Conversations on DE&I Issues, Study Finds. The Society for Human Resource Management discusses the desire of workers for conversations on DEI issues to be started and shaped by their companies’ leaders. 

65% of respondents in a global survey said CEOs should discuss prejudice and discrimination.

It’s Time to Talk About Race at Work by Kelly McDonald. Kelly McDonald provides a practical and valuable resource that will help you successfully create an equitable workplace that fosters productive and effective conversations regarding diversity. 

Inclusion as the competitive advantage: The case for women in supply chain. Mona Maurelli, Managing Director, Deloitte Consulting, speaks on the growing need for more women as skilled supply chain professionals and how hiring and retaining them can provide your company with a competitive advantage.

Tell us in the comments how you are addressing diversity, equity and inclusion in your company.