For Aon to do its best work on behalf of clients, colleagues must be able to work, express, be and live in a way that is true to themselves. With that in mind, in 2020 Aon formed the Global Inclusive Leadership Council (GILC). One year after the establishment of the Council, GILC Co-Chairs Jennifer Bell and Eduardo Dávila join the latest episode of the “On Aon” podcast for a conversation about the present state and future plans for inclusion and diversity (I&D) at Aon. Andrea O'Leary, Senior Director, Culture and Change at Aon and herself a member of GILC, hosts.

• What inspires the co-chairs of Aon’s Global Inclusive Leadership Council? [1:27]
• Highlighting business resource groups (BRGs) and Aon’s GILC as champions for inclusion and diversity. [3:27]
• Five pillars that are embedding inclusion and diversity into Aon’s culture. [6:09]
• Current and upcoming efforts of various BRGs in advancing the work of the GILC. [8:55]
• GILC accomplishments and highly inspiring efforts. [14:01]
• Actionable steps anyone can take to be an I&D ally. [16:32]
• Would you like to dance? [19:49]

Additional Resources:

Aon’s website

Inclusion and Diversity at Aon

More information on the Global Inclusive Leadership Council

HR Director media coverage: “Role models are essential to change perceptions” 

Tweetables:

“When you think about what we’re trying to accomplish as a firm, it really revolves around action and impact.” — Jennifer Bell

“We are working together to make Aon an even more inclusive and diverse place of work.” — Eduardo Dávila

“Inclusion and diversity are at the heart of our mission and what we’re trying to accomplish.” — Eduardo Dávila

“We’re connecting to the GILC globally to continue to collaborate, partner and accelerate where we want to be as a firm.” — Jennifer Bell

“Make intentional connections by getting involved in at least one BRG today.” — Eduardo Dávila

• Defining Grey Swan events such as the Covid-19 pandemic. [2:11]
• How cognitive biases influence the ways businesses view research and data. [6:48]
• The impact of Grey Swan events and crises on a company’s financial performance. [8:38]
• Five key focus areas that determine whether a business will weather a Grey Swan event or not. [10:33]
• The critical role of organizational resilience during Grey Swan events. [13:05]
• The most important question on this podcast. [19:50]

Additional Resources:

Aon’s website

Respecting the Grey Swan compiled by Pentland Analytics

Mentioned on the episode:

• 2007 book The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable by Narssim Nicholas Taleb
• 2015 TED Talk “The next outbreak? We’re not ready” by Bill Gates

Tweetables:

“The vast majority of these scenarios are Grey Swan events. The companies knew they could potentially occur, they just weren’t prepared for them” — Jason Disborough

“If you’ve had a major crisis and you don’t get it right, the impact that can have on your organization and shareholder value can be immense.” — Jason Disborough

“The way to build organizational resilience through these Grey Swan scenarios is with practice.” — Jason Disborough

“There is a future and it’s potentially bright if we work our way through this in the most responsible and positive way.” — Jason Disborough

Resiliency is one of today’s hottest topics, and rightly so in today’s constantly changing landscape. Today’s “On Aon” episode features host Alexandra Lewis and Aon’s Managing Director within the Talent, Rewards and Performance practice Marinus van Driel.  Together they examine what resiliency means, why it is more essential now than ever before, and steps you can take to improve resiliency going forward. 

• The importance of resiliency in today’s uncertain workplace. [1:08]
• Key strategies for increasing personal and professional resilience. [2:45]
• Shifting trends toward more effective and efficient work environments. [5:26]
• Striking the balance between effective ways of working and organization wellbeing. [7:34]
• Tips for staying motivated and energized on a personal level. [9:03] 
• Marinus shares his post-pandemic travel plans. [11:40] 

Additional Resources:

Aon’s website

Aon’s Human Capital Solutions page

The Rising Resilient, including a whitepaper and self-assessment

Additional whitepapers on the future of work and remote working:

• Accelerate Your Workforce into the Future 
• Defining How and Where People Should Work 

Tweetables:

“Resiliency comes down to a simple concept — the ability to bounce back amid adversity and to provide the baseline conditions for helping people thrive in the long run.” — Marinus van Driel

“How can we continue doing the things that we were doing really great in the past, but how can we do it in a new way and maintain our organization’s cultures?” — Marinus van Driel

“It’s critical to make sure that folks keep on doing well, and that organizations keep doing well by doing good for their people.” — Marinus van Driel

“On Aon” is a new podcast featuring conversations between colleagues about current happenings and key topics at Aon. Our first episode features host Maria Harshbarger and Aon’s Global Head of Public Policy Bridget Gainer as they delve into Aon’s ambitious 2030 climate commitment. As a leader in the risk industry, Aon is committed to addressing climate risks now. Maria and Bridget examine the increasing importance of focusing on climate change in today’s environment and what it will take for Aon to reach the ambitious goal of being Net-Zero by 2030.

• The importance of focusing on climate change now. [1:17] 

• An overview of Aon’s 2030 climate commitment and its subsequent impact on the environment. [2:53]

• Steps that will aid in achieving Aon’s goal of reducing its carbon footprint. [4:55]

• Opportunities for a mindset shift that will bring greater results. [7:57]

• What is the impact of this initiative on Aon clients? [9:31]

• Bridget’s passion project is increasing possibilities and making a lasting difference at Aon. [13:55]

• The hidden skill that has greatly benefitted Bridget’s career. [16:45]

Additional Resources:

Aon’s website

Aon’s 2020 Impact Report

• CEO Letter from Greg Case
• More details on Aon reducing its carbon footprint

More on Aon’s Work, Travel, Convene coalitions

Global Special Report: Helping Organizations Chart a Course to The New Better

More on Aon’s Apprenticeship Program

Tweetables:

“We’re incorporating more ideas and more perspectives in a way that builds our relationships with each other and potentially helps us solve big problems.” — Bridget Gainer

“This is an opportunity for clients to tap into Aon’s innovation across the board.” — Bridget Gainer

“We are able to lead by example across the country to show what is possible when you are willing to open your mind and change your habits.” — Bridget Gainer

Each episode of “On Aon” will feature people, solutions, innovations and news that define Aon’s unique culture. Delve into our global firm through conversations between colleagues.