top of page
Search
Writer's pictureAna Cheong

Diversity, Inclusion and Sustainability in Image Consulting Business

In a report by McKinsey and Company, May 2020 ~

Our 2019 analysis finds that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams were 25 percent more likely to have above-average profitability than companies in the fourth quartile—up from 21 percent in 2017 and 15 percent in 2014.


Communities and businesses have put much effort into practicing diversity and inclusion in their everyday life and work. Good progress has been made in the market place however we live in an ever-changing and expanding human race on earth hence the practices of diversity and inclusion will not be a finite approach. We are forever evolving and thriving for the best.


Diversity and inclusion are two interconnected concepts—but they are far from interchangeable. Diversity is about the representation or the make-up of an entity. Inclusion is about how well the contributions, presence, and perspectives of different groups of people are valued and integrated into an environment.

~ extract from blog https://www.greatplacetowork.com/ April 2021


The approach

Image consulting services and practices have evolved much since I started in 1989 unofficially as a cosmetic sales advisor till present in 2022 when I have been practicing full time in this business since 2006. The sole reason that keeps me focused to grow in this industry is my passion for people to change and thrive to achieve success on their terms. Whilst I do not claim to be the “know-it-all” in this industry. I do acknowledge my previous experience in building my business weathering through 2 recessions (one in the 90s and another in the 2000s) and a still ongoing pandemic which seeming is improving day by day and I do see the light at the end of the tunnel. Lol, you are right I am optimistic and hold strong to the belief that everything happens for a good reason.

The image consulting business has 2 major components which are

1. People

2. Techniques & Tools

How do we include diversity and inclusion in these 2 components?

People

I have the privilege to work with people from North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Southeast Asia. Everyone is unique and I learn to embrace the uniqueness. When working with another person, through my years of observation and experience, we need to pay attention to the followings:

1. Their background – country of origin, education, business/profession, beliefs system, etc.

2. Their preference.

3. Their communication style.

4. Their working style.

5. Their goals or objective – this is the reason they come to you because they believe you can help them to achieve their goals.


The thrill in business is … it is forever changing, growing, and evolving. Every client or person that I work with is different. I learn much in working with each of my clients. I have enriched my understanding of human beings and myself through embracing the diversity of the people that I meet and work with in the business. I discipline myself in not judging and labeling and this absolutely needed in practicing inclusion. Whenever I notice I fall into the stereotype trap, I immediately bounce back to my awareness and anchor myself to being neutral and non-judgmental.


I have made a promise to myself at the very early stage of my image consulting career that “I see everyone as beautiful as they are and my responsibility is to bring out the beauty in them”. It is a commitment that keeps me focused on giving my best in every consultation session.


Techniques & Tools

Due to the diversity in people that we meet at business. Our techniques and tools of coaching and consulting have also evolved with the demand of the market. From the variation in basic color tools of warm colors for Asians and the warm colors for Americans to coaching mechanism and consulting flow cater to our clients’ needs.

Below is a consulting process flow that we adopt in our consulting business :

Sustainability

According to Wikipedia, a sustainable business, or a green business, is an enterprise that has a minimal negative impact or potentially a positive effect on the global or local environment, community, society, or economy—a business that strives to meet the triple bottom line.


Image consulting business can definitely support sustainability and therefore our business will be sustainable.


One of the activities that I always practice with the client is in recycling and upcycling their apparel. This can help them to save their shopping budget and at the same time impart the knowledge on “Conscious Consumption” and “Conscious Buying”.

Conscious Consumption ™ is what our firm strongly believes is that you only consume what you need.


Conscious Buying ™ is a concept and process flow that we work with clients on only getting what is needed with the best value for money and investment for at least 3 to 5 years.

These 2 concepts support the triple bottom line. At the end of the consulting sessions, clients not just walk away with achieving their goal but also at the same time feeling proud of themselves that, they too have supported the sustainability of mother earth.


We welcome you to connect with us on Diversity, Inclusion, and Sustainability at Communities & Business.

Please email the writer Ana Cheong at ana@aaasolutions.co

15 views0 comments

Comentarios


bottom of page