It's about the people....

A lesson learned from the 2023 Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) controversy is that even the most renowned organizations are susceptible to unethical behavior. An extensive network of fraud, money laundering, and unethical business activities was discovered through a series of investigative reports in early 2023 within SVB. Several high-ranking executives were implicated in the scandal for engaging in business dealings and facilitating criminal activity for the bank's clients. When unethical activities are allowed to happen, the reputation of an organization may be permanently harmed.

Diversity is a key driver of success. When various styles and backgrounds work together, they stimulate one another's ideas in ways that similarly inclined people just cannot. Neurologically speaking, the human body truly produces energy and hormones that improve mental performance in a variety of people. Creative ideas build upon one another. Additionally, cognitively diverse teams solve problems more quickly by exchanging novel approaches. At the same time, diverse talents allow people to take on specialized tasks within the team, applying their unique skills.

When it comes to what counts for an organization's success, culture may make or break a situation. It brings individuals together through their common values. It strengthens the behaviors. It promotes participation and fosters performance. People are connected to one another and to something bigger than themselves through culture, and this connection inspires them to take part in the cause.A workplace setting that has a toxic work culture is one where unproductive habits and disagreements among team members are encouraged by practices, rules, and management methods.

The theme here is people: people make (un)ethical decisions; diversity is about the people in the organization; people drive the culture. As an individual contributor or leader of a team, it is your responsibility to strive for an ethical and diverse workplace, which will drive the organization's culture.