The Foreign Service Journal, September 2020

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2020 25 ALEXANDRABOWMAN environment in which everyone can reach their full potential. Inclusion helps drive diversity by attracting the most qualified applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds and then retaining them and maximizing their performance. Time and time again, research has shown that diverse and inclusive teams are more innovative and cohesive, make better decisions, and provide a competitive edge in recruitment and retention. At the State Department, this means that a diverse workforce and inclusive culture equip us to better advance U.S. foreign policy interests and deliver results for the American peo- ple. Embracing and empowering talent from across all walks of life brings creativity to the workplace and strengthens our ability to confront the array of increasingly complex international chal- lenges we are entrusted to solve. Diversity and inclusion, together, are essential to achieving unity in our workforce in furtherance of our mission and supporting our State Department ethos. The 2020-2022 Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan Shifting the organizational culture of America’s oldest, most geographically dispersed Cabinet agency is no easy task. It requires a clear road map and buy-in from all corners of the insti- tution. Recognizing that diversity and inclusion are indispensable to successfully carrying out our mission at home and overseas, senior leaders throughout State have committed to shaping its future through the 2020 DISP, which will be published later this It is said that diversity is being invited to a party, inclusion is being asked to dance.