DEI Committee Mission and Resources

Vision

The ACG Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee believes that everyone wins when everyone is included. It envisions an M&A community that understands the advantages of diversity and how it advances middle market businesses by making them stronger and more resilient. It’s working toward a world where diverse members of the middle market are fully represented at all levels so that all members will be able to reach their full potentials.

Mission

The DEI Committee is an advocate and resource for diversity, equity and inclusion in the M&A community. Through various partnerships and multimedia initiatives, this volunteer committee teaches about the benefits of diversity, and it advocates for greater participation of traditionally underrepresented groups in middle market businesses. It strives to cultivate a network of ACG chapters that recognizes and promotes the many benefits of multiculturalism. It encourages diverse members of the M&A community to further their careers through support from all levels at ACG.

History

Just a little over a year ago, ACG became a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion in the M&A community through the formation of the ACG Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.  

It recruited diverse leaders from across the country to guide the new committee that would inspire members to address biases and promote diversity throughout the middle market.

On Feb. 24, 2021, the DEI Committee completed one of its first tasks – creating the ACG Policy Statement that outlines ACG’s DEI goals and strategies in depth.

Statistics

• For every 13 companies run by a man, only one is run by a woman Catalyst
• While women make up about 47 percent of the workforce, about 40 percent are managers. Of that, 32 percent of white women were in management positions. Catalyst
• In 2019, about 21 percent of executives in the C-Suite were women with only 4 percent of those women of color. Catalyst
• Minorities make up about 32 percent of the U.S. population, while minority business ownership is only 18 percent of the population. U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
• Percentage of board seats held on Fortune 250 Board – 84.4 percent white, 8.2 percent black, 3.9 percent Hispanic, 2.9 percent Asian, 18.5 percent women. U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
• About 5.1 percent of U.S. women and 3.9 percent of men identify as LGBTQ+ but 0.6 women and 2.9 percent men who are LGBTQ+ are part senior vice presidents or in the C-Suite McKinsey & Company

DEI Co-Chairs 

Christina Bui
Chief Revenue Officer/SVP Business Development
Kranz Consulting  

Cornelia Cheng
Managing Director, Western Region Investments
Brightwood Capital Advisors

Rich Grant
Director | Business Development
Northlane Capital Partners, LLC

Helpful Resources

What’s the Difference Between Diversity, Inclusion and Equity?
11 Books to Read If You Want to Become a More Inclusive Leader
MIT Creating a More Inclusive Workplace
Diversity Best Practices Resource Guides and Tools
Diversity Wins: How Inclusion Matters by McKinsey 
A Fireside Chat with Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson on Women and Leadership
Utah Women and Leadership Project: How Women Rise