Leadership and Executive Development for women of all races, cultures and backgrounds
Issue link: https://diversitywoman.epubxp.com/i/510478
d i v e r s i t y w o m a n . c o m S u m m e r 2 0 1 5 D I V E R S I T Y W O M A N 19 By Ruchika Tulshyan S teve Bucherati isn't fazed that he's one of the very few heterosexual white men in the diversity and inclusion space. Te former chief diversity ofcer of the Coca-Cola Company readily admits his privilege in the same breath as he gets fred up about gender representation in the workforce. Bucherati's résumé is impressive: he successfully launched Coca-Cola's Global Women's Initiative in more than 200 countries simultaneously and led the company to make a complete U-turn after a monumental class-action lawsuit. Coca-Cola emerged a world leader in workplace equality, with Bucherati at its diversity helm. He retired earlier this year from a 24- year stint at the company. But he's far from done—he now has plans to launch his own consulting frm. Te father of two daughters candidly tells Diversity Woman about his un- planned foray into D&I;, the next big trend in the industry, and what it takes to transform big ideas into measurable change. Diversity Woman: How did you get interested in diversity? Steve Bucherati: I grew up as a child of two uneducated parents in a lower- middle-class family. But even when you don't have money, I recognize you have certain privileges as a white male. I grew up in the WASP state of Maine, so I didn't have much exposure to diversity when I was younger. One experience that stands out was in 1981, when I was 23. A work assignment took me to Moultrie, Georgia. It was in the Deep South. Te African American janitor at the facility asked me if I played basket- ball, which I did all through high school. He then asked me if I would play in his league on Sundays. Fast-forward to that Sunday: I was the only white person on the basketball court. It took awhile to break the ice, but when I did, I played basketball with them the rest of the day. A few days later, three white colleagues at the company told me I couldn't play with that league. I was ostra- cized by a bunch of people for playing with an African American league. Steve Bucherati, former chief diversity offcer of the Coca-Cola Company, talks global diversity Pushing the Frontiers of Diversity Men at Work We Mean Business >