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The Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Benchmarks

2021 GDEIB Expert Panellists

Robert V. Hayles

Robert V. Hayles

ROBERT HAYLES, Ph.D.

Dr. Hayles assists people and organizations in becoming more effective. He speaks, writes, and consults with a strong foundation in pluralism, diversity, and inclusion.  He was also the 1996 Chair of the Board of Directors, American Society for Training and Development.  Robert was named a “Pioneer of Diversity” by the Profiles in Diversity Journal in 2007. He has served more than 150 clients in the private, public, and civic sectors located in over 15 different countries. Robert was formerly the Vice President, Human Resources and Diversity with Pillsbury (a Diageo company).  His HR responsibilities included the Tax, Treasury and Technology organizations.  He also led diversity work worldwide for Diageo’s food businesses (e.g., Pillsbury, Green Giant, Haagen-Dazs, etc.).  Prior to that Robert was Director, HR for the Pillsbury Technology Center.  Before joining Pillsbury he was Manager, Valuing Differences for Digital Equipment Corporation in Sales, Services, Marketing and International.  He led strategies in the above roles to leverage diversity for productivity/profitability by working with similarities and differences.  Other previous positions include: Associate Professor of Engineering Administration at George Washington University; Director, Research and Human Resources at the Office of Naval Research; and Research Scientist at Battelle’s Human Affairs Research Center.  Robert was the first behavioral scientist to manage the U.S. Department of Navy Technology Base with an annual budget of more than one billion dollars.  Robert has an undergraduate degree in the behavioral and physical sciences, a doctorate in psychology and postgraduate education in business.  Coauthor: The Diversity Directive: Why Some Initiatives Fail and What to Do About It, McGraw-Hill, 1997.  

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