Etta Jackson has been named as the first Chief Diversity Officer of MTM. The company says it has long been an advocate for inclusion and equality both within its organization and throughout the communities in which the company serves. Jackson's appointment to her new role formalizes the company's inclusion efforts and make it clear that diversity is an ongoing priority for the organization.
In this new role, Jackson—a seven-year veteran of MTM—will ensure diversity and inclusion are cultural pillars throughout every level of MTM.
“Diversity has always been an important aspect of MTM’s culture, but in today’s climate, we are committing to doing more,” said MTM President and CEO Alaina Macia. “The recent events spotlighting racism and social injustice have made our executive team take a closer look at what we’re already doing to prioritize diversity and inclusion—and what we can do better. With Etta’s leadership, we’ll ensure we align our business to our corporate values, demonstrate that black lives matter, and educate our employees on what they can do to contribute to the causes we support.”
Jackson joined MTM in 2013 as associate general counsel. Over the past seven years, she has continually demonstrated a passion for equality and inclusion for MTM staff and the populations the company serves. The duties of Chief Diversity Officer will be embedded into her current role on the company's legal team. Working closely with MTM's Diversity & Inclusion Committee, which includes Diversity Champions in the field at each of the company's operating locations, Jackson will ensure diversity goals are embraced company-wide. She will also focus on implementing initiatives and strategic plans that drive change throughout the organization and empower staff to advocate for equality among their peers, family and friends, and in their own communities.
“As a black woman who has experienced racial bias in both my personal and professional life, I am proud of MTM for the strides we have taken toward a culture of diversity and inclusion,” Jackson said. “Formally adding the position of Chief Diversity Officer reflects our commitment to fostering a culture that lives up to the expectations of our staff, clients, and the communities we serve. I look forward to guiding MTM to meet our goals and further improve upon our diversity and inclusion initiatives for people of all cultures, ethnicities, religions, races, genders, and abilities.”
MTM, a woman-owned and operated organization, says it has a history of success in attracting and hiring gender-diverse teammates; in fact, 63 percent of the company's total workforce is female. With Jackson's guidance, the company is committing to ensuring its employee base and leadership team reflects racial and ethnic diversity as well. While 50 percent of MTM's employee base is considered racially or ethnically diverse, just 20 percent of its leaders are. MTM is striving to diversify its recruiting and hiring practices to increase this threshold and bring new perspectives to the leadership team.
“We might be making progress, but we’re not satisfied,” Alaina added. “Asking Etta to step into this role was a logical choice. There is no one better equipped to set our diversity targets and hold us accountable. With Etta’s guidance, I am confident that our diversity initiatives will be taken to the next level—putting us one step closer to achieving our vision of communities without barriers.”
