MOSAIC: Championing Diversity & Inclusion in Aviation
Despite its modest size, the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) team at IATA has made significant strides both within the organization and across the aviation industry through its internal initiative, MOSAIC. This initiative is designed to bolster IATA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, fostering a culture of acceptance and understanding.
The aviation industry has traditionally been male-dominated, but IATA is spearheading change. Our groundbreaking initiative, 25by2025, has rallied 215 airlines to publicly commit to improving gender balance within their organizations. We convene these signatories quarterly to share best practices and collaborate on making aviation as diverse as the world it serves.
Since the inception of the initiative, airlines have increased senior female representation from 19% to an impressive 31%. Furthermore, the number of female CEOs has risen from 3 to 28. This initiative has united the industry in its pursuit of better representation.
Internally, the D&I team has been equally industrious. A few years ago, we launched the Mosaic program to raise awareness of diversity and inclusion issues within IATA. Today, the program includes numerous staff-led initiatives, such as Pride and Cultural Awareness Day, which have significantly advanced D&I at IATA. Since 2022 we have been Equal Salary certified which is not just about pay, but about ensuring that ALL processes are designed with equality in mind.
Last year, we ran a major initiative called ‘Include Me’, creating a safe space for dialogue in small groups with senior leaders about common and unique inclusion issues. Nearly 40% of the organization participated, leading to a marked improvement in inclusion scores in our employee engagement survey.
The D&I team’s phenomenal efforts have mobilized staff to recognize the value of diversity and inclusion, increased awareness of the challenges some individuals may face, and driven much-needed dialogue about D&I. This is a testament to the transformative power of dedicated teams and well-executed initiatives.
