Black Equity Index

The Black Equity Index (BEI) is an initiative for organizations to advance and measure progress toward racial equity in the workplace. Informed by DE&I practitioners, the new set of standards harnesses the power of data to create opportunity for Black professionals. Designed to drive systemic, sustainable change, this independent and credible benchmark provides greater accountability for companies and their leaders, allowing organizations to track progress and improve their practices year after year.

Founded in partnership with a consortium of Chief Diversity Officers and technology sector leaders, Coqual’s BEI aims to improve hiring, representation, promotion, inclusion, and retention of Black professionals across the corporate sector.

2023 White Paper 2023 Press Release 2022 White Paper 2022 Press Release

Why Now?

Companies around the globe have committed to create equity for Black professionals. Yet there hasn’t been an independent organization tracking progress on Black equity and pushing companies to make change.

A group of CDOs came together to create a tool to measure and accelerate company efforts. They chose Coqual as their partner to drive the initiative.

“Coqual is responsible for some of the most groundbreaking and innovative research on issues affecting Black professionals. They’ve been in this space for a very long time. Their network of board members and advisors includes diversity practitioners, researchers, and civil rights activists that have been doing this work for decades.” –Tech sector CDO

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About Coqual

Coqual (formerly Center for Talent Innovation) is a global, nonprofit think tank dedicated to helping leaders design diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces where every person belongs.

Founded in 2004, Coqual provides in-depth research, thought leadership, and data-driven, actionable solutions for companies to address bias and barriers to inclusion for underrepresented populations in the workplace.

Coqual’s cutting-edge research and advisory services focus on gender, race, ethnicity, geography, disability, veteran status and LGBTQ identities, and others—as well as the intersections among these groups. For more information, visit www.coqual.org.