Does diversity make us smarter? Katherine W Phillips wrote a piece in October 2014 published in Scientific American addressing this question. She posits that people with diverse individual expertise and different backgrounds enhance creativity which leads to breakthrough innovations. See http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-diversity-makes-us-smarter/?wt.mc=SA_Twitter-Share
Most people in businesses or corporates will probably agree that having diversity (whether it is gender, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation) in the workplace is a good thing. For starters, there is a better chance to experience different food and language! The real question is: For whom is diversity really good for?
When it comes to leadership positions, we see a different set of statistics - there is an apparent lack of diversity in corporations and public office. A "diverse" workplace certainly brings out the creative and more diligent "workers", and they make the CEOs look good! Imagine a work place with greater diversity at the pointy end of the leadership pyramid!! Creativity abounds. Nothing is impossible. Everything is conquerable!!