Alcoan named Top 100 Diversity Officer by National Diversity Council

Lori Sutton, Alcoa's Global Head of Inclusion, Diversity and Culture

Recently named by the National Diversity Council as a Top 100 Diversity Officer, Alcoa’s Global Head of Inclusion, Diversity and Culture, Lori Sutton, says her life-long goal is to work herself out of a job.

For this veteran change agent, she believes the goal of any inclusion leader is to work towards an inclusive approach that becomes foundational to the organization and creates a culture where colleagues feel that they truly belong and can contribute to the shared vision, purpose, and goals.

“At Alcoa, we have a strong Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) commitment throughout the organization, there is alignment with our values, and we are working daily to embed I&D while understanding that there is always more to do,” Lori Sutton explained. “My goal is to lead and collaborate with others to ensure that we continue down the path of making Alcoa the employer of choice while meeting and exceeding the expectation of our communities and customers throughout the world.”

Sutton joined Alcoa in September. Her work championing inclusive workplaces, however, can be traced to her earliest efforts as a member of the Diversity Action Council in 2008 and later growing her I&D leadership in subsequent roles leading both large and small organizations toward best-in-class inclusion efforts. Her work has been featured as a best practice case study by Profiles in Diversity Journal and she’s routinely asked to present at various conferences and events including the Center for Energy Workforce Development; Southern Gas Association; Toyota Indiana; Dayton, Ohio Chamber of Commerce; YWCA of Evansville; Integrating Women Leaders Association; and the University of Southern Indiana.

The 2022 Top 100 Diversity Officers award highlights her career experiences that provide a model for creating and utilizing best practices, leading organizational change, and making outstanding contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Honorees include some of the world’s largest and best-known brands including Walmart, McDonald’s, Walgreens Boots Alliance, The Dow Chemical Company, The Coca-Cola Company, Baker Hughes, Pfizer, Tyson Foods and Workday.

“What I like most about this work is seeing the evolution within a company that grows from a small number of employees working together to eliminate biases and expanding to become a business-wide imperative,” she explained.

Lori’s advice for those wanting to create more inclusive and welcoming teams?
“When I think of diversity, equity, and inclusion, at its core, it is about treating people with respect regardless of your personal view. We all can impact our environment and can make great strides if we approach it with an attitude of active listening and respect.”

Her advice to leaders and teams just starting their diversity and inclusion journey?
“My favorite quote is from James Baldwin who said, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” You must start somewhere. DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) is a journey not a sprint. It takes time to make sustainable change.”

What’s most exciting about the work at Alcoa?
“We have a very strong purpose and values, and our I&D goals align nicely. And, with our footprint, we have the opportunity, as Alcoans, to learn about various cultures, understand that we have diverse perspectives while exploring new ways of performing work to drive innovation. When we grow internally, we have the opportunity to impact the communities where we live and serve.”

Does attitude impact inclusion?
“How you approach these things makes all the difference. We must be intentional and understand we are all responsible for driving an inclusive culture that values the diversity that we all bring."