Kevin Clayton (Chief Impact & Equity Officer, Cleveland Cavaliers): Diversity, Drive & Donovan Mitchell

What if your DEI work came with a revenue target, developed your next leaders, and grew the business at the same time?Kevin Clayton, Executive Vice President & Chief Impact and Equity Officer at the Cleveland Cavaliers, joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to show how DEI has become a core business strategy. Kevin breaks down equity as fixing systems like feedback, hiring, promotions, and compensation so people can do their best work. He shares how the Cavs tie impact to revenue scorecards, develop a leadership bench through the IDEAL Team, and steady culture after a tough playoff exit.We also dig into player-led community impact (including a scholarship partnership with Donovan Mitchell’s foundation and Huntington Bank), supplier diversity that gives back, the data behind theme nights, and why the right retail strategy moves real merchandise and fan engagement.Timestamps00:00 Intros & why “diversity as a lens” beats “diversity as a program”01:00 Kevin’s path from P&G sales to people & culture03:05 Defining terms: diversity, inclusion → belonging; equity as system-leveling05:10 The systems view: feedback, hiring, promotions, pay, and why people aren’t the “problem”06:20 “Leverage diversity as a business strategy”: tying impact to growth and KPIs08:05 Examples: supplier diversity, demographic retail strategy, authentic theme nights10:00 What the data showed (and why Pride/Women’s/Heritage nights lift merch & engagement)12:00 Culture during losing seasons: the 90-day assessment and launching the IDEAL Team16:10 Retention gaps for women/POC → EmpowHer TMRG and external leadership opportunities18:20 Renaming HR to People & Culture: signals, scope, and shared ownership of culture20:00 Leading through a playoff exit: grief, recovery rituals, and end-of-season recognition24:00 Player voice to impact: passion mapping, foundations, and a SPIDACARES x Huntington x Cavs scholarship26:00 HR Hot Seat highlights: leading from the front and the rear; everyday acts of courageLinks:ERC: https://www.yourerc.comCleveland Cavaliers: https://www.nba.com/cavaliers