The first day of the Goldman Sachs diversity pledge has arrived. The investment bank announced that as of July 1, 2020, it will require diversity amongst the board members of new applicants in the United States and Europe. When announced in January, the investment bank could not have foreseen how poignant the pledge would become. All eyes on diversity Late spring and summer brought an onslaught of social issues to the forefront of American culture. As the nation attempted to establish a new normal amidst COVID-19 precautions, essential workers kept the economy and healthcare systems afloat. During these times, 1 in 3 women were considered essential workers. Also during this time, researchers revealed that the pandemic brought worsening economic and social inequalities for women. The necessary role of women in the workforce juxtaposed the inadequate measures to help them balance the demands of work and home. To add to the complexity, March marked the beginning of social unrest. A series of police-involved shootings sparked the first wave of protests highlighting discrimination against minorities within the justice system. The protests continued into June, joined by Pride Month events that highlight the struggles of the LGTBQ community in the workplace and healthcare system. Consumers and employees across the U.S. forced businesses and institutions to examine their inclusion practices or lack thereof. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon could not have foreseen any of this back in January. He could not have known that pandemic fallout and social justice demonstrations would place the bank at the forefront of the social equity revolution on Wall Street–but timing is everything, even when it’s unplanned. Bye bye “bro boards” Goldman Sachs now requires all American and European IPOs to have at least one “diverse” board member. Solomon emphasized that women are...