Chief Change Officer: Episode #279 - Greg Morley: Built, Not Bought—The Gen X Playbook for Real Inclusion

Release Date: April 8, 2025

In episode #279 of Chief Change Officer, host Vince Chan engages in an enlightening conversation with Greg Morley, a seasoned leader in human resources and a master of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Moët Hennessy, one of the world’s foremost luxury wine and spirits conglomerates. This episode delves deep into Greg’s transformative journey, his strategic approach to DEI, and his insights on fostering genuine inclusion within a global enterprise.

Guest Background: Greg Morley’s Journey

Greg Morley brings a wealth of experience from his extensive career spanning Disney, Hasbro, and Moët Hennessy. Recently relocated to Paris, Greg has spent the past 17 years in Hong Kong, contributing significantly to DEI initiatives across diverse cultural landscapes. His involvement in organizing the Hong Kong Gay Games, the first iteration of the event in Asia, highlights his commitment to inclusive leadership and community building. Greg’s transition from commercial sales and marketing to human resources underscores his versatile understanding of business dynamics and people-centric strategies.

Notable Quote:
“I understand what it looks like to be a sales rep with targets and pressure from your boss about getting things done and sold.”
(06:47)

From Commercial to HR/DEI: Building a Foundation

Greg attributes much of his success in HR and DEI to his early commercial experiences. Starting in a call center, he honed essential skills in communication, empathy, and problem-solving while managing customer complaints. These roles provided him with a grassroots understanding of frontline operations and the challenges employees face, fostering a deep appreciation for their contributions.

Notable Quote:
“Those individuals are the ones that make the business come to life and make the business alive.”
(07:29)

HR as a Strategic Partner: Integrating Leadership

Vince and Greg discuss the critical role of HR in modern organizations. Greg emphasizes the importance of HR leaders collaborating closely with CFOs and CEOs to align people strategies with business objectives. He highlights that effective HR partnerships contribute to building competent and resilient teams, thereby driving business success.

Notable Quote:
“The business is an outcome of having a great team and great leadership.”
(09:03)

Evolving DEI Strategies at Moët Hennessy

Greg reflects on his evolving approach to DEI, shaped by lessons learned from previous roles and organizational experiences. At Moët Hennessy, he spearheaded initiatives to create an inclusive culture that mirrors the diversity of their global consumer base. He underscores the importance of representation and inclusive participation, ensuring that DEI efforts are deeply embedded in organizational policies and practices.

Notable Quote:
“Representation is critical.”
(11:44)

Overcoming DEI Challenges: From Bias Training to Systemic Change

One of the initial hurdles Greg faced was addressing unconscious bias within the organization. To tackle this, he implemented comprehensive bias training programs, fostering self-awareness among employees and encouraging open discussions about diversity and inclusion. Additionally, Greg focused on rewiring organizational systems by updating policies, ensuring equitable hiring and development processes, and establishing employee resource groups. These measures were complemented by consistent communication and robust measurement frameworks to track progress.

Notable Quote:
“Creating a dynamic, resilient, evolving organization.”
(16:17)

Managing DEI in a Global, Diverse Enterprise

Moët Hennessy's expansive global footprint presents unique challenges in DEI management. Greg explains how DEI initiatives are tailored to respect and reflect the distinct cultural contexts of each region and brand. From Cognac, France to Hong Kong, he ensures that diversity strategies are locally relevant while maintaining alignment with the company's overarching values. This "sandwich approach" balances strategic orientation with localized execution, enabling each business unit to cultivate its own success within the DEI framework.

Notable Quote:
“We have to make sure that there's a structure and an overall strategy and an overall direction, yet each business unit... can imagine their own success in this space.”
(23:16)

Impact on Employees: Fostering Career Growth and Inclusion

Greg shares poignant examples of how DEI initiatives have empowered employees to take control of their careers. He recounts conversations with colleagues who feel more confident to voice their career aspirations and pursue growth opportunities within the organization. These cultural shifts have not only enhanced individual experiences but also strengthened organizational loyalty and performance.

Notable Quote:
“She feels like she has a place... that to me is huge progress.”
(24:59)

Bond: Greg Morley’s Vision for Belonging and Connection

In the latter part of the conversation, Greg discusses his upcoming book, "Bond", which explores the fundamental human need for connection and belonging both within and outside organizational walls. The book distills his experiences and insights into creating environments where individuals feel safe, heard, and valued. Greg emphasizes that fostering a sense of belonging is not merely a DEI checkbox but a critical driver for personal fulfillment and business success.

Notable Quote:
“When I have a sense of belonging, I'm willing to do more... That's the power of a sense of belonging.”
(30:10)

Conclusion: The Imperative of Chief Change Officers

Vince wraps up the episode by highlighting the growing importance of Chief Change Officers in today's dynamic business landscape. Greg’s insights reinforce the notion that authentic DEI efforts transcend superficial branding, embedding themselves into the very fabric of organizational culture and strategy.

Notable Quote:
“The role of Chief Change Officer is imperative to the success of anybody in a company now.”
(30:10)

Key Takeaways

• Empathy and Communication: Early career roles, especially in customer-facing positions, are invaluable in developing essential leadership skills.
• Strategic HR Partnerships: Integrating HR with executive leadership ensures that people strategies align with business objectives.
• Systemic DEI Implementation: Successful DEI initiatives require comprehensive training, policy rewiring, and continuous measurement.
• Localized DEI Strategies: Tailoring DEI efforts to respect local cultures while maintaining global alignment is crucial in multinational organizations.
• Fostering Belonging: Creating environments where employees feel included and valued drives both individual and organizational success.
• Leadership Advocacy: Strong support and advocacy from senior leadership are pivotal in advancing and sustaining DEI efforts.

For those passionate about organizational transformation and inclusive leadership, this episode of Chief Change Officer offers invaluable insights and actionable strategies from one of the industry's leading voices.

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