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.

Table of Contents

Timestamps & Topics

00:00 Intros & why “diversity as a lens” beats “diversity as a program”
01:00 Kevin’s path from P&G sales to people & culture
03:05 Defining terms: diversity, inclusion → belonging; equity as system-leveling
05:10 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 KPIs
08:05 Examples: supplier diversity, demographic retail strategy, authentic theme nights
10:00 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 Team
16:10 Retention gaps for women/POC → EmpowHer TMRG and external leadership opportunities
18:20 Renaming HR to People & Culture: signals, scope, and shared ownership of culture
20:00 Leading through a playoff exit: grief, recovery rituals, and end-of-season recognition
24:00 Player voice to impact: passion mapping, foundations, and a SPIDACARES x Huntington x Cavs scholarship
26:00 HR Hot Seat highlights: leading from the front and the rear; everyday acts of courage

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Links:

ERC: https://www.yourerc.com
Cleveland Cavaliers: https://www.nba.com/cavaliers
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Author

Sam Clyde Schroeder

Sam Clyde Schroeder is Vice President, Sales & Marketing at ERC, where she leads the organization’s revenue strategy and brand growth. She oversees both the sales and marketing teams, focusing on expanding ERC’s reach, strengthening relationships with employers across Northeast Ohio, and ensuring the organization continues to deliver meaningful value to its members and partners.

Sam is also the host of ERC’s What’s Up at Work? podcast, where she speaks with leaders from major Northeast Ohio employers and institutions about leadership, workplace culture, and how organizations are navigating the changing world of work.

Sam holds a Master of Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Science in Comprehensive Design from the University of Cincinnati. She also serves on the board of the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning (CAL), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students build confidence, creativity, and critical thinking through arts-based learning.

Timestamps & Topics

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