Diversity is a tricky concept, to say the least. Companies know they want to achieve it, but first, they have to define it. Most businesses hold a common conception of diversity, but whether considering race, gender or other factors, it is important for companies to move beyond the existing paradigm to embrace actual change in corporate culture.

Mike Evers, president of Evers Legal Search, understands off the bat, that his identity as a white male might cause some to raise eyebrows when he talks about diversity. But Evers has taken a thoughtful approach to the topic, looking past current practices to find ways that companies can embrace diversity in new ways. “The paradigm for diversity initiatives, for the most part, is to hire excellent non-white talent, but expect them to assimilate into corporate culture,” he explains. But, he says, a better strategy would be to “challenge white executives to embrace actual change in corporate culture, creating diversity and change within that corporate culture.”

This, of course, is easier said than done. But Evers feels that the place to start is not necessarily in the boardroom. “It has as much to do with what one does after work as what one does during work,” he points out.