Diversity and Inclusion isn’t just a buzzword thrown around by hiring managers and executive boards. Equitable employers outperform their competitors by respecting their team members' unique needs and perceptions. Diverse and inclusive teams gain deeper trust and more commitment from their employees.
A company with many different gender identities, nationalities and sexual orientations may be described as diverse, but it can't be inclusive if these different groups aren’t represented. Diverse and inclusive workplaces make everyone in the company feel equally involved and supported in all areas of the workplace.
Research by Great Place to Work shows that a diverse and inclusive workplace has many benefits, for both the company and the employees. Workplaces show a higher revenue growth rate, diverse teams showcase greater readiness to innovate. Research also shows that employees are 9.8x more likely to look forward to going to work, 6.3x more likely to take pride in their work, and 5.4x more likely to stay a long time with the company.
Venturi has spent a long time working alongside many companies showcasing a variety of D&I programmes. Have a listen to the episodes below and see how you can make your workplace a more inclusive space.
1. Closing the Gender Gap in Tech | Megan Sun | OLX Group
Megan Sun has an impressive career history from a data strategy consultant at BCG, to a Data Science Consultant at IBM, before moving to Berlin last year to start a new role as Senior Program Manager at OLX Group.
The OLX marketplace is a platform for buying and selling services and goods such as electronics, fashion items, furniture, household goods, cars and bikes. In 2014, the platform reportedly had 11 billion page views, 200 million monthly active users, 25 million listings, and 8.5 million transactions per month.
OLX Group Berlin is an inspirational environment for top-notch engineers, data scientists, designers and product managers looking to make a difference. It works to a horizontal structure, with 40+ nationalities collaborating on global projects, and using cutting-edge tech stack to build the very best products.
We spoke about Megan’s experience working in various different cultures around the globe. After being elected as “40 under 40 Girls in Tech” we also spoke about how to get more women involved in the technology industry.
2. Future-proofing the Tech Industry | Ross Bray
Ross Bray leads Alps Education's Software Development and Data teams and is responsible for the Product Roadmap. We discuss the challenges of showing young minds the value of technology in our everyday lives, to inspire them to take an interest in seeing tech as a viable career option.
3. Leading Diversity, Equity and Inclusion @ Justworks | Lakuan Smith
Ben sat down with Lakuan Smith, who is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager at Justworks. Lakuan's motivation for taking this career path stems from personal discriminatory experiences in his life, job hunting and work environments, finding the need to change this - Lakuan delved into DE&I and realised that he could make a real difference within this role.
Justworks is the fastest-growing HR technology company in the US. They provide small- and medium-sized businesses access to big-company benefits, automated payroll, HR tools, and compliance support — all in one place. They do this by combining the power of a Professional Employer Organization with expert 24/7 support and a simple and friendly online platform. Their customers work across all 50 U.S. states in a variety of industries.
4. Twenty in Data and Technology Awardee 2020 | Karen Jean-Francois
Karen Jean-Francois is Analytics Manager at Cardlytics, Women in Data Podcast Host and Producer, Twenty in Data and Technology Awardee 2020.
Whilst studying to be a Maths teacher in 2010, Karen fell in love with Data Science and opted for a career change, switching to an MSc in Applied Statistics studying at Université Paris Sud 11. Eight years later she started working for Cardlytics as a Senior Analyst / Manager. Now, as a woman working in data, Karen has experienced the lack of female role models in the industry and keenly supports Women in Data for the quest to change this.
Cardlytics is an advertising platform in banks' digital channels. They partner with financial institutions to run their banking rewards programs that promote customer loyalty and deepen banking relationships. They have a secure view into where and when consumers are spending their money. They use these insights to help marketers identify, reach, and influence likely buyers at scale, as well as measure the true sales impact of marketing campaigns.
During the podcast episode, Ben sits down with Karen to discuss her interesting route into the world of Data, struggling with imposter syndrome with some advice for how to overcome it, the issues surrounding the Data Science job title, and we hear about what's coming up in Women in Data.
5. Why it Matters and How to Develop a Diverse Workplace | Javaad Abdul Rasool @ Habito
Javaad Abdul-Rasool is VP of Talent at Habito, a start-up advisor and mentor.
Habito was founded in 2016 with the aim to give people the tools, knowledge and expert support they need to help them buy and finance their homes.
Javaad is currently working in the leadership team at Habito to provide the vision, drive and direction of Habito's talent agenda.
During the podcast episode, Ben sits down with Javaad to discuss how we can keep flying the flag of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, and why it should be important to all of us. As well as how to build on what we already have, and the things we can do to be successful in the DE&I space.
6. Yoaquim Cintrón, AKA 'The Culture Guardian' @ Attune
Yoaquim Cintrón is Engineering Management & DevSecOps at Attune.
Attune is an admitted small commercial market built to get business off your desk and on the books hassle-free.
Yoaquim has been labelled by co-workers at Attune as 'The Culture Guardian' for his work and efforts in supporting a collaborative and 'people over everything' culture within the business.
During this podcast episode, Ben sits down with Yoaquim to discuss the most important aspects and qualities of a leader, how Yoaquim has led his team through times of unforeseen change, and the considerations and pitfalls to be aware of when building an engineering team from scratch.
It was an honour to have Yoaquim on the show to share his insights and knowledge with the tech community.
7. Creating Seamless Communication at Scale | Sally Goble, Engineering Manager @ Attest
Sally Goble is a highly motivated and self starting senior leader with over 10 years of industry experience and a track record of building and managing mixed discipline, distributed, teams of software engineers, SREs and QAs. Experience of both scale up and established tech teams.
Sally has an extensive career in tech, previously working at The Guardian Newspaper as Head of Quality - responsible for quality across all of the Guardian's digital products. Then moving to Deliveroo as Senior Engineering Manager, and now joins Attest as Engineering Manager.
Attest is a consumer research platform that provides confidence for every decision, with the right insight, at the right time.
During this Podcast episode, Ben sits down with Sally to discuss how to create seamless communication at scale, some of the pitfalls to be aware of and the benefits a business can expect when streamlining their communication strategy.
8. Creating Better Connected & Happier Employees @ Tahora | Ben Towers
Ben Towers is the Co-Founder of Tahora, and is one of ‘the most influential entrepreneurs on the planet’ whilst still only being 23 years old. Ben started in business aged 11 and has since successfully exited his marketing agency, invested in disruptive start-ups and inspired millions. Ben is now on a mission to change the health outcomes of his generation.
Tahora is the culture and wellbeing platform creating inclusive hybrid workplaces with better connected and happier employees.
During this podcast Ben sits down with Ben to discuss the most common issues that keep arising in terms of mental wellbeing in the workplace and how the Tahora platform can help, how and why Ben decided to create Tahora, and how businesses can introduce a mental wellbeing program for their workforce.
9. Driving Diversity in the Tech Space | Saima Mahmood @ Oracle
Saima Mahmood is Software Development Manager at Oracle.
After joining Oracle as a Scrum Master, Saima was promoted to Software Development Manager following her success in leading and organising the team she was working with and delivering everything that was planned across two releases, through detailed planning and communication.
Oracle is a cloud technology company that provides organizations around the world with computing infrastructure and software to help them innovate, unlock efficiencies and become more effective. Oracle also created the world’s first – and only – autonomous database to help organize and secure their customers’ data.
During this podcast episode, Ben sits down with Saima to discuss driving diversity in the tech space, Inspiring the next generation, promoting recruitment to attract all types of people, and some of the reasons why people may avoid a career in technology.
10. Creating the Conditions that Enable Incredible Outcomes @ Caution Your Blast | Rich Cassidy
Rich Cassidy is head of People and Delivery at Caution Your Blast Ltd
Rich's ultimate goal is for all everybody he works with, both within Caution You Blast and our client teams, to come to work feeling excited and supported to get stuck in, to be able to do an effective day's work, have a fun time while doing so, and work on things that make a positive difference to people's lives.
He has over ten years of experience in design and tech consulting with a focus on the public sector and non-profits. Having grown and supported teams in both the public and private sectors, he brings a deep understanding of how to create the conditions and culture that enable teams of designers, researchers, developers, and policymakers to work together and deliver incredible work and outcomes.
Caution Your Blast is a leading digital products and services practice, creating some of the UK's most innovative digital solutions, and then using these skills and experience to provide expert consultancy to clients.
CYB is a team of only senior digital experts, each with specialist knowledge in specific areas of digital. Combined, this enables them to deliver some of the most exciting digital products and services, focused on their main target of supporting social good in society.
During this podcast episode, Ben sits down with Rich to discuss the impact a great culture can have on a business and how Rich and his team have nurtured their culture at Caution Your Blast to make a positive difference in people's lives, both inside and outside the business.
