Businesses with Exceptional Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives
SharkNinja, a product development and e-commerce company, is committed to fostering a healthy, equitable, and inclusive workplace. They promote diversity through hiring practices, a global DEI advisory board, training and education, multiple employee resource groups, and various initiatives [1].
dbt Labs prioritises diversity, equity, and inclusion, implementing initiatives such as internal transparency for salary bands and a Conscientious Objection policy, giving team members a way to withdraw from projects that conflict with their values [1].
Envoy Global and KUBRA also strive for a diverse and inclusive environment. Envoy Global celebrates employees' individual experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, while KUBRA has inclusive hiring practices, diverse interview panels, affinity groups, cultural celebrations, and transparent career pathways [1].
In 2024, KUBRA launched a neurodiversity program in partnership with Integrate to offer internships for neurodiverse talent [1].
Jazz Aviation, Costco, Boeing, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Salesforce, IBM, LinkedIn, Fiddlehead Technology, Coast Mental Health, American Express, Johnson & Johnson, and Patagonia are among the notable companies with effective diversity and inclusion (DEI) programs [1][2].
Common successful DEI program elements across these companies include Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), inclusive hiring practices, mentorship and leadership development programs, comprehensive training on unconscious bias, microaggressions, and cultural competency, and inclusive benefits [1][5].
Accenture, PatientPoint, AlertMedia, and SteelSeries are other companies with notable DEI initiatives. Accenture has mandatory employee training on antiracism and unconscious bias, while PatientPoint celebrates the experiences of its team, users, patients, and sponsors through activities like guided meditation and cultural potlucks [1]. AlertMedia demonstrates its commitment to diversity and inclusion with systemic action, including an inclusive parental leave policy, support for organizations helping underserved and underrepresented members of the community, and regular benchmarking of its progress towards a more inclusive workplace [1]. SteelSeries runs regular DE&I employee surveys, open meetings across the organization, and has several Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) [1].
Million Dollar Baby Co., GHX, Autodesk, OCC, and UL Solutions are other companies with notable DEI initiatives. Million Dollar Baby Co. formed its Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Committee in 2020, while GHX established a new Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council in 2020 and has trained a majority of its employees in allyship training and managers in unconscious bias and inclusive culture [1]. Autodesk has multiple community partnerships with groups like the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and AfroTech to further its inclusive recruiting efforts, and created the NEXT LEVEL program to prepare people of color for promotions to leadership roles [1]. OCC has incorporated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) council, employee network groups, talent pipelines, and community partnerships into its diversity and inclusion efforts [1].
Upside, ADP, Datadog, and EPAM Systems are other companies with notable DEI initiatives. Upside uses Textio to write unbiased and inclusive job descriptions, while ADP is a part of the OneTen coalition, working to facilitate upskilling and career opportunities for Black talent [1]. Datadog's DEI program includes heritage month celebrations, giving programs, inclusion and allyship trainings, and inclusive hiring and managing workshops [1]. EPAM Systems offers various employee resource groups and company-wide celebrations for events like Black History Month and International Women's Day [1].
Ally Financial and Work & Co are other companies with notable DEI initiatives. Ally Financial has implemented training to help leadership identify cognitive bias, while Work & Co employs both a head of DEI and a managing director of DEI, designing and building digital experiences for companies while integrating DEI work into its product design services [1]. Ally Financial's minimum wage is set at $23 and pay is regularly reviewed to ensure equity, and more than 40 percent of employees have gotten involved with the company's employee resource groups [1]. UL Solutions has a Diversity + Inclusion Executive Council made up of senior leaders tasked with guiding strategy [1].
These initiatives collectively create workplaces where all employees feel valued, safe, and empowered to perform at their best [1][3][5].
[1] Source: Various company websites and press releases. [2] Source: Forbes (2021). The World's Best Employers 2021. [3] Source: Glassdoor (2021). Best Places to Work 2021. [4] Source: Fortune (2021). Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For 2021. [5] Source: Harvard Business Review (2020). How To Build a Business Case for Diversity and Inclusion.
SharkNinja, in addition to fostering a healthy and inclusive workplace, could incorporate diversity and inclusion in their finance department by implementing training on unconscious bias and cultural competency for financial analysts and managers. This would ensure a diverse and equitable workforce in their business operations and career advancements.
dbt Labs might consider expanding their DEI initiatives to include finance, for instance, by including fiscal transparency in their salary bands and equity programs, as well as offering financial literacy workshops or resources to promote career growth and economic empowerment among underrepresented groups in their company.
