Diversity in Hiring
We are a non-profit 501(c)3 organization for emerging and established professionals that provides connections and resources for women interested in or associated with technology.
Last November, we hosted a Diversity in Hiring panel to address disparities in the workplace and the importance of diverse workspaces. This event was sponsored by Insight Global; an industry leader for IT, accounting, finance, engineering, government staffing, and managed services. Insight Global has a diversity council whose mission is to promote diversity and talent by fostering an environment that ensures people from all backgrounds have equal opportunities to succeed and grow at Insight Global.
“The aim of our diversity and inclusion initiative is to create a welcoming and safe work environment, where employees can flourish, no matter their background or heritage.”
– Dr. Kelly Palmer, Head, Global Inclusion & Diversity and Corporate Citizenship at CFA Institute
The Council researches, develops and proposes initiatives to further Insight Global’s commitment to diversity in the workplace by identifying and addressing potential barriers. By recognizing diverse experiences, cultures, and perspectives, Insight Global can better connect and serve its internal employees, clients, and contractors. The Diversity Council presents many opportunities for involvement through direct membership, brand ambassadors, and peer engagement. Learn more at https://www.insightglobal.com
Our panelists were a dynamic group of women who offered invaluable insights to help our audience understand the importance of hiring for diversity. Our panel included: Lori Jennings, Executive IT Recruiter, Susan Dawson, Chief People Officer at Silverchair, Kelli E. Palmer, Ph.D., Head, Global Inclusion & Diversity and Corporate Citizenship at CFA Institute, and Rebecca Leonard, the Associate Dean at the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia.
Dr. Palmer emphasized the importance of building diversity in. Palmer says, “The aim of our diversity and inclusion initiative is to create a welcoming and safe work environment, where employees can flourish, no matter their background or heritage. … It’s important to establish a culture of fairness, opportunity, and trust.” Diversity and inclusion may sound like buzzwords these days, but they are important to the success of the workplace. Implementing diversity and inclusion programs involve taking intentional steps to make underrepresented groups feel welcome at work. The goal of these efforts should be to create better work environments for your existing and future employees. One way to be more inclusive in the workplace is to involve your employees in discussions about inclusion. Inviting your employees to openly discuss these topics allows for creating and implementing new solutions. Another way to embed diversity and inclusion in the workplace is to make diversity and inclusion the responsibility of every employee. Creating a truly diverse work environment involves an omni-level approach. Many companies talk about prioritizing diversity but fall short on the mark. Making diversity and inclusion successful means making sure everyone feels welcome in the workplace. Studies show that diversity leads to more creative teams, increases a company’s bottom line and helps businesses make better business decisions.
We are so appreciative of everyone in our community who came out to support this event. We could not do this without you! We enjoyed having you and we look forward to seeing you again at future Charlottesville Women in Tech events!
To learn more about our upcoming events, visit cvillewomen.tech/events
