Diversity Hiring

Antidotes for Bro-Culture

At the Chicago Tech Summit, it was observed that the city has managed to keep bro-culture to a minimum due to the nature of the region, such as the way VCs invest in companies and the people who choose to reside there. This has created a culture of measured enthusiasm and collaboration, but it also curtails the exhibitionism that tech values. Chicago tech's national presence is a victim of this false conflation between showmanship and innovation.

Finding a Higher Calling as a Professional

This article discusses the importance of understanding why we do the work that we do in order to contribute to the world and find our higher purpose. It also emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and mentorship in order to define success and happiness. The author shares their journey of adapting to a new career and learning to grow in a foreign environment. They also discuss the importance of advocating for others and investing time and effort in understanding the people you mentor.

The State of Women in Tech

This article discusses the lack of women in the tech industry and the barriers that keep them out. It suggests that companies need to create more female-friendly environments, provide improved working incentives, and encourage young girls to pursue computer science. Additionally, it highlights the fact that women-led tech startups receive 16 times less funding than those led by men. The article concludes by emphasizing the need to break down the institutional barriers that keep women out of the tech industry.

How to Close the Confidence Gap

This article discusses the confidence gap between women and men, which starts in childhood and is reinforced through academic and professional years. It provides actions to address the confidence gap, such as understanding the problem, educating others, creating a forum for people to share, being conscious while recruiting, coaching perfectionism, creating a safe environment to take risks, and encouraging a collaborative workplace. It also emphasizes that the confidence gap affects not only women, but also other cultures, and that addressing it can lead to more innovation, risk-taking, and less burnout and attrition.

An Amicable Firing

A manager gave an engineer feedback, discussed issues in one-on-one's, and gave her specific tasks to work on, but she still didn't meet the expected standard. A formal performance improvement plan was put in place, with goals and measurements, and the manager met with her for 3-4 hours a week to coach her. Despite improvements, sustained improvements were not seen, so the manager increased the urgency of feedback. It was realized the role was not a good fit for her, so the manager communicated that she should be let go and she was understanding.

Creative Recruitment Strategies to Hire Great Candidates

This article discusses the challenge of building a diverse team in a highly competitive landscape. It outlines the steps taken to actively source candidates, such as closing the public job posting and introducing monthly “Sip ‘n Source” events. It also discusses inclusive hiring practices, such as requiring candidates to speak to at least one non-male interviewer, offering adjustments to the interview process, and providing feedback surveys. The article concludes with the lessons learned, such as the importance of feedback, hiring based on trajectory, and the benefits of a diverse group.