Diversity Impact

How to Work With People Who Are Different Than You

A new team member from a diverse background struggled to make themselves heard in a new team. Drawing from the book "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni, the team member organized activities to build trust and get to know each other better. They also had follow-up activities with an external coach and 1:1s with team members. The team member learned that taking ownership and being solution-minded are important qualities, and that even if you are new to a team, you should make sure you are heard.

(Re)building product teams: insights from recent recruitment

The hospitality industry was one of the hardest hit during the 2020 lockdowns, and the effects are still being felt today. This has caused a decrease in trust and an increase in high-risk employment. The hospitality tech industry has also been affected, making it difficult to find the right product managers. After months of searching, the author was able to build a team of seven diverse individuals by the end of 2021. The author learned the importance of diversity, transparency, and setting the right expectations throughout the recruitment process. The author is now looking for six more product managers and more senior talent to lead the team.

Becoming Aware of and Accounting for Personal Bias

Unconscious bias can be a problem in the hiring process, and it is important to be aware of and challenge it. To remove bias, it is important to identify talent specifically and to consider how candidates align with company values. Additionally, it is important to be aware of the language used in job postings and to seek out guidance from colleagues from different backgrounds.

When Culture Does Not Translate Into Business Goals

When leading a cross-cultural team, it is important to observe, evaluate, and proceed at a constant pace in order to account for cultural differences. This is especially important when attempting to implement a corporate solution into a foreign market. By understanding the cultural differences and accommodating accordingly, it is possible to successfully deploy a solution. Additionally, it is important to foresee any potential conflict areas and invest in culture champions early on in order to build trust and collaboration.

How to Improve Diversity in the Workplace

This article discusses the importance of diversity in the workplace and the challenges of improving diversity. It outlines the steps taken to increase diversity, such as going to schools with a significant minority presence and including members of underrepresented minorities on the interview panel. It also highlights the importance of creating a culture of inclusion and providing adequate support for self-emergent networks. Finally, it emphasizes the need to separate business and fun time to ensure inclusion.

Parent Friendly Work Culture

ITA's Women Influence Chicago initiative brought together tech leaders to discuss best practices for creating inclusive work cultures for parents. Discussions focused on transparency, creating an even playing field, having a robust leave policy, and changing the profession to accommodate working parents. The event was sponsored by Lantern Partners and the top four takeaways were shared.