We Love Diversity
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We Love Diversity AT SALT WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE PURSUIT OF ENSURING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION. ELEVATING THE CORPORATE STATUS OF WOMEN, LGBT, B.A.M.E AND DISABLED INDIVIDUALS IS AN AVID MISSION FOR US. Diversity is imperative to the majority of our clients’ internal strategy and L&D initiatives, hence we believe that it is important to understand their innate needs before resourcing for their roles. By building trust and long-standing relationships, our extensive network of diverse talent continuously grows through recommendation and referral. The Business Case For Diversity Europe can expect a shortfall of 24 million people active in the workplace by 2040. If the rate of women active in the workplace reached that of men, then this shortfall would only be 3 million (McKinsey & Co).
“DiversityJobs.co.uk applauds the direction Salt has taken in terms of their approach to diversity, it’s refreshing to work with an agency that sees the opportunity to widen their appeal to a broader social spectrum and is raising the topic to their clients rather than waiting to be asked. The recruitment industry needs more businesses like Salt who see Diversity as an asset, rather than a liability that has to be dealt with.” - Morgan Lobb, CEO and Founder of DiversityJobs.co.uk
Women are the driving force behind more than 70% of household purchases (Catalyst 2009). Women and BAME are more likely to be hired in organisations who take proactive action including unconscious bias training (Opportunity Now report 2013) As of 2011, 62% university graduates were female and 40% of total EU workforce is female. Ethnic Minority Spending Power will top £300 billion this year in the UK (BITC 2013) 60% of younger workers (Generation Y), say it is not likely that they will stay with their current employers for the remainder of their working life (Rosetta Thurman). Grey pound is set to hit the £100 billion mark, the spending power of people over the age of 65 (Age UK 2013)
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Diversity & Inclusion in Digital - Interview
Dickson Abegunde: Digital Group Head at Trader Media Group Like many people within the industry, I just fell into media sales. It wasn’t something that was planned, it just happened! environment, which gave me a good understanding of what was needed to succeed in the industry. I then moved over to BBC WORLDWIDE where I worked on Top Gear magazine. I always found the print world very repetitive and rigid, so when an opportunity arose to work across BBC WW digital portfolio I did everything I could to secure it! I’m naturally competitive and hate being second best so I constantly reappraise and push myself, which helped me to progress through the ranks and I ended up as group head across Radio Times and Top Gear. Auto Trader approached me late 2013 and I was extremely impressed by the automotive giants new commercial strategy and also the calibre of digital minds that the company was recruiting. As they say the rest is history.. I understand diversity & inclusion is really important to you, as well as getting more B.M.E. youth interested in digital careers. Have you ever experienced exclusion or potential ‘unconscious bias’ at any point during your career? positions. I can’t say that I’ve experienced any outright exclusions or biases during my career but
Have you ever had your race actually work in your favour during in any client pitches, campaigns you have worked on or even when seeking a new role? No, not really. I don’t think the industry works like that! Your race is part of your identity but it doesn’t determine your success and it certainly doesn’t give you an advantage in pitches, campaigns or in securing roles. The sooner people realise that the quicker we can move away from the notion that race determines your lot in life. Race is not an advantage or disadvantage, it is what it is! As a manager of a diverse and multi-cultural team, what are the best ways to embrace diversity to maximise personal and professional performance? Realise that everyone is different and respect those differences. What works for an individual in your team may not work for another. It’s about giving your staff the support they need to grow and develop. It’s also about enabling them to push boundaries, to challenge personal and external perception. Finally what words of advice would you give to candidates & young individuals interested in pursuing a career in digital, especially those coming from B.M.E. backgrounds? Most important thing is focus on your strengths and what makes you unique as an individual! Don’t view your age or background as a hindrance but see it as an opportunity to do things differently from others. Learn to adapt without losing focus. Digital is one of the main industries that embraces change. It rewards people that push boundaries and people that challenge the status quo. Find a company that gives you the support you need to develop but also gives you a voice within the industry. Finally be happy, there are too many miserable people in the industry so
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Women in Tech: Interviews
Interview with Robyn Exton, Founder of Dattch What lead you to create Dattch? I had been working at a branding agency where one of our clients was a large dating business. I was really interested in the space for a while but it wasn’t until a year later when I was with some friends in the pub that the idea really struck me. We were signing a good friend of mine up to a lesbian dating site we were all registered with and as we were going through the sign up process, we knew it hadn’t been created for women. I realised that every site for the lesbian market was just a template of a gay male site that had been made pink and hadn’t really looked at how women want to date differently. So I decided I would have a shot at looking at it! What does Dattch mean and what inspired this name? Lots of people have a lot of different ideas around what Dattch means but it’s really a simple origin – it was a combination of the words Date and Catch. “We are built for women, by women.” Why would you say this is important? Especially in the tech/ digital industry? Having a product that has been created by women means that there are decisions we automatically make based on our inherent understanding. This means that we can move faster and make safer assumptions. I certainly don’t think it’s important for every product but in our space and as an early stage startup that is only for women, that has to move very rapidly, it’s helped us make some good decisions, quickly.
to the LGBT community? I think the most unique needs are often around the experiences and needs that unite the LGBT community. It involves quite a wide range of items but anything from political support to content discovery to people discovery. How would you say digital technologies have impacted on the LGBT community? I think they’ve dramatically increased awareness of LGBT issues through much wider content distribution by the brilliant LGBT news sites and blogs out there. Awareness of events and meetups taking place has grown hugely through Facebook and Meetup, and one on one people discovery has completely changed through apps. It’s an entirely new landscape that has much wider connections and awareness, but sometimes a slightly less strong sense of community. What would you like to see more of in the tech industry? I really would love to see more women here. It’s an amazing space and career which I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone.
What challenges have you faced being a woman involved in technology as well as being part of the LGBT community? It’s hard to compare as I’ve not been able to experience it in any other way. I know there have been times when I’ve had surprising feedback around the product being for the LGBT market that I didn’t really anticipate (a large number of No’s from investors for religious reasons) and a general lack of understanding of our market. At the same time, I have never been asked where my male co-founder is, which some of my friends have been asked, because I think people believe a woman should be running the company.
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Women in Tech: Interviews
Interview with Stemettes Founder Cutting to the chase, what was it that drew I was fascinated by technology as a child. Pulling things apart and putting them back together again became a habit that stuck. I also enjoyed being able to solve problems, be creative and help others with technology. Including passing your A-levels at only 11 years old, your belt! Which achievements have proved to be the
incorrect perceptions of stereotypes associated with women in STEM, and to clearly demonstrate to girls that they can not only succeed in but also enjoy using STEM in work. The events are therefore centred on applicable STEM skills, and
Every new achievement has been a surprise. A little more than a year ago if you had told me I’d be running the Stemettes I would have laughed. But Stemettes is growing faster than anyone could have imagined, and each time something good happens, no one is more surprised
whenever possible in the work environment of the multitude of STEM women who support the Stemettes. In this way girls can hopefully picture the world in which they might work, and see it as accessible.
it addresses an issue that is incredibly important and has a huge impact on life as we know it. I love technology and I want to see the STEM industry be as inclusive and innovative as it can be: without the full representation of women, this is not possible.
recognise the need to support women in technology, especially focusing on “fuelling the pipeline”. Do you feel that education and academic resources are also following suit? The interest schools have shown in Stemettes’ events would suggest so. Teachers certainly recognise the absence of women from these subjects and, importantly, are looking to do something about it. The changes to the Computer Science curriculum also aim to make up-todate and relevant skills available to young people – skills which otherwise girls might be more unlikely to seek out. But to be honest, it’s not enough. While the need to strengthen the human capital investment in STEM is being generally recognised, not enough is being done to raise the representation of women even at school and university level.
Tell me a bit about your experiences as a woman form the “Stemettes”. I attended the Grace Hopper event in Baltimore in 2012 on behalf of the company I work for. It’s an annual conference in the States for women in technology, especially those studying it at university. The problem that women are severely underrepresented in the STEM workforce was highlighted and I was shocked to hear that this number is in freefall within technology. I looked back and realised that at university, I was one of three girls in a class of 70 on my Mathematics and Computer Science course. After spending a couple of months thoroughly researching what launched Stemettes in February 2013. So, in brief, what do the “Stemettes” do? The Stemettes project is all about introducing girls and young women to role models already in the STEM workforce through a range of events in order to help them make well-informed career decisions. The aim is to break down
Above and beyond driving awareness for the need “Stemettes” have in store for 2014/2015? The aim is to make Stemettes a national enterprise this year: to do one event outside of London for each we do within. As part of the project, we’re also launching a mentoring scheme directed towards university-age students. All these things are extensions of the same mission.
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Digital Transformation in the Streets: Technology & Homelessness
The Necessity of Technology You’re likely negotiating your gaze with your computer screen and smartphone as we speak. Can you imagine life without your mobile? Your computer? Or even your handyzig-zagging against all three: ipad, iphone and work desktop and hence I look to my dog-eared book for forgiveness en route to work on the tube every morning. For many of us, technology is our access to the rapidly changing landscape of the digital world. Would you be able to manage without it completely? Digital technology has fast become a modern ‘necessity’. The immediacy in which we use, validate and share information is undeniable; whether it be a picture of our
different facets of our daily existence online. So how is it that many of us turn up our nose if we see someone homeless using a mobile phone? (I myself, having been guilty of this in the past) Do we expect them to favour the age-old method of pigeon letter delivery? With technology starting to become far more affordable, have we become elitist when it comes to who can access technology? Is it time to re-think our perceptions about digital impacting the streets and the homeless? Homelessness, Technology & Safety Digital technology has undoubtedly revolutionised the way we live. Social Media is a notable example whereby we
and the real-time ‘soapbox’ that is Twitter. We take for granted how fundamental our mobiles have become and how it relates to our independence, health and safety, access to the communication and knowledge. As public use of technology exponentially increases, our perceptions around those who are homeless, using it, must also follow suit. Above and beyond “liking” homeless shelter pages and initiatives on Facebook, texting donations to Shelter or subscribing to the Big Issue app, how can technology directly enable the safety and security of the homeless?
In the recent review: “The Potential for Empowering Homeless Through Digital Technology” by Lemos and Crane (in conjunction with Lankelly Chase and Thames Reach) we clearly see how technology is transforming the streets. From collaborative ‘hack days’ to tackle the perpetuating nearest shelter or soup kitchen, technology allows greater agency, independence and communication around issues of homelessness. Technology has led to invaluable resources such as St Basil’s “Virtual Backpack” to be created. The ‘backpack’ provides constant and mobile access to important documents such as passport, NI number etc. so these can never be lost, stolen or destroyed. This is a vital achievement and protects the homeless by ensuring these documents Following one of the more recent hack days, concepts are in the works, such as ‘Life Map’ whereby outreach workers would be able to login and track basic needs and statuses of vulnerable individuals they are working with from needing a hot meal to medical attention. Organisations and charities which work with the homeless are also using technology to revolutionise their ongoing work and projects. Above and beyond online portals for donations, these organisations can run advertising and outreach campaigns engaging with a larger audience of people about the work that needs to be done and opportunities to volunteer. Another example of how technology is having an impact is Street Link, an app encouraging you to reach out and let the organisation know if you see someone sleeping and vulnerable adults they can engage with and begin to help. A recent example of accessibility, is the homeless charity Crisis receiving assistance from top tech organisation Aimar Foundation, loaning out their tech to set up interim internet café over the 2013 Christmas period allowing vulnerable and homeless individuals to look for jobs, send CVs and contact families.
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Challenging Stereotypes: The Big Issue Naturally, change is constantly occurring in the streets of the global ‘tech city’ that is London. We consider Big Issue sellers for example as part of London’s daily “street furniture”. With the loveable book of “A Street Cat Named Bob” hitting number one on the best sellers list, the topic of homelessness (and yes ginger tom cats) has managed to engage with a massive global audience about the cyclical opportunities The Big Issue brings to those willing to take action against their circumstances. For those who are unaware, Big Issue sellers are essentially responsible for their own micro-businesses. Those selling The Big Issue actually have to pay for their own stock of magazines. If they cannot sell all of their magazines, the stock is useless on Monday with the release of a new edition. The tag line that it is a ‘hand up, not a hand out’ is especially true as sellers are responsible for to sell. The more entrepreneurial the seller, the more likely they are going to sell their stock. …And when it comes to entrepreneurial spirit, let me introduce you to Simon Mott, the Big Issue vendor who is using technology to help boost his sales in a what is becoming an increasingly ‘cashless’ society. Simon is the The Big Issue! In a culture and society where the card is king and cash is secondary, Simon was recently awarded ‘Special Judges’ Award’ at the Lankelly Chase ‘Digital Empowerment Awards 2014’. These awards recognise apps and technological innovation which are in the pursuit of combatting homelessness. In the true spirit of community, Simon used the cash prize awarded to help fellow vendors get access to card readers as well!
Stephen Roberston, CEO of Big Issue Foundation, recognises the stigma around homelessness and technology on a daily basis, questioning the hypocrisy of treating others differently on the basis of their circumstances. He feels that it is time to stop and think about our perceptions: “It is all about challenging stereotypes. For example, it is not uncommon for people to comment that they feel it is inappropriate for Big Issue vendors to be using SMART phones. It’s as though there’s the deserving and the undeserving poor. The reality is that people who are homeless frequently want exactly the same things as the rest of us. For me this is about citizenship. People who are on the ‘margins’ both deserve and should have the right to take part in the world in the way that they choose too. It’s more than ironic that some people chose to contact us via their SMART phones to complain about seeing others using the same devices. Big Issue vendors are working. They spend the hard earned cash in just the same way as the rest of us. We need to do more to turn outdated and unwarranted opinions on their head. This is just what Simon has achieved by literally pioneering the use of the Izettle device to allow his Big Issue customers to pay by credit card. Whatever next......’cashback’ from a Big Issue vendor?!” Simon is a prime example of how we can begin to counteract such attitudes, using technology as an enabling resource in overcoming his circumstances. His technological and entrepreneurial spirit shows no limits, with an Ebay store to get your hands on special edition copies and other charity too)!
No change? No Problem! Simon Mott serves a cashless customer this week’s copy
Our Diversity Partners
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