Symba

🎙️Symba CEO Ahva Sadeghi presents her FIRST episode featuring a fellow founder! Tune into the insightful interview with Caroline Casey, Founder of The Valuable 500 here: https://symba.io/blog/interviews/openuptheworkforce-with-caroline-casey-founder-of-the-valuable-500/

Did you know 20% of the world’s population has experienced disability, and 80% of these disabilities are invisible and often overlooked?

🌍 It’s time to dive into the world of disability inclusion and discover how 500 companies are driving synchronized global action to break down barriers in disability leadership, reporting, and representation. Listen to Caroline's journey, motivations, and thoughts on the next steps to truly open up the workforce.

🌟 Gratitude Spotlight 🌟 As we approach the winter holiday season, we’d like to take a moment to express our appreciation for the talent leaders who inspire, guide, and shape the future of the workforce. 🙌🏼

To those visionaries who see potential where others might not, who invest in the growth of emerging talent, and who tirelessly champion diversity and inclusion, thank you! 🚀 Your dedication fuels the fire of progress and innovation, and your impact resonates across the workforce.

Here's a note of thanks from our co-founders, Ahva Sadeghi and Nikita Gupta.

Happy 🎃 This spooky fun day is also Symba’s birthday - we’ve turned 6!

To celebrate, here's a special episode of , where Ahva Sadeghi interviews Mason Williams, Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Mattel. Barbie the Movie was a huge hit this year, and many of you are probably dressing up as Barbie or Ken…or, who can forget, Allan!

Get the inside scoop on the making of , read how Mattel leverages employee resource groups in their toy design processes, and find out what Mason thinks about how to truly open up the workforce.

✨ Check out the full interview here: https://symba.io/blog/interviews/openuptheworkforce-with-mason-williams-global-head-of-dei-at-mattel-inc/

Let's talk about allyship. 🤝

In episode 25 of , Ahva sits down with Donnebra McClendon Gray, the Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Ceridian. Donnebra shares some profound insights on what it truly means to be an authentic ally in today's world.

She reminds us that allyship goes far beyond the annual celebrations, like Pride month. It's about stepping up, speaking out, and taking action when you witness injustice. A genuine ally is someone who is unafraid to be a disruptor, someone who champions greater equity in the workplace.

Are you ready to broaden your perspective and deepen your understanding of allyship, equity, and inclusion in the workforce? Click the link below to access the interview, hosted by Ahva Sadeghi.

🔗 https://symba.io/blog/dei/openuptheworkforce-executive-series-with-donnebra-mcclendon-global-head-of-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-at-ceridian/

Let's continue to foster a culture of inclusion and equity together! 💪🌈

Hiring diverse talent is just the first step to building an inclusive workplace. Equally crucial is ensuring their career progression! 🚀 Are you familiar with the roadblocks to advancement within your organization?

In a thought-provoking discussion, Troy McIntosh, the Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at IDEX Corporation, delves into tracking talent progression.

Discover the key metrics that matter, master the art of board communication, and learn how to craft a DEI playbook in Episode 24 of the podcast, hosted by Symba's Co-founder & CEO, Ahva Sadeghi. 📊🗂️

🔗 Explore the full interview here: https://symba.io/blog/dei/openuptheworkforce-with-troy-mcintosh-chief-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-officer-for-idex-corporation/

Unlock the secrets to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive future for your organization! 💼💪

How do you measure , , and efforts? How does accountability fit into your I&D strategy?

Rachel Winoski, CHRO at AXA XL, speaks to this (and much more) on the podcast hosted by Ahva Sadeghi. With over 12 years of experience at AXA XL, Rachel's journey serves as a true success story of progressing from an intern to the C-suite.

Hear invaluable insights on career growth, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and the innovative approaches AXA XL is taking to create a thriving workplace in the full interview: https://symba.io/blog/dei/openuptheworkforce-with-rachel-winoski-chief-human-resources-officer-for-axa-xl/

Monique Lanaux, GVP and Chief Talent & Diversity Officer for Albertsons Companies, talks about their Leading With Inclusion workshop which educates about biases, enhances awareness, and equips leaders with tools to create a more inclusive environment. Learn about Albertsons' training model and overall approach to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in this episode of the , hosted by Ahva Sadeghi, Co-Founder and CEO of Symba.

Check out the full interview here: https://symba.io/blog/dei/openuptheworkforce-with-monique-lanaux-general-vice-president-and-chief-talent-diversity-officer-for-albertsons-companies-inc/

Happy ! 🎉 To celebrate, we’ve flipped the script with a very special episode of …featuring interns! Check out the interview here: https://symba.io/blog/dei/openuptheworkforce-a-special-episode-for-national-intern-day/

Ahva Sadeghi speaks with 3 at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation: Kennedy Murray, Amiya Davis, and Olimpia Andrade about their internship experiences, the qualities Gen Z brings to the workforce, and advice for future interns.

Employers: want to know what you need to do to increase access to jobs and wealth creation? 👀 Tune in and find out.

“It comes down to trust building. If you go into a community and you make promises that you don't deliver on, it doesn't ever work, right? So it's nice to come to the rescue and give money. But if the money actually doesn't do what it's supposed to do or you don't have the relationships that you actually need to have or an understanding, it doesn't do…all the good that's possible.”
- Louis Stewart

In this episode of Mr. Louis Stewart, Head of Strategic Initiatives for NVIDIA's Global Developer Ecosystem speaks with Ahva Sadeghi about the recurring challenges when recruiting diverse talent, which are: a lack of visibility, a lack of willingness to engage, and misconceptions about talent availability. Mr. Stewart emphasizes the significance of building trust with minority-serving institutions you partner with and following through with commitments made to the communities you support.

🎙️ Listen here: https://symba.io/blog/interviews/openuptheworkforce-with-louis-stewart-head-of-strategic-initiatives-at-nvidia/

🌟Get ready to streamline your event feedback collection process…

Introducing the latest product update: Event Surveys 📋

Are you struggling to understand whether your latest event was a success with your program participants? Getting the insights you need can be a tedious process…

Well not anymore! With Event Surveys, we're making constructive feedback collection easy and timely. Automate your post-event surveys to gauge success and leverage data to guide your early talent engagement strategy.

Want to learn more about all of our latest updates? Book a demo with one of our experts today and discover how Symba can level up your early talent engagement 🙌 https://hubs.li/Q01XQksy0

What’s more powerful than one industry expert sharing their insights? Try three!

🎙️This episode of features the trio behind Oyster’s inclusion, diversity, and equity initiatives: Kim Rohrer, Principal People Partner, Matt McFarlane, Senior Director of People Experience, and Eryn Marshall, Senior Director of Global Recruiting.

They share examples of inclusive strategies like a global compensation model that promotes salary parity and “The Mission Squad,” which plays a crucial role in aligning existing work with the company's mission and exploring new mission-driven projects. Check out the interview to hear Oyster's approach to DEI and its impact in a global, remote work environment. Listen here: https://symba.io/blog/dei/openuptheworkforce-with-inclusion-diversity-and-equity-leaders-at-oyster/

What are the steps leaders need to take to ?

🎙 Nhlamu Dlomu, Global Head of People at KPMG boils it down to ✌ key tactics:
1. Provide training programs, like apprenticeships, and easier access to skills development so more people can join the workforce.
2. Go where you don't normally go to search for skills. Look beyond your usual list of universities, and at diverse areas where you can recruit.

KPMG has committed to economically empower 10 million disadvantaged young people between now and 2030. Learn more about their commitments to inclusion, diversity, and equity in Episode 19 of , the podcast hosted by Symba's very own Co-Founder and CEO, Ahva Sadeghi.

Check out the full episode here: https://symba.io/blog/dei/openuptheworkforce-with-nhlamu-dlomu-global-head-of-people-at-kpmg-international/

Are you aware of the inherent challenges to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech industry? Do you know what makes for an effective employer university collaboration?

Find out in this episode of featuring Mr. Louis Stewart, head of strategic initiatives for NVIDIA's Global Developer Ecosystem.

In the interview, Mr. Stewart speaks with Ahva Sadeghi about the significance of trust-building, collaboration with universities, strategic programs, and measuring impact in fostering a more inclusive tech industry. Listen here: https://symba.io/blog/dei/openuptheworkforce-with-louis-stewart-head-of-strategic-initiatives-at-nvidia/

Companies like Symba and many others are shifting from DEI to IDE. Wondering why?

DEI stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – three mighty pillars guiding a more accepting and inclusive world. Lately, many companies have been changing the order of the acronym to place Inclusion first.

In this clip, Jeffrey Schmitz, chief people officer at Zebra Technologies, explains their reasoning for putting the "I" first and how that shows up in Zebra's culture.

By emphasizing inclusion, we recognize the importance of creating spaces where everyone feels valued, celebrated, and respected for who they are. It's a powerful step towards building a more inclusive society, not just within the workplace but everywhere.

Let's applaud the companies embracing IDE. Together, we can create workplaces and communities that empower and uplift every individual 💪 If you feel included and celebrated by your employer, give them a shout-out in the comments!

Check out Jeff's full interview here: https://symba.io/blog/dei/openuptheworkforce-with-jeff-schmitz-chief-people-officer-at-zebra-technologies/

“Putting yourself in other people's shoes...it certainly helps as a chief people officer to have a little bit more empathy and maybe be a little bit more open to doing things differently than you might do them or seeing how someone reacts differently to different situations. And I think that's quite helpful as we think about inclusion and diversity as well.” - Jeffrey Schmitz

🎙️This episode of features Jeff Schmitz, the chief people officer at Zebra Technologies. With his extensive background in engineering, product management, marketing, and sales, Schmitz brings a unique perspective to his role as a CPO.

In the interview, Jeff speaks with Ahva Sadeghi about his career journey and the key strategies for fostering inclusion, diversity, and equity in the workplace. Listen here: https://symba.io/blog/dei/openuptheworkforce-with-jeff-schmitz-chief-people-officer-at-zebra-technologies/

“I think there are relatively easy steps that all employers can take that can really make a difference in terms of who you are recruiting into your organization and who you put on a path to opportunity.” -Maria Flynn

🎙️This episode of features Maria Flynn, the President & CEO at Jobs for the Future (JFF). With a career dedicated to empowering workers and learners, Maria has spearheaded innovative initiatives that bridge traditional systems with disruptive solutions to make it easier for workers and learners to balance their lives, learning, and earnings.

In the interview, Maria shares her journey, highlights the importance of partnerships and apprenticeships, and discusses JFF's commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equity. Listen here: https://hubs.li/Q01Tp-9Q0

While we’re on the subject of JFF, their annual JFF Horizons Summit begins tomorrow in New Orleans. This year, Symba’s CEO Ahva Sadeghi will be one of their featured speakers and our CTO, Nikita Gupta, will also be in attendance! Be sure to say hi and follow the hashtag to stay up to date on the summit and connect with others invested in equitable economic advancement 📈

Through their strong mentorship programs and active engagement with the communities they serve, Southwest Airlines demonstrates their commitment to fostering inclusive opportunities for all.

In this episode of , Lindsey Lang, Vice President People at Southwest Airlines, shares her insights into the airline's approach to ID&E, and sheds light on how the company prioritizes its people and fosters an inclusive environment. Her passion for her work shines through the interview, showcasing the power of Southwest's people-first approach.

🔊 Listen here: https://symba.io/blog/dei/openuptheworkforce-with-lindsey-lang-vice-president-people-at-southwest-airlines/

Southwest Airlines has developed programs like Destination 225° where they provide aspiring pilots with mentorship and financial support over several years to help them meet the requirements to join Southwest. This type of program strengthens Southwest’s workforce for years to come and ensures they get the exact talent they need.

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