With its global culture, multicultural essence, and innovative mentality, one of Globant’s greatest strengths is diversity.
Diversity and inclusion are key to our business: they encourage innovation and bring us closer to our customers and the communities with which we work. We have a profound responsibility for the care and empowerment of this spirit, thus creating a work environment where every Glober feels included and valued.
We believe in celebrating our diversity every day, every month, as an ongoing initiative to create a greater sense of belonging and safe spaces for conversations and learning. This October, Globant is making it extra special, by going deeper and broader in our diversity and inclusion agenda with the launch of Diversity Month. During this period, we will be carrying out different initiatives virtually, such as informational sessions, panels, expert talks, training, and fun activities.
At Globant, talking about diversity means recognizing that everyone has something special that makes us unique, and it is precisely these differences that strengthen us all. Globant’s diversity and inclusion priorities are built on the pillars of : gender, ethnic and racial diversity, disability, wellbeing, and cultural awareness. During Diversity Month, the initiatives intend to cover several deep nuances of these pillars and increase our understanding and awareness to help us build a kinder and equitable work environment. From 2019 to 2020, Globant went from having a Diversity Week to having a Diversity Month, while having robust ongoing initiatives throughout the year, adding a wide array of events, which shows the central relevance of these themes to Globant. How did we come to build such a broad and varied schedule of offerings? We invite you to learn more about the Diversity Pod, the team behind the planning of Diversity Month, and to discover together Globant’s vision for transforming reality.
Diversity Pod: The team behind the scenes
The Diversity Pod was created with the mission of bringing to life one of Globant’s main purposes: creating a safe and equitable world for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, religion, or sexual orientation. This concept is also a strategic goal for Globant because, as stated in our fundamentals, there is no innovation without diversity, and there is no improvement without plurality.
In keeping with this spirit of plurality, the Diversity Pod is composed of Globers from different parts of the world and different areas of the company. Led by Mercedes MacPherson, Chief Talent and Diversity Officer of Globant, the pod consists of four leaders (Francisco Michref, Mariana Aguilar, Martín Taibo, and Saumya Pathak) who are responsible for defining the goals, strategy, and planning key initiatives with different teams. It also has four regional focals (Angélica Ortega in Latin America, Donna Peffley in the US, Paulette Bailey in Europe, and Maithili Choudhary in India) who are in charge of implementing the initiatives in their respective geographic areas. There are also mini Pods, the sub-areas that represent each of the diversity pillars and are responsible for implementing actions and involving Globers from the communities who are interested to participate.
The Diversity Pod was created in 2019 together with the Diversity & Inclusion Fundamental, and, in a very short period of time, it has grown exponentially, multiplying its actions and influencing more and more people. “In June 2019, Globant decided to include chapter one of the “Diversity & Inclusion Awareness Training Session” among the trainings required for Globers. With this decision, Globant made it very clear that diversity and inclusion are core to our evolving culture,” explains Mariana Aguilar, Globant’s Talent & Culture Business Partner Manager. Training was undertaken by 93% of Globers, which demonstrates that it is important to them as well.
Objectives and initiatives to drive change
During its first year in existence, the Diversity Pod, in addition to coming together as a team and establishing priorities and work processes, successfully launched its fundamentals (guiding principles), made resources available to act against racism and gender violence, generated support procedures for Globers experiencing harassment, breathed life into the communities by providing a special framework for their creation and management, and organized the first trainings and events on diversity, among other content that is available in the Diversity & Inclusion section of our internal website.
In 2020, with the growth of the team into mini Pods, the programs were further developed and expanded. Some examples are the launching of the Diversity and Inclusion learning path, Globant’s first Pride Month Celebration, panel sessions and talks on racism and Black Lives Matter, volunteer programs (Globanteers) supporting NGOs that promote equality, and the creation of chapters 2 and 3 of the Diversity & Inclusion Awareness Training Session, which will be launched in November 2020.
In addition to multiplying the actions being offered, there is also an evolution in the way Globers are supported. Starting in 2020, Family Day became Family Week, adding activities for couples, pets, children, parents, grandparents. We believe that the families of Globers are an extension of our Globant family and their diversity makes us even richer.
One of the most relevant actions taken by the pod was a survey on diversity and inclusion that was launched in August 2020 and was addressed to all Globers. The survey aimed to obtain a preliminary assessment on how Globers felt in terms of inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing, but it was also conducted to understand in which areas they needed more support from the company.
Using the survey’s results, the diversity pod could prioritize not only their plans of action, but also identify which topics to include in Diversity Month. There are activities regarding gender, workshops for boosting self-esteem, talks on autism and disabilities, and so much more. We seek to grow this mindset and we want all of us to walk a path of greater equality, from the inside out.
Diversity Month is an opportunity to open our minds, enjoy a fresh perspective on relevant topics, and, most importantly, be part of the change. We invite you to participate and leave your footprint!
