In this blog series "Discussing Diversity," Insight Global Diversity Council Program Manager Maya Spates answers questions about diversity, equity and inclusion and how Insight Global contributes to a welcoming workplace environment for all.

What is the overall mission of Insight Global?

We are a staffing company dedicated to empowering people. We relentlessly pursue opportunities for others because when we all work together, anything is possible. Through this mission, our purpose is to develop our people personally, professionally, and financially so they can be the light to the world around them.

Our shared values hold us to our mission and purpose. This is who we are, what we live by and what shapes everything we do:
 

• Everyone matters.
• We take care of each other.
• Leadership is here to serve.
• High character and hard work above all else.
• Always know where you stand.

How do you incorporate values of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace?  

At Insight Global, everyone matters. We place a tremendous value on diversity of thought, experience and background. Through our diversity council and DE&I division, we aim to create equitable, inclusive workforces through education, perspective and implementation of diverse practices with our clients, and internally we champion these efforts to ensure people can bring their full authentic selves to work every day. Culture is important to us, and that is why we empower our people to deploy unique and varying perspectives in every conversation, meeting and interaction.

What DE&I programs or initiatives does the company have in place? 

In conjunction with our DE&I division, our internal diversity council and our ESG division, we have carefully crafted groups, outlets, opportunities and service offerings that span across a wide range of audiences, including our internal employees, our 80,000 consultants and our clients. 

Our internal diversity council has deployed and developed the following Employee Network Resources Groups (ENRGs) available to all of our people:
 

• APAC – Asian and Pacific Islanders Networking Group
• PRIDE – LGBTQ+ Community Group
• THE TRIBE – Jewish Community Networking Group
• SAME – South Asian Middle Eastern Network 
• SERVICE CONNECTION – Veteran’s Group
• BEE – Black Employee Experience Group
• LATINX – Latin Employee Networking Group

We have also created a floating holiday policy. This policy recognizes additional holidays in each of the United States and Canada, as days of commonly observed or widespread cultural, ethnic or religious significance. While the company remains open on these days, employees in the United States and Canada may apply an additional three floating holidays to be observed as a paid day off on any of the outlined days. The holidays eligible for a paid day off continue to grow as employees can request holidays be added at the end of every year.

Our DE&I consulting team works to create more equitable, inclusive workforces for our clients by offering the following services and resources: insightglobal.com/services/diversity-equity-inclusion/

Insight Global provides consultation services to clients on building staffing programs and environments that promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace by recruiting talent from a broader pool of candidates. Insight Global then helps to bridge partnerships with educational and community-focused organizations that seek career opportunities for historically underrepresented groups or candidates, ultimately strengthening a company’s culture and business approach.

Available service offerings include training and development, diversity reporting and insights and diversity recruiting services. More information can be found on the website: insightglobal.com/services/diversity-equity-inclusion/   

How do you ensure that all employees feel welcome, including new hires and interns? 

Creating a culture where all people are celebrated, included and uplifted takes time but we are passionate about creating environments where people can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day and we are proud of the environment we have created at Insight Global. With the help of the diversity council, we have launched inclusivity training programs for leadership and employees at all levels, created seven ENRGs with a goal to add two more this year, and we have built an ambassador program composed of individuals across the nation who are passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion. 

Lastly, our internal training division, Insight Global University, has spent the past year crafting together engaging welcome and training materials that take a deep dive into our company culture. These materials provide information and involvement opportunities for the many councils and extracurriculars we offer to new hires to help them feel welcomed and included, and that they have a place to call home.

Why do you think it’s important to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace environment? 

As a company, we believe in the power of fostering environments with a diversity of thought and where everyone feels they can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. People so often hold back for fear of disapproval or judgement, especially in a work environment. We believe that if we encourage our people to engage in healthy debate, challenge the status quo and push to do things differently, those things will make us a better company and more effective in our purpose and mission. More than just being inclusive, we make a point to celebrate our people for who they are, what they believe and where they come from because we know that if they feel they’re hiding behind a mask, their personal and professional growth will suffer.

There are several reasons why we think it is important to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace environment. The power of having diversity of thought: We celebrate people for who they are. We are intentional about building teams of different perspectives. There is nothing scarier than having a team that all thinks the same. We encourage healthy debate and love the challengers because a company that does not constantly find ways to do things differently, is a company that is not focused on growth. 

The power of having an environment where people bring their full authentic selves to work: We believe that if our people feel like they are celebrated for who they are, instead of focusing on hiding behind a mask they have put on, they will focus on their personal and professional growth which will inevitably lead to a more productive workforce. 

What are you looking for in UD students who want to intern or work at your company? How can they stand out when speaking with your recruiters at our career fairs? 

We seek people with an innate grit in their approach to life. We believe that with the right mindset, work ethic and support, anyone can succeed. If you’re willing to learn, to keep getting off the mat, push back against all odds, then we’re there to cheer you on, pick you up and help you succeed. Here are the top five qualities we look for in our people:
 

• PERSONALITY: Great personality, outgoing, friendly, charismatic and able to connect.
• GRIT: Work ethic, perseverance to hit long term goals, resilience, ability to handle stress, works well under pressure and possesses hard work and high character above all else.
• CAREER: Career motivated and motivated to be successful.
• TEAM: Wants to be a part of a team, ideally as a leader, and works well with others.
• CULTURE: The candidate should be a match for our shared values and our culture.

The best advice we can give for standing out when speaking with anyone from IG is to simply be yourself. Bring your energy, bring your grit, bring your passions and bring your interests. Our recruiters are the best in the game, meaning they are the best at helping you find exactly what you want to do. It’s okay to not know about staffing companies, but we can assure you, we offer a wide range of opportunities that fit anything you may be looking for. 

Are you currently hiring interns or entry-level employees?

YES! Check out our website for our internal team positions: insightglobal.com/inhouse-team/

Anything else UD students should know about your organization? 

This isn’t a place to simply have a job. This is the place to build a lifelong career. One that you’re proud of. One that energizes and motivates you. At Insight Global, we all begin in the same place. IG only promotes from within, and we hire you based on the assumption that it’s for life. From day one, you are supported by a team of mentors to show you the ropes, provide context, tools and guidance every step of the way. From there, the sky’s the limit. The opportunities are endless, and we’ll partner with you to map out your journey based on your unique potential and passion.