[Diversity Works] - Out of Business

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the VP of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) at an investment management firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Diversity Works?

We required diversity training. We were in the process of creating our company's diversity program for the first time. As we built our diversity strategic roadmap, including lessons and training, we walked through the values of what was important to our firm from a diversity perspective and what we wanted to prioritize as our goals.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Diversity Works provided a preliminary introductory overview of diversity and how it applied to our firm through a training session. The team conducted a prioritization exercise that included interviews with a few teammates from our company to understand the practices we had in place around diversity and our vision for the future. We also had a good amount of discussions in developing our first training session.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two teammates: Denise (Managing Partner) and Taylor (DEI Consultant).

How did you come to work with Diversity Works?

I found Diversity Works through a referral from a company I previously worked for.
How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $10,000–$15,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Diversity Works between January–April 2024.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Diversity Works' work quality definitely met our expectations. 

How did Diversity Works perform from a project management standpoint?

Diversity Works delivered work on time and on budget, and the team was responsive via email. We mostly communicated through phone calls.
Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

Denise did an excellent job of understanding our company's posture around diversity to make a tailored and unique training session.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Diversity Works was extremely knowledgeable and flexible. The team had expertise in their background because they had worked with many different clients before, allowing them to tailor the engagement to our specific needs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of any areas for improvement for Diversity Works.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I recommend starting the engagement with suggestions and ideas on how you envision your program coming to fruition while also staying open-minded to receive opinions and insights from experts on diversity work based on their level of expertise.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.
I'm the VP of people at a legal advertising company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Diversity Works?

We needed consulting about our business strategy since our company had grown a lot. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Diversity Works provided business consulting services for my company. The team created a road map with action steps regarding our hiring goals, training plans, and other aspects of our company. Diversity Works provided training for our team. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Holly (Managing Partner), Denise (Managing Partner), and Elizabeth (Founder, Managing Director).

How did you come to work with Diversity Works?

I contacted Diversity Works through a recommendation and met the company at an event in Washington, DC.
How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $1,500 monthly on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Diversity Works from October 2023–February 2024.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Diversity Works achieved the results we were looking for. The team provided feedback and updated the three-year road map that we're acting on. The project was in the early stages and was successful. Diversity Works met my expectations. 

How did Diversity Works perform from a project management standpoint?

Diversity Works delivered work on time and within budget.
Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?
Holly, Denise, and Elizabeth were great to work with. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed by Diversity Works' availability to chat at any time. When I ran into specific challenges, the team was always available to speak with me and was very accessible. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything Diversity Works can improve on. The DEI space is changing so much and would require Diversity Works to change with it, but the team has a solid grasp on that.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I suggest customers have a clear mind about what they want to do, and Diversity Works will help them get there. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Director of Philanthropy and Communications of a nonprofit company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Protect the Amazon Rainforest

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Diversity Works to accomplish?

• Educate staff on Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) basics
• Help brainstorm next steps for DEI strategy

SOLUTION

How did you find Diversity Works?

Online Search

Why did you select Diversity Works over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Diversity Works were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We contracted Diversity Works to provide one four-hour, in-person, DEI training to our nonprofit staff. They provided us with 2-hours of prep calls, reviewed our current DEI materials, and designed a training session specific to our organization. They provided us with the materials afterward as well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Staff members grew their understanding of DEI terms and issues. With Diversity Works' feedback we'll also be able to improve our current DEI strategy.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Yes, all items were done on time. All our needs were met and responded to in a very timely manner (usually within 24 hours if not sooner). They were very thorough in their work and in their management of the project.

What was your primary form of communication with Diversity Works?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They were extremely flexible to our needs and budget and delivered exactly what we asked for. They took their time to get to know us and our materials instead of assuming they knew what we needed. They were professional, courteous, and fun to work with. 

Their training materials were of high quality and very tailored to our organization. For instance, even the group exercises they provided were related to our mission and work, meaning that they did their research beforehand.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Diversity Works could have done differently?

None, they were a pleasure to work with. I wish our nonprofit had a bigger budget to work with them more often.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of culture and change management for an economic development organization. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Diversity Works?

We had done some internal work through our racial equity taskforce, through which we got recommendations based on our team members. We decided that we needed training from a third party.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Diversity Works provided us with DEI leadership training services. They conducted an assessment with various folks within our organization at every level, from executives to individual contributors. From there, Diversity Works determined how to customize the anti-bias and anti-racism leadership training that we needed. 

The team initially conducted a pilot program with our senior executives, including our CEO and executive VPs. Then, we rolled out the training to our greater organization, including managers and supervisors. 

While some of our leaders had experience in facilitation, they didn’t have expertise in the DEI space. Diversity Works was tasked with giving them tools to feel comfortable delivering training in that space. Diversity Works prepared certain leaders within our organization as trainers that could continue this process for our new team members and teammates promoted to the supervisor level or higher.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three teammates from Diversity Works: Holly (Managing Partner), Denise (Managing Partner President), and Elizabeth (Founder & Managing Director). 

How did you come to work with Diversity Works?

Our internal procurement department found Diversity Works. We created an RFP outlining our needs and what success would look like, and our procurement department determined which companies should submit proposals.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Diversity Works in January 2023, they conducted most of the training sessions from April–May 2013, and we had make-up sessions in July 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Diversity Works was very collaborative. The team listened to our feedback and customized their services to our needs. Our key members had varied schedules, and Diversity Works was very flexible and understanding. 

Thanks to Diversity Works, folks within our organization now have the facilitation experience and materials to continue training sessions for our future managers and supervisors. Currently, our training completion rate is really good; 238 managers and supervisors have completed the training, and about 30 haven’t. Ultimate success looks like a change in behavior and a reduction in complaints, but we don't have metrics yet since the project was only recently completed. 

How did Diversity Works perform from a project management standpoint?

They stayed within the budget. Diversity Works was also very responsive – I could contact them anytime. We used phone calls, emails, and Zoom to communicate. 

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

I want to highlight Denise; we worked with her the most, as she led the training and conducted the preparation of the new trainer. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Diversity Works was a really good listener regarding our needs. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was one instance where a Diversity Works teammate couldn’t make a meeting and connected through Zoom instead. Our CEO would have preferred it if the team had been there in person. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Keep in mind that Diversity Works is an expert at what they do, but you know your organization — that’s why it’s a collaborative effort. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion of a healthcare company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We improve outcomes for people with the most complex and costly health conditions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Diversity Works to accomplish?

• Engage and retain high performers of diverse employees
• Better understand the needs and motivations of its high performing leaders through a comprehensive discovery process

SOLUTION

How did you find Diversity Works?

Referral

Why did you select Diversity Works over others?

• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned
• The team

How many teammates from Diversity Works were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Diversity Works analyzed the results of a seven-question interview guide that was administered to 50 senior employees who identify as racial or ethnic minorities. They combed the data for insights that would help the company strengthen its culture and help retain diverse and top talent. 

They summarized over 350 NL text responses to generate word clouds to visualize the employees’ sentiments. The report allowed our company to identify new opportunities to engage and retain their high performers from diverse backgrounds in a strategic and systematic way.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• 92% of cohort members retained Received a 4.3/5 rating on overall program experience Conducted 1:1 “stay interviews” and analysis, that resulted in four big and actionable takeaways

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Timely, thoughtful and proactive project management. Deep data expertise and wise counsel re: benchmarking success as compared to the market.

What was your primary form of communication with Diversity Works?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We appreciated the focused sessions, actionable outcomes, and deep data expertise of the team.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Diversity Works could have done differently?

Not on this project. Work was impactful and experience left nothing to be desired.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Co-Founder and President

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Diversity Works?

Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Review and Coaching

SOLUTION

How did you select this firm and what were the deciding factors?

I have been attending Diversity Work's office hours meeting once a month upon the recommendation of a colleague. I was impressed with their overall knowledge of DEI and their innovative solutions to deal with DEI

Describe the project in detail and walk through their service package.

My Nonprofit is a minority founded and controlled organization. We wanted to make sure we had a sound DEI policy and did not want to assume that because we were a diverse organization we had an adequate policy. Also, the board and executives thought it was important to get some coaching on the issue. Diversity Works completed an initial review and recommended:

1. that we develop a modern comprehensive DEI policy; and
2. that we complete a series of individual and group coaching sessions with the officers and staff of our organization.

We determined the project would start in January and be completed in December 2022.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

There were three senior individuals we worked with and one of those three we worked with on a regular basis.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the engagement that demonstrate progress or success?

One of the most important outcomes from the training and coaching was the realization that we had more to learn about non-Black protected classes than we previously thought. The most important outcome was learning the difference between equality and equity and how to properly treat individual that were different from the officers and staff of our organization (our organization is mostly Black).

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I would say very effective. We are exceedingly busy and they were flexible and worked with our constantly changing schedules. I always knew where we were in the process and what I was supposed to be working on and towards.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They never made me feel guilty or terrible about how I had unknowingly treated others in the past (implicit bias). It isn't about grinding me down or shaming me; it's always about improvement and creating positive relations with all kinds of people. I was very surprised by this because I was a little defensive and uncomfortable when we started the process. I left those thoughts behind very quickly once the training and coaching started.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

There is always room for improvement but I can't think of anything ni specific that they did that made the process more difficult.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO of a private equity firm that focuses on investments in the business services and consumer markets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Diversity Works?

We needed someone to provide us with business coaching and consulting.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Diversity has helped us implement our DEI policy and provide us with the parameters on how to navigate and achieve diversity within our organization, as we build it.

Apart from that, they’ve enabled us to better position ourselves in getting more visibility and consulted us on the best practices when it comes to inclusivity and hiring the best candidates.

They’ve given us feedback on our job descriptions and where to post them, provide us with ongoing corporate training, and just basically guide us through building an all-inclusive company.

What is the team composition?

We mainly work with Holly (Managing Partner), Denise (SVP), and Elizabeth (Managing Partner).

How did you come to work with Diversity Works?

They were a referral from another consulting company.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested somewhere around $25,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership started in January 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve been very pleased with our partnership with Diversity Works and the feedback we get about the quality of their work has been tremendous — especially regarding the one-on-one coaching sessions.

How did Diversity Works perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re consistent when it comes to weekly meetings and sending progress reports, so there haven’t been any issues with project management.

We typically communicate through email and Zoom.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re impressed with how personable and knowledgeable they are in their field. Diversity Works are true experts and they’ve just been very pleasant to interact with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they need to improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I don’t have any specific advice, but I would highly recommend working with them because they’ve been very professional in staying on top of the project and pushing us forward.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a partner at a mid-market private equity firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Diversity Works?

We needed help defining our strategy, so we wanted to bring in an adviser to help us do that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Diversity Works devised a strategy for us. They conducted research and presented their findings to us. As their final deliverable, they produced a fairly comprehensive analysis with actionable suggestions.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three teammates regularly.

How did you come to work with Diversity Works?

Another one of our advisers recommended them to us. We reviewed other options, but after a couple of phone calls with Diversity Works, we decided they were the best fit.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $25,000–$30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from June–October 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Diversity Works provided us with practical solutions that we could easily implement to strengthen our program. The team did a great job adding value to our business and definitely exceeded our expectations.

How did Diversity Works perform from a project management standpoint?

They did an excellent job. The pace the Diversity Works team worked at was tailored to us. They were also fantastic communicators and kept us updated throughout the project. 

We had weekly check-ins via Zoom to discuss what they had accomplished in the previous week and what they would be working on next. After completing a big piece of the project, they gave presentations that walked us through their findings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Diversity Works had experience working with other firms in the middle market, so the team truly understood the challenges we were facing. They provided us with helpful information that detailed what we could focus on to improve our processes.

We also appreciated that we always knew what they were working on. The team was just very friendly and a pleasure to work with. Their prices were reasonable, too.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There's nothing they could've done better — the team did a fantastic job, and we genuinely benefitted from the partnership. We'd definitely consider working with Diversity Works again as we continue to enhance our program.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Invest some of your time in the process and work closely with the team. The better the team understands your organization, the better their guidance. This allows you to get the best product and more tailored solutions.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

AMS Fulfillment is a National Fulfillment Company that services all channels of consumer product distribution for almost 100 companies. I retired as CEO when the company sold to Fort Point, a PE firm, and stayed on as Chief Workforce Development Officer to focus on our employment attention to underserved communities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Diversity Works?

We wanted a 3rd party assessment to assure that we were maximizing our efforts towards creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. We also wanted to establish a baseline for our current DE&I trends, and work on plans for continuous improvement.

SOLUTION

How did you select Diversity Works and what were the deciding factors?

They contacted us after becoming aware of our commitment towards DE&I. I recall that they had read an article related to an award we had received , and reached out to us to offer support.

Describe the project in detail and walk through their service package.

Initial assessment, that included lots of discussion about our value commitments, our current diversity stats, steps we were taking for inclusivity and equity. Followed up these discussions with an all employee survey. Then reviewing the survey, strategizing on improvements, and then a final overview assessment by Diversity Works.

How many resources from the Diversity Works team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked on this with the VP of HR, and a DE&I specialist and educator that works in our learning center.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the engagement that demonstrate progress or success?

Our company actually did very well in the assessment. There were actually a few areas , (in what was a very substantial evaluation), where I took our grade down a bit as we wanted to keep the pressure on our team for continued improvement.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

There was an awesome synergy between our team and the Diversity Works Team. I so looked forward to the zoom sessions, as it was so refreshing to share ideas, and have our own approach challenged. New ideas - great self reflection - great survey feedback

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They were down-to-earth, sincere, knowledgeable, and experienced. Well balanced scope of evaluation. Our discussions were a 2-way street, we both shared ideas and learned from each other. The whole area of DE&I is evolving, and having the teams working together brought comfort to the amount of attention that we were investing n this critically important area!

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I was completely in line with the consulting evaluation as conducted!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder, President of Northern Nevada Veterinary Practice Managers Association

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Northern Nevada Veterinary Practice Managers Assocation

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Diversity Works to accomplish?

• Human Resources Management Education
• Boost Recruitment & Retainment

SOLUTION

How did you find Diversity Works?

Online Search

Why did you select Diversity Works over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Diversity Works were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Elizabeth did a fantastic job facilitating a workshop to area veterinarians and hospital practice managers. The data their team pulled for the presentation was impressive and customized to our industry specific issues. Elizabeth was fun, friendly, thoughtful in her approach and engaging the whole way through this process! Evaluating the national, macro-level view of the veterinary industry and where we are headed in the future opened a lot of eyes. 
Their team gave us a peek into what job hunters were seeking in job searches, which will help area practices adjust recruitment strategies going forward. We reached a consensus that recruitment practices need to be broadened to “promote Nevada” to those technically trained professionals out of state, who might be unaware of our state employment and lifestyle benefits including, but not limited to…no state income tax, less traffic, pollution, cheaper cost of living (compared to CA) and the great outdoors with Lake Tahoe at our backdoor. 
Diversity Works consultative insight and support will help us change the game here in Nevada with the veterinary community. Instituting the Diversity Works recommendations will help reduce compassion fatigue, poor retention and burnout, all biproducts of our current high-demand and sparse skilled labor force. I know I speak on behalf of the entire veterinary community when I say thank you! We greatly appreciate the Diversity Works team!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Customized content, that provided actional tactics to improve recruitment, retainment and human resources management at area practices.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Elizabeth and Holly were attentive, thoughtful in their approach and most importantly listened to gather information that will help the vet community resolve many issues.

What was your primary form of communication with Diversity Works?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They were highly professional, attentive, approachable, and offered next-level support and content.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Diversity Works could have done differently?

None.