Hella Social Impact

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a director for an online learning platform for professionals. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hella Social Impact?

Our company wanted to create more anti-racist workplaces and become an organization that was a force for good in the world. We were looking for a consulting firm to help pivot and address some of the institutions and dynamics at play within the company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Throughout our engagement, they have been supporting us with individual coaching, group coaching, tool development, and organizational assessments to support us as we pivot the company. They’re working with our company to work through our institution and ensure that we align with our values and the workplace we are looking to become. 

Hella Social Impact has worked with our company to develop a unique hiring process to address the systemic barriers that exist within traditional hiring processes. They've been involved with crafting the process, questions, and assessment. They’ve also helped us to develop a culture compass and are helping us find ways to institutionalize the culture compass. It's used fairly regularly as we navigate together how to exist in this new type of company. 

What is the team composition?

We work with two main points of contact from Hella Social Impact. 

How did you come to work with Hella Social Impact?

I was not with the company when they started working with Hella Social Impact, so I don’t know the answer. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $50,000–$100,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

I don’t know the exact date our engagement began, but I started with the company in April 2022, and they were already working with Hella Social Impact at that point; the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There is greater diversity on the team, which Hella Social Impact has helped our company be more intentional about. We have been able to quantify and qualify progress with Hella Social Impact by having the language to communicate consciously and effectively the kind of company we are and what we’re looking to do. We’ve also been able to refine our approaches further, so they align with our culture compass. 

How did Hella Social Impact perform from a project management standpoint?

They meet deadlines, and we communicate via Slack. We use Asana and Google Docs for project management. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a diversity of experience with their variety of clients, and they are very well connected in the racial equity community. If they don’t know or don’t have access to something, they always know someone who can provide them with that. They also manage a community of leaders who align with this work and their network. They have a deeply human approach that helps create a safe space to have difficult conversations and show up in the ways we are looking to. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing we can come up with. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure your company is fully invested in this work and ready to navigate these difficult questions and process the experience because it will not be straightforward. If you’re not invested in the process, you won’t get what you’re looking for out of the experience.