Better Together: Diversity and Inclusion

“Diversity is more like a painting, with inclusion as the primary colour.”

The above-quoted lines aptly describe diversity as an art that not only enriches our human experience but also makes it more meaningful and worthy.

It started in early 2020 when we didn’t have any shared values written down at Ketto. We knew what we believed in, but we needed to write things down. As a result, we decided to list the five most essential values as a team.

The values we included as our Core Values were: Warrior spirit, Innovation, Trust and Transparency, Diversity & Inclusion and the sense of always having a good time at Ketto.

We chose to put Diversity & Inclusion in our core principle, considering Ketto Women made up only 33% integrity of the entire workforce. After introducing it as a core value, we always had it in mind to aggressively recruit more women, particularly women in leadership positions. Now, 2 years later, we’re thrilled to have come close to narrowing the gap we once had. 2 years of a continued effort to ensure that we actively employed more women.

“Diversity and inclusion were among our fundamental values, and it was one of the best things we ever did.”

Why you may ask. Well, it’s simple. All of us offer something unique and valuable to the table. Inclusion, or ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute and influence when it comes together with diversity, represents a workplace as good as an age-old art piece!

One could argue that each of us brings something unique and valuable to the table. This is why our diverse human species has evolved into this structured society that marches for advancements. Even though our job descriptions or tasks are identical on paper, no two people will ever interpret them the same way.

Diversity and Inclusion: The way as it is…

Diversity and inclusion can be difficult to define but easy to understand.

There is no single definition of diversity. Instead, it can be defined as a group of diverse individuals with a wide variety of demographics and skills blending together. On the other hand, inclusion focuses on developing and maintaining a culture that develops this talent. It also provides a healthy work environment, allowing them to collaborate amicably, comfortably, and confidently. Inclusion guarantees that everyone feels appreciated and contributes to the greater good.

Importance of diversity & inclusion in the workplace

Why should you employ targeted actions to increase diversity and inclusion in the workplace actively? It’s simple:

Increased Performance = Inclusive Workplaces!

Diversity isn’t a fad or some workplace trend that a company should implement. Race, gender, sexual orientation, age, education, personalities, interests, and so on are all equally relevant in contemporary society. They’re all closely related to solid organisational ideals and psychologically healthy workplaces.

Together, these factors help an organisation compile solid organisational ideas and a healthy workplace.

How has it helped Ketto grow?

The diverse workforce at our workplace has always been a plus in several ways. Workplace diversity and inclusion is very dear to Ketto. A healthy balance of it has helped us grow bigger and better over the years, and here are some which we at Ketto could apparently notice-

Team Spirit

We’ve seen that teams with diverse backgrounds and members chosen at random are more likely to be more successful and function effectively. They do it by being more inclined to innovate, be more adaptable, and anticipate changes in consumer needs, all of which help Ketto achieve a competitive edge.

Team Retention

A high rate of talent and knowledge retention. Employees feel heard, respected, and have a sense of belonging to a business when effective inclusion strategies are in place. These are combined with rules that encourage growth and advancement. Also, timely feedback, quarterly and annual reports, rewards & recognition, employee feature and overall employee-centric culture. In addition, our company provides every opportunity for an individual to succeed and flourish.

A Bigger Think Tank

With talent from various backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, and perspectives, Ketto has transformed into a global think tank. This allows the free flow of ideas and suggestions. Logical debate and brainstorming result in the best and most comprehensive output possible in any given situation. Employees in this environment go beyond their personal preferences and ideas. Because the group is different, having the same ideas or solutions or being afraid to share thoughts is significantly reduced. Thus, allowing for freshness in every suggestion and paving the road for creativity and invention. To leverage this energy, Ketto hosts annual events such as the Shark Tank Innovation Challenge twice a year to bring forth the best in everyone.

Brand Value

“A Glassdoor study found that 57% of employees and 67% of job seekers consider diversity an important element of their workplace, which affects recruitment and retention.” (Builtin)

Your employees become brand ambassadors, contributing positively to the brand image because their skill comes from diverse background and increase with well-placed inclusive strategies. It not only connects you to the varied communities in your immediate area, but it also allows you to reach out far and wide.

Inclusion isn’t some far-fetched idealistic notion that appears to be a theoretical concept. This is a fairly common occurrence.

Our Female Ketto Avengers

“As per 2016, Boston Consulting Group study innovation jumps once the proportion of female managers within an organisation rises above 20%” -(Glassdoor)

In 2020, we at Ketto had set a goal of achieving a proportionate gender ratio. The goal was to increase the number of women in the workforce and ensure that they were promoted based on merit.

Our efforts yielded some positive outcomes. For example, we had 33% women and 67% men in our workforce in January 2020. Women now make up 46% of the overall working crew at Ketto in January 2022.

Today, our Social Impact Plan team has 90% women. These women have been creating magic day in and day out and have made SIP a success.

Having more women in leadership positions and on boards and establishing policies that support gender diversity and inclusion is what Ketto aims to have deep into its ethos.

We now have women leading different verticals — Brand, HR, Finance, Field Sales, NGO, etc.

Acknowledging the diversity

Fostering and appreciating a diverse and inclusive workforce for your team will help to promote a sense of community and psychological safety in the workplace.

Diversity and inclusion await your presence. Now is the moment to start taking proactive, positive actions toward creating a more inclusive environment. That’s all there is to it, guys. So off you go to welcome a happier, more wholesome, and much more productive employee into your workplace!

Keep an eye out for our upcoming blog, which will explain how our other core values came into being.