For the first time, I believe my voice is truly being heard and appreciated.
“We really value diversity here.” “Your voice is important.” “We want you to be your true, authentic self.” If I had a dollar for every time I heard a recruiter mention one of those phrases, I wouldn’t be writing this blog for Strava Culture — I’d be on my yacht planning my next adventure. But I can honestly say, for the first time in my nearly 25 year professional career, which included working in chaotic TV newsrooms, media relations for the 7th largest school district in the U.S., and corporate communications for oil and gas companies — I FINALLY work at a company that truly embodies everything that is right about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Full disclosure: when I researched Strava, I was somewhat skeptical of the glowing reviews the company received on various job search websites. But the moment I began the interview process, I knew this company was different. This was the first time I met an interview panel that truly painted a colorful picture of diverse backgrounds and experiences. From the company’s anti-racism commitment to its willingness to embrace all cultures, it’s great to work at a company that “walks the walk” when celebrating diversity.
Take our Black History Month (BHM) celebrations for example. Instead of sending out the ever-so-popular “Black History Fact of the Day,” which typically recognizes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and most recently former President Barack Obama — all deserving of praise of course — the Strava BHM team took a different, more thoughtful approach. To kick off our month-long celebrations, we held a fireside chat featuring British-Nigerian historian, broadcaster, and filmmaker David Olusoga, who discussed the impact of societal racism; the Black Lives Matter movement in the United Kingdom; and how activism in the UK differs from the U.S. This idea came about as a suggestion from one of our teammates in our Ireland office and provided a unique perspective about the current racial reckoning in the U.K.
But, that was just the beginning. A few weeks later, the BHM team provided a list of global Black-owned businesses representing various industries that we could support. Not only that, the company reimbursed anyone who purchased items from those businesses. Talk about putting your “money where your mouth is.” Following an overwhelming response, we’re still expanding that list.
To close out the month, we held a panel discussion featuring current employees who discussed the history and impact Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Black Greek letter organizations had on their professional and personal lives. As a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and as a proud North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University alum — which by the way is the largest HBCU and graduates the largest number of African-American engineers in the country — it was a privilege to share how my experience at an HBCU and as a member of the Divine 9 has influenced my professional career.
But what really makes Strava different is that unlike many companies, when February ends, our company will still continue to celebrate and promote diverse voices. Most importantly Strava will remain committed to creating a workplace that accurately reflects our diverse community, while providing opportunities for all of us to advance. And I am so glad to be part of it!
Erica Hilliard — Sr. Manager, Internal Communications
