Women’s History Month Recognition
For Day 30 of Women’s History Month we are highlighting Seema Daryanani, Senior Technical Recruiter, at U.S. Digital Service.
By Kelsey Hastings & Seema Daryanani
Leaving the private sector and deciding to join USDS combines the best of both worlds for Seema — she gets to recruit new talent and watch those hires work on projects that positively impact so many. Over the past 10 years, she has been very involved with an organization that helps survivors of human trafficking called International Sanctuary. The organization empowers survivors of human trafficking through a unique model integrating employment, education, healthcare and community. Since having two daughters she has become even more passionate about fighting for women’s rights.
For Women’s History Month, the San Francisco Mayor’s office recognized Seema for her work empowering girls and women escaping human trafficking to embrace their identity and worth.
I followed up with Seema right after she received her Women’s History Month recognition to find out what Women’s History Month means to her, why she focuses on diversity and inclusion at USDS, and why she left the private sector to join the team:
What does Women’s History Month mean to you? Why is it important to recognize?
I grew up in a culture that did not always promote women. I had to fight for myself to become who I am today. It is important to recognize the many challenges and biases women have overcome all around the world. It is important for my young daughters to understand that women just like them have, are and will always be the change makers. No barrier should ever prevent them from achieving what they desire and work hard for. To have a month dedicated to this topic is a great way for everyone to focus and have attention on Women’s History. It would be great if it were more than a month, but it is a start to learn and embrace womanhood.
You focus on Diversity and Inclusion when hiring talent to USDS. Why is this so important to you?
Diversity is important to me specifically as it relates to hiring because if we hired the same people, with the same thought process, of the same background there would not be difference in the work we produce. Inclusion means everyone should have a chance. Be it someone who took time off to care for their children or serve their country, was not able to attend the best schools, or just looks different from others.
Why is it important that USDS hire diverse talent?
When I think of why diversity is important specifically for USDS, I am reminded of an MLK quote:
“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”
It is important for USDS to hire diverse talent because we are hired to help modernize the government, which in turn helps the American people. When you look at what American society is composed of, you see that it is different genders, ages, skillsets, immigrants, etc. It is crucial for an organization that is driving to solve the problems for the entire nation to have a make-up that is comparable to that nation. At the end of the day, diversity enables different perspectives and experiences to be brought to the discussion table that can help us achieve better results.
Why did you join USDS?
I joined USDS because it offered the perfect blend of my skills in talent acquisition and my desire to do something for the betterment of the entire country vs. one company. Furthermore, I think given the difficult environment we find ourselves in today, it’s all the more crucial for those of us who can and are able to help others and be a resource to the country do so. At the end of the day the problems and challenges faced by our country, especially by the women in our country, is something we all have to collectively work on to resolve so our sons and daughters have a better and brighter future.
