Stand For Something: Why WeSolv is Unapologetically Mission-Focused

In the aftermath of the Parkland school shooting, many companies have taken very public positions against gun violence. United Airlines, Delta Airlines, MetLife, and a host of other businesses have ended their relationships with the National Rifle Association. Last week, Dick’s Sporting Goods went as far as announcing it would no longer sell assault-style weapons and that it would also halt the sale of guns to anyone under the age of 21.

I always notice with interest the responses these hot-button decisions receive, especially from those who condemn, boycott, and even predict these brands’ demise for “playing politics.” Of course, as an entrepreneur, I’m very concerned about profitability. I want to maximize WeSolv’s growth and make it a market leader in tech and recruitment. We have a grand mission to change how companies connect with the best talent, and we strive for a world where diverse hiring is hiring, period.

Achieving this mission is very difficult without profit, but it is downright impossible without our core values. Without both, we can’t attract the employees, candidates, and companies that are as passionate about this mission as we are.

There have been times throughout my entrepreneurial journey when I’ve been asked to “tone down” our values of diversity and inclusion. But like Dick’s, United, Delta, and others, we know that it is not only possible for these values and profit to coexist — it is imperative to our growth.

It’s Not “Politics.” It’s Business.

According to Edelman’s Brand Relationship Index, 47% of U.S. consumers say they are “belief-driven,” with 62% of high-income consumers saying they are most likely to buy based on shared beliefs. Worldwide, 30% say that they make belief-driven purchase decisions more than they did three years ago.

Companies know this, and they are becoming less afraid of appearing “political.” They are regularly declaring and making decisions according to their core values because they know it matters to consumers. Uber, Google, GoDaddy and a host of other tech firms released statements condemning and even banning Neo-Nazi groups from their platforms after last year’s demonstrations in Charlottesville. Chick-fil-A has taken a hard stance with observance of Christian holidays and other religiously motivated affiliations. These companies knew the issue mattered to their core constituents, and acted according to the values they professed both internally and externally.

To grow and attract diverse candidates and the companies that want to hire them, I knew early on that I needed to define very specific values that support inclusion, diversity, and most importantly, a commitment to excellence, always. Some might call these values “politically correct,” but without them we would be just another recruitment platform — and the world already has plenty of those!

It’s Not an “Either/Or” Decision

Every day, businesses make all kinds of decisions from pricing, to target markets, to the color of a logo, in order to appeal to specific consumers. Most people seem comfortable with these decisions that in effect cut out other consumers. However, when it comes to making business decisions that align with core values, there tends to be more resistance and protest. As a society, we seem to believe that companies must sacrifice their souls in order to remain profitable.

But in the recent words of Delta CEO Ed Bastian, “Our values are not for sale.” We know there are risks when making any business decision that might turn off some consumers. But brands like REI and Patagonia who have taken a hard core stand for their values show us that there are also big rewards to consider: attracting new customers who share the same vision and solidifying loyalty among current customers. Again, consumers tend to put their money where their beliefs are.

As an early stage founder, I am grateful to the business leaders and mentors who have encouraged me to more strongly affirm WeSolv’s values and mission. We know that in this current climate, it is the key to our survival and profitability. Our leading core value is that we are unapologetically mission focused. We believe that the current recruitment system that relies upon keyword-laden resumes, biased behavioral interviews, and ineffective diversity initiatives harms both companies and candidates, and we are on a mission to fix that.

Not every candidate or company shares our values, but we know there are plenty out there that do.