In this episode, we embark on an insightful journey to explore the critical topics of equitable hiring, inclusive retention, and diversity in the tech industry. Our distinguished guest, Lisette Zounon, a Technology Executive and Quality Engineering Transformation Leader, brings her wealth of experience and expertise to the forefront.
Drawing from her extensive career and advocacy work, Lisette delves into the importance of adjusting the hiring process to ensure equity and inclusion. She emphasizes that these adjustments make hiring more effective and contribute to organizations' global success.
As a STEM advocate for over two decades, Lisette has actively encouraged women and girls to pursue STEM careers through various programs. However, she sheds light on the persisting issue of discrimination in the recruitment and hiring process, with 48% of women in STEM jobs reporting discrimination. Lisette also highlights the disparities Black and Hispanic women face in tech roles compared to their white counterparts, despite their qualifications.
With a career spanning over a decade as a leader, Lisette shares her impressive track record of hiring diverse teams in multiple organizations. She has honed a foolproof hiring process to remove bias when recruiting diverse talents.
But the conversation continues beyond hiring. Lisette underlines the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce for attracting and retaining top talent. She emphasizes that building diverse teams is the first step and that an inclusive retention process is equally crucial. This process begins with onboarding, providing opportunities, creating psychological safety, and offering sponsorship to elevate and celebrate diverse staff.
Key Takeaways:
- Authentic leadership means being true to yourself and owning your values and approach.
- As a woman of color in male-dominated environments, standing by your opinions and advocating for yourself is important.
- Pause and calmly assert yourself when someone interrupts you in a conversation.
- Building relationships, finding mentors, and networking are essential for career growth.
- Sponsoring and supporting other women and people of color is crucial for creating a more inclusive workplace.
Learn more about Lisette :
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbdIslghJ4LOgsPvmg9Xsgw