The demographics of the workforce today has changed dramatically over the years. Just take a quick look around the office and see how diverse we have become. Do you see anyone who is exactly like you? Probably not. In the CRTKL Seattle office alone, we have about 200 staffs with different experiences and backgrounds. Thus, I think it is fair to say that the workforce today consists of a great mix of gender, age, race and religion.
I believe that diversity plays a vital part in our office culture. We all have different values and perspectives that we bring to the table which allows us to look at problems from all angles. By cultivating an inclusive work environment, we are also simultaneously pushing the company forward because the byproduct of diversity often results in innovation and productivity. Here are three ways our office celebrates diversity.
1. Open discussions
Our office engages in open discussions and encourages it through various channels. Earlier this month, we had a Women in Leadership happy hour event where we invited three young women from different industries to the office to have a discussion on leadership. They essentially talked about their experiences and challenges that they faced as a young leader and it was very inspiring to the younger staffs. In addition, our office also has round table discussions that aims to bring together the whole office to talk about issues related to workplace culture in the industry. Through these monthly discussions, we learned to become more aware and sensitive to issues that arise in the workplace.
2. Culture Club
Besides that, we also have a culture club here at the office that aims to create a fun and inclusive workplace for everyone to be a part of. The latest event that was organized by the group was the “Leave Your Mark – Graffiti Walls” which allowed us to express our creative sides. The temporary art wall essentially showed how different and diverse we are as individuals but at the same time, proved how well we can work together. The culture club is a great platform for the office to embrace the differences that we have as a company and an outlet for exploration sine some of us do not typically get to do that on a daily basis.
3. Diverse teams
On my day to day job, I have the privilege to work with a great team of people from all levels of experience. The project managers whom I work with closely have been in the industry for many years and they have been a great resource for me whenever I had questions about the project or anything in general. I also work closely with team members from all around the world like Mexico, China and Spain. It has also been a great experience working with them as well because I get to learn more about their culture and language through our daily interactions. Our team is essentially multicultural and intergenerational which enables us to perform better since the discussions that we have are always geared towards how we can improve and learn from each other.
Therefore, I believe that diversity is crucial to our company’s growth and health. It is important that we maintain respectful and non- judgmental when it comes to embracing each other’s differences. By doing so, we will be able to create an inclusive working environment for everyone to be a part of. So, let’s all celebrate the greatness in each other!
By Hannah Lim
