Leveraging Diversity through Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion (D&I) in workplaces has come into sharp focus in the last couple of years. It’s not hard to see why - There are dozens of reports showing how diversity drives revenue, motivates employees, and fosters innovation. A February 2017 report by Deloitte Insights stated that over 69 percent of executives’ rate D&I as an important workplace issue. One year later, a January 2018 report by them found that today’s workforce encompasses more diversity—in terms of gender, age, background, experience, viewpoint, and overall workforce composition—than in the past. Despite this, many companies still find D&I a challenge. The key is not to become focused on the optics of D&I, but rather find ways to leverage that diversity. This can only be done by creating a strategy to build inclusion and equality into the workplace.

WITHIN INTUIT:

• Our Employee Network Groups which include the Next-Gen Network, Intuit Women’s Network, Pride Network, and the Special Needs and Abilities Network to name a few) are in service to our diverse communities. They are open to anyone at Intuit, and together they attract new talent, sponsor community involvement and act as resources to the business.

•Our Benefits package includes coverage of Gender Reassignment Treatment costs and also Rethink a first-of-its-kind program which supports parents and caregivers of children with developmental disabilities by helping them with skill-building, positive reinforcement, and care coordination

• Our Workplace is accessibility friendly; has All Gender bathrooms and also an indoor sporting zone for PWDs.

EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT:

• Intuit’s CSR Initiative Intuit Rise, launched the Women-in-Business Accelerator Program in 2017. As part of the program, 20 women entrepreneurs were shortlisted from Bengaluru, and over six months, went through a business program from IIM-B, received mentorship from advisors of TechnoServe, and had constant engagement with Intuit employees.

• In 2018, Intuit Rise is focusing on the other end of the spectrum - the Education of the Girl Child. For every female employee who joins our Intuit India family, Intuit will sponsor the education of a girl child, including life skills training and extracurricular interests that will help their all-round development.

CORPORATE PROGRAMS:

• The Intuit Again Program was launched in India in 2015 as a 6-month talent enhancement program for women in technology who wish to come back to work after having taken a break. Candidates get a chance to work for Intuit and also undergo technical and other training. Based on the success in India, the program is now being launched in the US in Spring 2018.

• The Intuit Ability Program is a6 month internship for persons with disability at Intuit, which will give them a chance to get work experience and sharpen their professional skills. There is a long way to go before we can claim that people of all genders, backgrounds, and abilities have the same opportunities. By really committing to inclusion, we can slowly bring about that change.

About the Author – AradhanaMuthanna is a Diversity and Inclusion champion at Intuit.You can reach her at aradhana_muthanna@intuit.com