A Year in Reflection

While Juneteenth honors the ending of enslavement in the U.S., as a global organization, this day of remembrance matters for us all. It is an important opportunity to take stock of the ongoing racism and intolerance that have long cut across international borders and consider what steps we can take to ensure equity and inclusion.

I joined Virgin Pulse just over a year ago, and soon thereafter I met with our Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion lead to discuss the importance of Juneteenth and laid out a plan to continue our collaboration throughout the year. Since then, I have seen firsthand how our organization has lived into its commitment for a more inclusive workplace. When we work together and open ourselves to new perspectives, we grow and become inspired to take a more active role in correcting injustice and ensuring that systemic challenges are addressed and erased. Here are some of the ways we’re working towards that goal at Virgin Pulse:

• This year, we are making a donation to the United Negro College Fund, an American philanthropic organization that funds scholarships for Black students. We are proud to support this organization’s work to reduce systemic barriers to education access in Black communities and recognize both the history of denying Black Americans the right to an education and the impact inequitable access to education has on BIPOC individuals to this day.
• We are lifting up the voices of Black colleagues at Virgin Pulse through our Black Organizers Leaders and Doers (BOLD) Employee Impact Group. BOLD has contributed to creating a sense of belonging and provides support for growth and professional development. Quarterly meetings provide opportunities for non-Black employees to learn how to be better allies in the workplace and the community. In honor of Juneteenth, BOLD planned several company-wide events and initiatives to educate colleagues and celebrate the occasion. I especially love that the group created Spotify playlists to commemorate different aspects of the Black experience. More info can be found at this landing page.
• We’ve also made a multi-tiered commitment to revising our internal policies and procedures to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce. This includes piloting a diverse slate approach to hiring, where we educate hiring managers about bias in the hiring process and ensure we have adequate representation of women and BIPOC individuals on the interview slate. During the interview process, we ask interviewers if they believe the prospective candidate will contribute to an inclusive environment. Additionally, we have updated our job description language to encourage viable, underrepresented candidates to apply if they think they can bring value to the role even if they don’t meet all the listed requirements. We’re already reaping the benefits of these changes to our hiring approach.

At Virgin Pulse, the observance of Juneteenth goes beyond giving Black colleagues an opportunity to celebrate their heritage and acknowledge the relentless struggle to rise from enslavement. It is our opportunity – and part of my personal commitment to the company – to ensure that we are creating an inclusive environment where all colleagues can thrive.?