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ELC’s IT Function Prioritizes Inclusion, Diversity & Equity to Build a Dynamic Workforce
Company Feature, Oct 29, 2021
The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) believes that diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives result in greater innovation and better problem-solving across the organization— and this is absolutely true for the company’s IT team. From diversity in race, gender, and age, ELC’s IT team aspires to be the technical destination for diverse talent across the globe.
IT team is placing a keen focus on attracting Black talent
In line with the company’s commitments to Racial Equity announced in June 2020, ELC’s IT team is placing a keen focus on attracting Black talent. With collaboration across ELC’s Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (ID&E), Employee Engagement, Global Talent Acquisition teams, along with NOBLE (ELC's network of Black leaders and executives employee resource group) and Women in Technology (ELC’s network of women in technology employee resource group), the IT team is executing upon a robust plan to maximize enterprise-wide diversity and inclusion efforts through a three-pronged approach to talent recruitment and retainment. This includes (1) attracting high-performing, diverse candidates through newly established external partnerships, (2) elevating current Black talent by equipping these individuals with talent planning tools, career development experiences, and mentorship/sponsorship opportunities, and (3) engaging all IT employees globally with ID&E awareness, feedback training and community events to fuel an actively inclusive work environment.
As an example of this three-pronged approach coming to life, ELC’s IT team is partnering with the below organizations to attract diverse talent across IT:
- Accelerate: New York: Earlier this year, ELC partnered with Microsoft and other community leaders to launch Accelerate: New York. Available to community members in New York City, Connecticut and New Jersey, this important initiative provides free upskilling and cross-skilling digital courses and a path to equitable hiring and re-employment opportunities for anyone ready to redefine their future. ELC looks forward to including graduates of this program in its entry level talent pool.
- Black Women Talk Tech: Black Women Talk Tech is an organization that gives Black women in technology a platform to come together to learn about entrepreneurial and corporate opportunities in the industry. In addition to recruiting and networking at these events, ELC’s IT leaders also participate in speaking engagements for the organization. Just this year, ELC’s Tennille Williams (Executive Technical Director, Head of Supply Chain and R&D Cybersecurity, Information Technology) led a keynote where she discussed tech opportunities for all levels and backgrounds here at ELC.
- FairyGodBoss: FairyGodBoss is a social network for career-minded women, with an audience of 9 million job seekers including a prominent population of diverse tech talent. Through the organization’s turnkey recruiting and content platform, ELC can recruit women and women of color in technology for roles across IT. The company’s involvement with FairyGodBoss allows its IT team to further its commitment to fulfilling diverse STEM roles across the business.
- New York City Tech Talent Pipeline: New York City Tech Talent Pipeline (NYC TTP) is a government organization that provides vocational and learning enrichment access to diverse tech candidates from 15 local colleges and bootcamps in the New York City area. ELC’s IT team recruits diverse talent from this organization by conducting virtual career fairs for ELC’s internship and entry level full-time opportunities. Various technology leads across the business also participate in speaking events with NYC TTP.
- N-Power: N-Power is a non-profit organization focused on providing free tech training for military veterans and individuals from underserved communities. ELC recruits directly from N-Power to fill early career opportunities within IT. Just this month, Dawit Lessanu (Technical Executive Director, Cloud & App Platform, Enterprise Architecture) spoke to students at N-Power regarding his career journey within ELC and the developments within the technology industry that excite him today.
- Year Up: In 2019, ELC’s IT team began its partnership with Year Up—a tuition-free training and development program that provides yearlong traineeships and on-the-job coaching for underrepresented young adults nationwide. ELC works with several Year Up trainees each year including converting trainees to full-time roles at the conclusion of their program. This year, the company is doubling its participants in this program to increase opportunities available for underrepresented young adults within ELC.
Tennille Williams, Executive Technical Director, Head of Supply Chain and R&D Cybersecurity, Information Technology, led a keynote for Black Women Talk Tech where she discussed tech opportunities
“At ELC, we strongly believe that no one person, group or culture has all the knowledge or skills necessary for success, which is why it is incredibly important to have a diverse workforce,” says Michael W. Smith, Chief Information Officer and co-founder of TechPACT, an organization dedicated to promoting inclusion and diversity in the technology industry. “Diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives are what brings this company success. The uniqueness of each of our employees results in greater innovation and better problem-solving across the business.”
Learn more about IT at ELC, including career openings and opportunities for interested candidates globally.
