As Black History Month wraps up, our SVP of People Ops and Talent, Miraque Hicks, provides an update on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at One Drop and our continued efforts to support the Black Lives Matter movement following our donation to the NAACP in June 2020.
What does diversity mean at One Drop?
One Drop values different perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas. Our team is made up of people from all geographies, ethnicities, gender identities, and circumstances. We foster diversity among our employees and acknowledge their humanity as we work to change the world.
One Drop is committed to combatting racism and discrimination in our company and our community. We provide to every employee without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.
At One Drop, inclusive behavior (e.g., active listening) is a core competency. We foster an inclusive environment by encouraging everyone to share their unique perspectives and learn from others.
How diverse is One Drop?
One Drop’s employee population is 53% White, 20% Asian, 12% Black, and 15% Hispanic. Fifty-five percent of employees identify as female, 45% identify as male.
How and why does One Drop support the Black Lives Matter movement?
We unequivocally believe that Black lives matter, Black health matters, and Black communities matter. We know that racism infuses life with trauma and stress that contribute to poor health outcomes, including the chronic conditions we work tirelessly to address. We cannot achieve our mission to transform health, change lives, and create opportunities for everyone as long as Black communities face disproportionate trauma. By addressing the epidemic of racial injustice in the United States and donating to invaluable organizations like the NAACP, we’re working to address a significant underlying contributor to the epidemic of chronic conditions.
Can you talk about some challenges for diversity in tech?
As organizations evolve and social issues become amplified, business leaders are at the forefront of instilling and rethinking diversity practices. Unfortunately, the tech sector lags behind the rest of the job market in hiring minorities (e.g., women, BIPOC). And the existence of diversity in the workplace does not imply the existence of equity or inclusion.
- Less than 5% of tech jobs are filled by Black people.
- BIPOC are more likely than any other group to voluntarily leave their jobs in tech. Commonly reported reasons include stereotyping, discrimination, and lack of opportunities for advancement.
- 50% of women said they have experienced gender discrimination at work.
How does One Drop address inequality in tech?
We understand that underrepresentation of minorities remains a pressing issue in the tech industry. Our People Ops and Talent team is committed to increasing the number of Black men across departments to 30% or greater by the end of 2021. We are also dedicated to increasing the number of women in all tech roles to 40% or greater by the end of 2021.
How is One Drop pushing diversity forward in tech?
Fostering diversity is critical to our current and future success. Currently, 50% of the One Drop senior leadership team are women or identify as people of color.
Our DEI program celebrates employees from underrepresented communities and provides safe spaces such as employee resources groups (ERGs) where they can communicate about issues they face. Our Women at One Drop ERG aims to encourage togetherness and empowerment. We spotlight tech leaders and host workshops. Our BIPOC ERG provides a platform to showcase different cultures and discuss sensitive topics. We spotlight BIPOC leaders and work towards broader initiatives. Allies are encouraged and welcome across both ERGs. Next, our DEI program will launch an ERG for our LBGTQIA community members and allies.
Miraque Hicks
SVP of People Ops and Talent
At One Drop, we’re working toward an ambitious mission to transform health, change lives, and create new opportunities for everyone. Guided by our values of empathy, gratitude, humility, respect, and integrity, we strive to embody the change we want to see in the world.
Join us! Visit our careers page to view all current openings.
