Developing a creative environment in the workplace is essential to providing clients with unique and innovative solutions. However, creativity takes intention, skill and effort. And that creativity is fueled by a community of different backgrounds and points of view that foster an environment for innovation and experimentation.
To help champion this environment for our team and our clients, Fifth Story is joining the 50 – 30 Challenge. It’s a Federal Government initiative that challenges organizations to increase representation and inclusion of diverse groups within the workplace, and highlights the benefits of giving all Canadians a seat at the table.
The challenge is rooted in two aspirational commitments:
- Gender parity (50%)
- Significant representation (30%) on boards and senior management
Greater diversity and inclusion strengthen the creative process and fosters genuine connections among our partners and our team members.
As a small, women-owned company our leadership is within the 50%, while our senior management and team members are part of many diverse backgrounds and underrepresented groups. However, the intent and practices that bring on key diversity milestones are ongoing.
At Fifth Story, we continue to develop a culture of learning as we engage with this challenge.
We have created a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee who have developed inclusive policies and made our commitment to the 50 – 30 Challenge. Our bi-monthly “Take 5” sessions also allow us to share new tools, knowledge, best practices and more with everyone in our company.
Here are some advantages we already see from our diversity, equity and inclusion commitment, and some which we hope to achieve:
- Our team is incredibly talented with a rich set of experiences, and we draw on the full talents of our people.
- Our diverse women-led and woman-owned team generates and fosters great insights, new ideas and creative results.
- Putting DEI goals into our regular planning helps to create success for our business goals.
- We aspire to be a company that will evolve and continue its commitment to DEI
Our CEO, Ruth Douglas says: “As a woman leading a business for many years, I can see the incredible impacts of having a diverse workforce bringing new ideas and experiences to the table, as well as our need to create a consistent commitment to diversity and inclusion for our employees and for our clients.”
This is a challenge we’ve accepted, and it’s one we view as an advantage for us and our stakeholders – we continue to strive to be the team we want to be.