Accenture Canada is reinforcing its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion during Pride Month and beyond by offering leadership training and mentorship opportunities for all of its LGBTQ2S+ employees and allies.
“We not only foster innovation and growth within these spaces, but ensure everyone knows this is a workplace of inclusion and equality,” says Caroline Gayle, managing director and inclusion and diversity lead at Accenture. “Ideally, we want to be known as the most inclusive and diverse company in Canada. We know that when our people bring their true selves to work, our organization will benefit and be the best it can be.”
The Pride at Accenture network in Canada is one of the company’s most active employee resource groups, she notes, and brings together its LGBTQ2S+ communities and allies for networking, mentoring and activities across local offices. Accenture’s Montreal office recently hosted a discussion about creating authentic spaces in the workplace, which included a gender identity and gender expression toolkit.
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The company shows its commitment to DEI each year by publishing the demographics of its Canadian workforce, says Gayle, noting it continues to work towards its internal representation goals across nine dimensions of diversity — Asian, Black, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, military, LGBTQ2S+ and women.
“We have goals that are set at the total workforce, executive and managing director level. This helps to make us more accountable in building a workforce and leadership team that mirrors our communities where we live and operate, as well as the clients we serve.”
Accenture recently unveiled a Pride art installation at its downtown Toronto office and employees were given the chance to colour and write their thoughts on an interactive piece of art. It also hosted a Pride remembrance run and, for the first time ever, its Toronto office marched in the city’s Pride parade.
“We had to limit the amount of people [marching in the parade] because after the request went out, it filled up within 10 minutes,” says Gayle. “But it’s a year-long celebration for us beyond the month of June — the ERG sends out regular newsletter communication highlighting Pride events and important resources.”
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