Diversity and Inclusion are incredibly important in any organization or community. Specifically, in the staffing industry diverse suppliers have been a hard commodity to come across. Thankfully, our parent company, Pyramid Consulting, is one of the leading and most reliable sources of the best total talent and technology services in the industry. They’re committed to satisfying the needs of all customers: clients, consultants, and employees.
Along with Pyramid Consulting, GenSpark is solving a greater equation. We’re a diverse supplier that supplies diverse talent; At GenSpark we want to see everyone win across the IT industry and that starts with building a diverse and more inclusive industry.
Diversity helps to bring together a variety of perspectives and backgrounds, which can help to create innovative solutions to problems and encourage collaboration.
Inclusion ensures that everyone feels respected, accepted, and valued, which can lead to better morale, higher productivity, and an overall more successful team. Additionally, diversity and inclusion can help to foster a culture of understanding and respect, which can benefit everyone involved.
At GenSpark, we’re focused on being Intentionally Inclusive™. Our priority is providing an inclusive workplace and equal opportunities for all – including our internal staff as well as GenSparkers looking to spark their careers in Information Technology.
Our vision is to accelerate equity in the workplace and society by lighting up pathways to career success for individuals from all backgrounds.
But just how are we accomplishing that? Good question! GenSpark is dedicated to diversity and inclusion, continue reading below to learn how GenSpark is building a more diverse and inclusive IT workforce:
Bridging the Gap in the Tech Industry
Diversity in technology is all about igniting more inclusivity in an otherwise traditional and non-inclusive industry. Currently, diverse candidates make up less than 20% of the IT labor force.
But why is that important? Well not only does having a diverse team present the opportunity to reach a wider audience; but it also allows businesses to stay relevant and competitive in today’s market. And while diversity rates have been increasing over the years, businesses, especially in the IT industry, still have a long way to go.
Thankfully, GenSpark launched in 2019 with the mission to close the talent gap by upskilling a diverse candidate pool to recast our clients’ workforce. This means the team at GenSpark is dedicated to finding, training, and deploying individuals from diverse backgrounds, thus creating diverse talent within an industry that is sorely missing it today.
In 2022, GenSpark successfully placed hundreds of GenSparkers and we’re working continuously to increase opportunities for economic stability and to break cycles of generational poverty.
Opportunities For All
At GenSpark, we know that everyone deserves the opportunity to land their dream jobs in whatever industry they choose – including the IT industry. That’s why here at GenSpark we provide paid IT training in over 20+ skill sets, afterwards, we connect GenSparkers with our network of Fortune 500 clients. We train, hire and deploy. It’s just that simple.
Our clients come to us with needs to fill and from there, we create customized curriculums for both our clients and GenSparkers; which allows GenSparkers to begin working immediately after their training and clients get to bypass the tediousness of training new hires. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.
But we don’t just train one type of person. We train those individuals from underrepresented communities, who too often aren’t always afforded the luxuries of higher education and the opportunities to land their dream careers. That’s why GenSpark is an alternative solution.
We don’t require any upfront payment – or any payment at all – for those that come through our program. We take on all costs and invest in our GenSparkers upfront unlike coding bootcamps and many colleges and universities. We’re truly committed to economic stability and career success for all.
75% Percent of GenSparkers are from Underrepresented Groups
We don’t just talk the talk. We make it happen! That’s why over 75% of our GenSparkers come from underrepresented communities. We know that there’s enough space for everyone in the IT industry. It’s just a matter of finding career opportunities and having the skillset to compete with the competition.
We’re able to foster these opportunities through partnerships and tailored DE&I initiatives that further our mission of recasting the IT workforce by upskilling diverse talent from underrepresented groups. We source and support diverse talent through every inch of our organization from recruitment and training to building connections with clients looking to diversify their staff.
Sourcing Diverse Talent Pools
So how does GenSpark source diverse talent? We partner with organizations that are likewise intentional about promoting minority talent and their professional development. We meet with the organizations regularly to support their members with new and exciting opportunities at GenSpark and attend dozens of events per year to meet their members and understand how GenSpark may fit their career aspirations. We work with organizations like Disability:IN, National Black MBA Association, Girl Develop It, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and many, many more.
Through these partnerships our team can attend conferences and career fairs which allows us to meet face-to-face with the type of diverse talent that needs that extra push in their careers. And we don’t stop there!
Supporting Talent from Underrepresented Groups
At GenSpark our leaders are committed to building an inclusive and diverse environment which begins with ensuring that members of our organization can build relationships with all people across different cultures and backgrounds.
Our Chief DEI Officer, LaShaun Solomon, established our DEI Practice which has left an indelible impression in our industry, with our employees, customers, and community. This includes our employee resource group program, resources to equip our employees with the DEI knowledge to have effective and progressive conversations with customers, and supporting underserved communities to positively impact the next generation.
We leverage AI– enabled technology to bring qualified talent from underrepresented groups to the top of our sourcing funnel and have developed training programs on unconscious bias and inclusive language to all recruiters and training staff. We seek to reduce any personal biases and behaviors that could impact hiring and training decisions.
We’re dedicated to ensuring that our staff can manage their biases and actively practice behavior changes so that they can provide every GenSparker with the tools and resources they need to excel in the IT industry. Luckily, our diversity efforts don’t stop there. We’re building an inclusive environment from the inside out.
Once our talent is officially sourced and onboarded to our program, we’re still set on being Intentionally Inclusive™. That’s why we launched Belong:IN – a community of seven employee resource groups dedicated to providing a sense of belonging for like-minded individuals. They are:
- Able:IN
- Black Culture Alliance
- LatinTech
- PanAsianNet
- PRISM: LGBTQ+ Alliance
- Women of Pyramid Consulting
- VetConnect
All team members – including GenSparkers – are encouraged to join one – or all – of our employee resource groups. At GenSpark we care about creating safe spaces where we can connect link-minded individuals with allies and celebrate the diversity of our workforce.
Diversity and Inclusion aren’t just words we throw around – we believe in equality for all, and we’re dedicated to making that happen inside and outside of our organization.
Hear It from a Real GenSparker
Of course, we know what efforts we’re making towards bridging the gap in the IT industry, but there’s nothing better than hearing it from the people who come from these underrepresented communities and have gone through GenSpark’s training themselves. So don’t take our word for it, hear what one GenSparker has to say:
Meet Kara P.
“I grew up a survivor
of all three types of abuse. These caused me to have some Mental Health Issues. As a recovering addict, I tried many courses to find my career. I ran up to my maximum in student loans. I applied for disability and was approved due to my Mental Health Issues. I was approved in 2006.
Upon referral [to GenSpark], I tried for the Java Full Stack Program and could not quite get past those Software Engineering Tests. However, when speaking with my Recruiter Angel Vega we spoke of my love for testing code and making sure it was proper for the end-user and the fact that I also had the skill to double– check some accessibility Issues. I have a blind spot in my eye so I know how super important screen readers could become in my life.
So, it felt like on Monday when Angel reached back out, this opportunity had ended but she told me about the QA Engineering Pilot Program and asked if I would be interested. I had loved the sound of the company and was dejected because of yet another failure. However, it just felt like GenSpark liked me, they focused on an opportunity for me and others like me quickly after meeting me.
The paid training [at GenSpark] allows me to start coming off my check slowly while building another professional credential. After training I look forward to adding 2 years of Work Experience to my Resume making it that much easier to approach my white whale – Disney+. Quality Assurance allows me to work hard and live in code and learn from other developers and improve my Software Engineering skills so I can approach the work field as both a Full Stack Developer and Quality Assurance Engineer with work experience. My history makes me a risk. GenSpark took that risk and for that I will give my all to the company to support and watch them grow. This is just the spark my career needed to shine!”
What’s Next?
If you’re like Kara and have been wanting to break into the industry but your past made it difficult – let GenSpark do the hard work for you.
Everyone – no matter what their background is – deserves a fresh start in their career. Here at GenSpark, we work with individuals willing to take a chance on their future. We do our best to take skill sets to the next level and place individuals who have been denied too many times because of situations they can’t help.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is about creating new and better spaces for everyone, and at GenSpark we understand that. So, take a chance on your future by allowing us to take a chance on you! Apply today and spark your dream career!
Or if you’re someone looking to diversify your pipeline, GenSpark develops custom curricula based on your technology needs. We hire and train, so you don’t have to. Take a second to complete this form, and a GenSpark representative will be in touch.
Best of luck!
