All women in tech are fighting an uphill battle, but for women of color, the hill they’re climbing is often steeper. This can be seen in the data, with Black and Hispanic women at the bottom of the pay scale in tech. Then there are the microaggressions: Black, Latina and Asian women are much more likely to face assumptions about their culture and nationality in the workplace compared to white women.
Given the numerous challenges they face, women of color in the tech industry need specific support to ensure equal access to work and advancement opportunities. Companies that are further along in their diversity, equity and inclusion journey, like healthtech company Definitive Healthcare, understand this and have initiatives specifically designed to empower women of color.
For Definitive Healthcare, these initiatives include a role to recruit diverse candidates. That position, Senior Diversity Recruiter, is held by Tracey Lewis, who spoke with Built In about her company’s efforts to support women of color in the workplace.
Companies selling products and services in the healthcare industry use Definitive Healthcare’s data platform to better understand the market and enter it faster and more efficiently.
What initiatives are in place to empower women of color at Definitive Healthcare?
I am currently co-lead of our BIPOC Culture@DH affinity group, which focuses on cultivating a safe, progressive and inclusive space for our Black employees, indigenous employees and employees of color. We hold events throughout the year that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, and our communication is meant to educate and inform our employees on race equality. I am also the diversity specialist within the company for recruiting where I focus on hiring top diverse talent.
Share one example of how Definitive Healthcare’s empowering culture has positively impacted your experience.
Because I have a seat at the table here, my ideas and contributions are valued, which allows me to grow as a person and in my career. I have the support from my manager and team members.
What advice do you have for other employers hoping to better support women of color in the workplace?
My advice would be to not just look at numbers for numbers’s sake. When you truly have a diverse population, it shows in every level of your organization, which includes your C-suite. Bringing in diverse talent enables your company to grow, and jobseekers will want to work for you because they can see themselves in every position at your company.
Bringing in diverse talent enables your company to grow, and jobseekers will want to work for you because they can see themselves in every position at your company.”
