How Being Woman-Owned Shapes Our Company
The Woman-Owned Difference
When I started in the IT recruiting space back in 1998, times were very different–Y2K was a hot topic and COBOL programmers were in high demand– to put things into perspective.
I came into the IT world, not from a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) background, but actually from the social sciences. The thesis for my master’s degree was on street kids in middle-size cities and I was deeply passionate about social justice. In my early career, I was always questioning, “How do I fit within recruiting? Within this IT landscape?”
My education and passion for social justice finally came together when Martin and I founded Experience AI back in the early 2000s. Doing things differently–ethically–was central to our mission. We continually put ourselves in the shoes of the people we do business with (IT consultants, contractors and our clients), and asked ourselves, “Is this how I’d like to be treated?”
We used our answers to guide every decision we made when starting out and continue to operate with this question at the heart of all that we do.
I recently read an article that stated that the proportion of majority women-owned businesses among all small and medium enterprises had grown steadily to hit 16.8 percent in 2020. I was encouraged to know that more and more women are owning and running businesses in Canada, but seeing that the number of women-owned businesses is still under 20% shows we still have a long way to go.
Experience AI has always been woman-owned, but we became certified woman-owned about five years ago. The certification process includes submitting extensive documentation that shows the company is at least 51% owned by a woman, organizational charts to prove that a woman has control of the business and even a site visit from certification staff.
The certification gives Experience AI eligibility for corporate and government supplier diversity programs. Since almost 95% of Fortune 500 companies have some sort of supplier diversity program, having the certification provides us with excellent opportunities to be considered for contracts that we may not have been eligible for otherwise.
But beyond the opportunities that have opened up since becoming certified woman-owned, becoming part of a network of other women-owned businesses has really brought me back to my roots of social justice and why it matters.
I’ve explored my own privilege, and how it shows up personally and as a business owner. At Experience AI, we continually challenge stereotypes and embedded bias at all levels in our company and in the systems in which we operate. Equity and inclusivity were always at the core of how we wanted to do business; becoming certified woman-owned has encouraged us to be even more intentional in how we operate.
Now, our practices also include:
- Consciously looking for suppliers that are women-owned, black-owned, LGBTQ-owned, veteran-owned, or Indigenous-owned; taking responsibility for our part in the supply chain we exist in.
- Mandating that our recruiters provide added value services to newly landed immigrants to Canada, like resume development and interview preparation and coaching, to help those candidates receive the opportunities they deserve. We continually ensure that our recruiters know they have permission to spend the time it takes to do this.
- We bring our voice to the table when we have the opportunity to work with larger corporations and government organizations.
The Woman-Owned Difference
There are many differences, but especially when it comes to other recruitment agencies, Experience AI is focused on working as a team. That was one thing I knew I didn’t want to recreate when we were building our company–that extremely competitive “shark tank” experience. We face enough competition externally, I knew I wanted our recruiters to feel comfortable asking questions, seeking help and taking time to truly support our clients and the contractors we work with.
Our recruiters take this mindset with them throughout their work. Our candidates are asked several times throughout the hiring and onboarding process, “Do you feel safe?” Safe can mean many different things, but asking the question ensures people feel supported and more likely to reach out early if they face any issues.
The Importance of Shared Values
Our approach helps to set us apart in the IT recruiting world. Our clients can feel it and certainly the contractors and consultants we work with benefit from the difference. But perhaps most importantly, it allows us to find and work with suppliers and clients who share the same values. Our contractors often express their gratitude for being seen for their skills and abilities instead of being overlooked because of where they come from. Choosing to work with clients who share this appreciation for diversity and inclusivity means the working relationship continues positively once the contractor begins work.
The Woman-Owned Difference
While I never had a goal for Experience AI to be a “certified woman-owned business”, I now see that it plays a central role in who we are as a company, what we stand for and how we do business.
Most women and men would prefer to work for a woman-led company, partly because it gives them confidence that they too could reach that leadership role. It’s diversity in action. Women-owned businesses also tend to have compassionate and collaborative workplace cultures and offer employees the freedom to be themselves.
I definitely see this difference amongst other women-owned businesses in the network and am not surprised when I see research that shows that firms with more women in leadership roles are more profitable, more socially responsible, and provide safer, higher-quality customer experiences—among many other benefits
Why Work with Women-Owned and Operated Businesses
When you choose to work with a woman-owned business, it shows your employees, customers and suppliers that you value diversity, equity and inclusion and make choices to actively promote those values.
And just as having a more diverse workforce can help a company become more innovative, working with diverse suppliers and partners is good for business. Different perspectives are more likely to lead to innovative ideas that can lead to more opportunities for growth and positive change.
Small Steps to Big Change
Change is incremental and I don’t have any false ideas that we can change the world overnight. I do believe we all have a responsibility to contribute in some way every day. Those small contributions are essential to moving the needle and building more inclusive workplaces and communities.
I am optimistic that we’ll continue to see steady growth of women-owned businesses and look forward to seeing the positive impact they bring to the world.
Interested in working with a woman-owned recruiting team? Contact us today to see how we can share our many years and roster of client success with you and help your next AI project succeed.
Lara Autio is Experience AI Solutions CEO.