PRESS RELEASES

VANCOUVER, BC — October 12, 2022 — Hootsuite has been awarded the title of ‘GameChanger - Diversity & Inclusion’ by the BC Tech Association at its 29th annual BC Tech Impact Awards. The ‘GameChanger - Diversity & Inclusion’ award recognizes companies that have gone above and beyond to make a positive difference on DE&I within the tech industry.

“We are honored to be recognized by the BC Tech Association as the game-changing leader in diversity and inclusion,” said Tara Ataya, Chief People & Diversity Officer, Hootsuite. “This is a testament to all of our Owls embracing our DE&I journey and leaning in. I have an abundance of gratitude to all of the sponsors and to our fellow nominees, SAP and Jelly Academy, for inspiring us and others along the way on this journey. My hope is that the steps we are taking not only enhance the lives of the people within our organizations—but also have a ripple effect within our industries.”

In the past year, Hootsuite has added to its DE&I policies and introduced many game-changing initiatives to create a diverse and inclusive environment. These policies are focused around four key areas:

• Reviewing and restructuring existing policies: Hootsuite restructured its hiring and recruiting process to be more inclusive by removing gendered language from all job descriptions, standardizing internal promotion processes to mitigate bias, and making unconscious bias training available to all employees. Building further on our pay equity process. In addition, Hootsuite has revamped and expanded benefit coverage to include gender affirmation surgery and fertility treatments for all Canadian and US employees. 

• Measurement: Hootsuite has also formalized the process of measuring DE&I progress through internal and third-party audits, and uses the findings to improve Hootsuite’s approach to DE&I. Upon recognizing that many employees were interested in having their unique stories heard, Hootsuite launched listening sessions, giving a platform to the voices of employees who identify with underrepresented groups to share their experiences. 

• Establishing strategic partnerships: As a company that is continuing its DE&I journey, Hootsuite has forged meaningful partnerships to truly create a diverse and inclusive culture. The company has established partnerships with The Black Professionals in Tech Network and Pride at Work Canada, with the goal of expanding the company’s diverse network.

• Fostering community: In the past year alone, Hootsuite has launched its first Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to create opportunities for its people to participate in the development, implementation and improvement of our initiatives to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for all. After receiving feedback from employees on the types of resource groups they would like to see, Hootsuite has formed five dedicated groups so far for: Black employees, women employees, neurodiverse employees, LGBTQIA+ employees and employees who are parents. 

“We were thrilled to celebrate the innovative tech sector in BC and pulled out all of the stops to ensure the TIAs Gala reflected the theme of ambition,” said Jill Tipping, CEO, BC Tech Association. “In challenging times, innovation becomes more important than ever and through tonight’s awards we were able to shine a light on the strength of BC’s tech community.”

The Technology Impact Awards (TIAs) proved more ambitious than ever in their 29th annual celebration with a record-setting 48 finalists and 12 winners announced.