2018 D&I in India Best Practice Award Winners

To recognise an employee network that has played a proactive role in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace in India.

True Ability Network, Dell EMC 

Dell EMC’s True Ability Network set up in 2012 has been a role model and trailblazer for the inclusion of person with disabilities in India.  With a focus on sensitisation, talent recruitment and collaboration, True Ability has been instrumental in creating a more inclusive culture and for tripling Dell EMC’s recruitment of professionals with disabilities - more than 100 are currently employed in all areas of the business. The network also runs a pioneering and unique internship programme, Redefine Abilities, for people with profound disability.

To recognise a workplace initiative that has had a significant impact on supporting and promoting the advancement of women in India.

Due to the large number and variety in scope of submissions for this Award, Community Business decided to make 2 awards in this category: one for a specific initiative and one for an overall approach to the advancement of women.

Specific Initiative: Stand Tall, Akamai Technologies

Stand Tall is a highly tailored and successful professional development programme, developed internally by Akamai Technologies to strengthen their pool of aspiring women leaders. This immersive programme starts with diagnosis interviews between leadership and the women to understand opportunities for personal development and growth followed by a 3-step approach of training intervention, a development center and 1:1 coaching. Akamai reports that 65% of graduates from this programme have experienced career progression.

Overall Approach: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) 

As a leader in the technology field, TCS is strategically and purposefully committed to supporting the advancement of women – both internally and externally.  TCS ensures sustainable interventions to make the working environment inclusive and bias free, enabling it to develop, retain and advance its 141,000 women.  Particularly notable are its iExcel, iSpeak and nWin programmes – targeted initiatives for women at different levels.  Its combined and sustained efforts are clearly having an impact, with a reported 23 fold increase in overall representation of women in TCS India since 2004 and the lowest female attrition rates in its industry.

To recognise an organisation that has adopted a proactive approach to building disability confidence in the workplace in India.

IBM 

Since its first disability hire in 1914, IBM has always looked at the employment of persons with disabilities as a skilled talent pool which contributes to the business, not merely a CSR initiative. IBM excels in ensuring accessibility in all aspects – from technology and infrastructure to opportunities and career development. It is particularly focused on the skills development of disabled talent in growth areas like cognitive, cloud and analytics, building competitive employment opportunities not just within IBM but also in the wider marketplace. It has also pioneered a focus on mental health and emotional well-being for employees with disabilities.

To recognise an organisation that has adopted a proactive approach to creating an inclusive workplace for LGBT+ employees in India.

IBM 

IBM has long been a pioneer in the LGBT+ inclusion space, including sexual orientation in its equal opportunity and non-discrimination policy back in 1984, setting up the India chapter of its LGBT+ network, EAGLE as early as 2007 and being amongst the first to introduce LGBT+ inclusive benefits. Today IBM’s continues to pioneer the way, with programmes such as Out Executives & Out Role Models, Out Leadership development, LGBT+ Reverse Mentoring and LGBT+ Executive Forums for the industry. It is also leading the way in promoting transgender inclusion – both internally at IBM as well as through community initiatives such as Project Vayati.