I am the VP of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and Talent Management at Leaf Group. I oversee all of our DEI efforts and hiring for the company.

How big is it?

My Hiring Team is myself and my Recruiting Manager. My DEI team is technically just me but I believe DEI efforts are company wide so we definitely are community based in our achievements.‍

Where are your teammates located?‍

Los Angeles

What does your team do? What are you responsible for?

Heather Brotsky, Recruiting Manager, is responsible for recruiting management, hiring for our marketplaces teams and engineering. I oversee strategic decisions for recruiting, education, and hiring for corporate and media.

Trust is imperative. People sitting in a seat in an office is not an indicator that great work is getting done. Trust that your people are subject matter experts who can get their jobs done, can come to you for challenges, and communicate regularly and effectively - even in a remote environment.‍

Empathy is necessary. Everyone of our people is going through something and we ideally are all taking time to give each other grace and space to be their best selves at work.‍

Community building is also key. Finding creative and innovative ways to connect to people verbally, digitally, and in other ways is an inclusive way of trying ensure people feel connected beyond a physical space.

• Checking in to really find out how people are doing and what help they may need. 
• Finding different ways for people who communicate differently to have their voices heard.
• Engagement surveys and acting on feedback.

Communicating - I am not saying I’m not good at it. I’m just always trying to be better at it.

• Happy hours
• Virtual watch parties

We have done everything from VR rooms, show and tell, and BINGO. Bingo is always a hit but "Show and Tell" was quite meaningful (we play online here).

Twitter communities, Brene Brown newsletters, Priya Parker interviews, LinkedIn communities, Gallup Manager assessment.