HubDot completes two-day LGBTQIA+ talent event for Credit Suisse
HubDot has had the pleasure of working with Credit Suisse for many years, hosting annual in-person and online events designed to inspire the next generation of female talent in banking and help connect Credit Suisse with bright and enthusiastic candidates for their internship programmes. This year, however, we came together to do something different: a bespoke two-day event to celebrate, highlight and engage LGBTQIA+ talent within the bank. We’re delighted to announce that it was a real success and we’re so grateful to the Credit Suisse storytellers, the Campus Recruitment team and the students who put their all into the workshops, participated throughout the two days and asked some really important questions about diversity, equity and inclusion. This is something that Credit Suisse is really committed to and it was important to us to help the team bring the organisation’s values to life and facilitate really invaluable conversations about LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the workplace.
The Aims
We know that the No.1 workplace criteria for Gen Z and millennial candidates is finding an organisation that ‘cares about employee wellbeing’. Also high on their list of requirements are diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and ethical corporate behaviour. The candidates of today and tomorrow expect trust, engagement, mental health support, meaningful relationships, flexibility and ongoing learning from their employer, so there’s a real need to exemplify organisations such as Credit Suisse, who are fully committed to the wellbeing of their employees and champion diversity through ally schemes, diversity networks and reverse mentorship, as well as intrinsic values that shine throughout their culture. So, the aim wasn’t to change anything about the culture, but simply to highlight it for the next generation of underrepresented talent through lived-experience storytelling and honest conversations. We wanted to centre the candidate in the experience, get to know them and demonstrate that Credit Suisse encourages them to bring their whole self to work and is dedicated to supporting their personal growth.
The Method
When we work with an organisation, we tailor our experiences to suit its aims. The building blocks of a HubDot experience remain the same with levelling, engagement and meaningful connection at its heart, but we add educational workshops, coach storytellers for maximum impact and sprinkle a little magic on top with live music, experienced hosts and empowering participatory moments. The team’s openness and willingness to have non-performative discourse around challenging topics and answer questions on every area of the recruitment process helped to create a safe space for authentic sharing and honest feedback. It meant that the students were able to share their concerns and have their voices heard, enabling them to get a real sense of whether they wanted to pursue a future in banking and a career at Credit Suisse. For people within the queer community to meet role models, find mentors and hear first-hand what it’s like to be out, proud and supported within a multinational company is really powerful and we really wanted these inspiring messages to be heard loud and clear.
The Magic
The event itself lasted three hours per day with a break in between. It was all hosted on Zoom and we were very pleased with the turn out, especially considering it was during the afternoon so the students would have had to take time out of their busy schedules. Day one was all about inspiration, getting a feel for the culture and exploring stress management, our identities and our unique stories through inspiring workshops. Day two was all about Credit Suisse’s approach to diversity and inclusion, meeting the LGBTQ+ Network and learning to find a mentor and network effectively.
So what did we discover? Collaborating with an organisation is always a unique and exciting experience with so many new ideas to explore, so this event was unlike anything we had done before and exceeded all expectations. We found that the two-day format lends itself very well to the recruitment process, because those who remained engaged and curious throughout the process were more likely to be highlighted as ideal candidates for the internship programmes. Through our workshops and creating space for Q&As with the recruitment team, it was also confirmed that intersectionality is one of the most important considerations when being inclusive of talent from underrepresented groups. We designed the event to appeal to LGBTQIA+ people and passionate allies, so much of the educational content was designed around themes of gender diversity, queer inclusion and how to be a great ally. However, we also ensured there was time for conversations about mental health, work-life balance and acknowledging intersectional identities through exploring the other support networks available. We had questions about anti-racism, disability and accessibility that were answered eloquently with examples and experiences. We also saw the students come out of their shells through our workshops and bravely share their stories to give us a sense of who they are, what’s most important to them and what their ambitions are - both professionally and personally. It was such a wonderful opportunity to connect people at all seniority levels, from different countries, different backgrounds and find so much common ground, so much kindness and empathy. It was truly humbling to be a part of.
The Mission
As our experiences are completely bespoke, we can adapt our methodology to a wide range of aims and objectives and touch on an endless array of themes. We have seen time and again that HubDot has the magic formula to inspire, inform and empower people, but we feel we’re only just scratching the surface when it comes to engaging people around important DEI conversations and helping organisations nurture inclusive cultures, attract underrepresented candidates and retain diverse talent. So, as we continue to work with amazing businesses and support an incredible entrepreneurial community, we want to make a difference to more organisations and touch the lives of as many people as we can. If you’re part of a business or charity of any size that could benefit from a bit of HubDot magic, please do get in touch!
For more information about our experiences email info@hubdot.com