2021 Reflections: Lessons in partnership and collaboration that drive change and equity

Change in the world doesn’t just happen - it requires vision, intentionality, innovation and collaboration. More companies are embracing a “Doing well by doing good'' philosophy as a way of driving positive change in the world, and  collaborating with  partners with this shared mission has been key to our business and DEI strategy. Today, the LinkedIn partner ecosystem encompasses more than 50 organizations, followed by over 1+ million LinkedIn members. 

When I created this role about 5 years ago to carry out my vision of encouraging and facilitating partnerships focused on driving equity, inclusion and belonging, I noticed that the objectives of our partner organizations were very aligned with LinkedIn’s core mission. Organizations such as the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) and Prospanicawanted to create economic opportunities for every member of the global workforce.  Groups such as the National Urban League and Prospanica are dedicated to understanding the needs of their demographic, they are also connected to 400+ corporations and in some cases, have over 40+ years of DEI expertise. Their influence and expertise has far reaching potential, and I have  found that LinkedIn can play an important role in accelerating their ability to encourage change through their connection  with other partners, corporations and members. We are still in the beginning stages of this journey on our road to using collaboration to create equity on the platform. 

Lessons Learned

As I reflect specifically on this last year, 2021, here are three key insights I’ve gleaned from observing companies working with organizations to drive change at scale and opportunities I see for 2022:

1. Collaborate in Equity Thought Leadership & Strategies

According to a Washington Post article, over $50 Billion has been pledged to racial equity initiatives. In order to operationalize these initiatives, there is a big demand for DEI thought leadership and practical strategies. Thought leadership on equity is rapidly evolving and companies are in search of practical strategies on topics such as racial equity, sponsorship and retention. Organizations such as Coqual, OutLeadership and Diversity Best Practices, provide excellent strategies on how companies can get started.  In some instances, Coqual allows companies to sponsor and/or collaborate on research. To provide additional exposure to these rich resources, LinkedIn launched the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Resource Hub on our LinkedIn Talent Solutions site, which contains links to top DEI research orgs. The LTS site is accessed by over 500K companies globally.

2. Connect with Diverse Leaders and Influencers 

We learn through the shared experience of others. At LinkedIn, we are proactively engaging more diverse voices to be a part of LinkedIn's Influencer, Top Voices and Creator Programs - which presents companies and allies with the opportunity of engaging in their perspectives. In the face of a rapidly changing environment - these insights are invaluable.  In 2020-21, we added more than 10+ CEOs of our strategic partner organizations to our LinkedIn Influencer program, Black Voices to Follow and Amplify and Top Voices in Equity. This provides a global platform for diverse thought leaders to generate innovative conversations to drive solutions.  Influencers such as Christal Jackson, CEO of Mosaic Genius, a think tank that connects entrepreneurs with impact investors, went from 2.5K followers to 300K followers in one year. Other voices include Morgan DeBaun, CEO of Blavity and Claudio Romo Edelman, WAAH.  In collaboration with our Social Impact team, LinkedIn launched the AdGrants program – through which we have provided organizations such as the NAACP, Reboot Representation, National Urban League with the ability to promote Racial/social equity programs to both LinkedIn members and corporations. 

We have also found that there is a demand for more actionable dialogue and practical steps. Our “Equity In Action” series provides a forum for partners and for corporations seeking ways to engage in providing solutions. Click here to access the latest discussion featuring our Head of Equity, Imani Dunbar, hosting a session on "The Human Component to Equity: Going Beyond Algorithms and Data"

3. Leverage Organizations to Diversify your Network, Hire & Develop all Employees (including allies)

By following diverse leaders, engaging with organizations and connecting with new members, one can over time, diversify their online networks. Companies can gain visibility to talent and conversations simplify by joining and engaging in the LinkedIn company pages and groups organizations. This leads to authentic dialogue and will build credibility and trust.  For example, AdColor, one of the premier multicultural organizations in the marketing and sales industry, recently collaborated with LinkedIn to bolster networking within its ecosystem. In a few months, AdColor's LinkedIn page experienced 140% growth. Additionally, AdColor’s sponsor and member companies frequently post job opportunities within the AdColor Group, which is now up to 7.2K members. We have also developed landing pages to provide members with incredible content on strategies to transform your career, becoming an expert content creator and incorporating an "Equity Everyday Mindset to marketing. 

New Year.  New Goals. Maximize Your Access to DEI Partnerships. 

Together as a team of partner organizations all standing for equity, we can be a collective force for change. Take a moment 1) to follow and engage and follow your partner organizations on LinkedIn, with these partners,  2) leverage their expertise and thought leadership to help inform your strategies and don’t be afraid to tap them when the time comes to recruit new talent or develop existing employees. I would love to hear any ideas on how we can build bridges between organizations and companies - please comment below. 

HUGE thanks to all the teams across LinkedIn that collaborated with the DIBS Partnership Team in 2021. We are beyond grateful for you.