Despite the significant strides made in recent years, women continue to face numerous challenges in the workplace, from gender bias and discrimination to unequal pay and limited opportunities for career advancement. These obstacles not only hinder women's professional growth but also deprive the marketplace of diverse perspectives and innovative ideas that are crucial for driving progress.
Creating a supportive and inclusive workplace is essential for addressing these challenges and empowering women to thrive in their tech careers. Companies have a responsibility to foster an environment that values diversity, provides equal opportunities, and ensures the well-being of all employees, regardless of gender.
As we recognize International Women's Day (IWD) this month, it is an opportune time to reflect on the ongoing struggles faced by women in our industry and to recognize the efforts of companies like Encora in supporting women in tech. IWD serves as a powerful reminder of the work that still needs to be done to achieve true gender equality and to celebrate the achievements of women who have made significant contributions to the field.
Although we recognize we still have a long road ahead as a company, in this article, we will explore how Encora strives to create a supportive and inclusive workplace for women through equal growth opportunities; a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; a supportive workplace culture; and robust learning and development programs. We will also highlight some of the remarkable women at Encora who are driving change and making a positive impact in the tech industry.
Encora’s Commitment to Empowering Women in Tech
At Encora, we recognize the importance of gender equality and inclusivity in the tech industry. In recognition of International Women's Day this month, it's crucial to reflect on our commitment to supporting and empowering women to drive impact and succeed in their careers.
We strive to be an ally to women by fostering an equitable, supportive, and inclusive workplace through concrete and meaningful initiatives. Our dedication to promoting diversity and driving measurable progress toward workplace equality is reflected in the various programs and benefits we offer, which aim to create an environment where women can thrive and achieve their full potential.
In the following sections, we will delve into the specific ways Encora supports women in tech, including:
- Equal growth opportunities
- Comprehensive benefits for work-life balance
- A strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Robust learning and development programs
- Corporate social responsibility activities
Through these initiatives, we aim to empower women at every stage of their careers and help them overcome the challenges they face in the tech industry. We believe that by creating a workplace that values and supports women, we can not only attract and retain top talent but also drive innovation and success for our company and our clients.
Equal Growth Opportunities
At Encora, we are committed to providing equal opportunities for growth and career advancement to all our employees, regardless of gender or background. We foster an inclusive environment where fairness and equity are at the forefront, ensuring everyone has access to the same resources and support.
Encora empowers women to pursue careers in technology through initiatives like Women Hackers, which provide platforms for engagement and visibility in technology-related fields. Our engineers tackle complex initiatives modernizing digital platforms and processes for renowned enterprises such as UPS, TripAdvisor, Sony, Citi, VMware, DHL, OpenTable, and TaskRabbit. With expertise in next-gen technologies like Cloud, Data, AI, and Cybersecurity, we provide growth through continuous skills development with the excitement of impactful work.
Comprehensive Benefits for Work-Life Balance
We understand that women often handle multiple responsibilities and seek a better work-life balance. That's why Encora offers diverse benefits valued by all employees, including:
- Flexible work arrangements, such as remote and hybrid options
- Comprehensive leave policies
- Robust healthcare coverage
- Wellness programs designed to support physical and mental well-being
These benefits are designed to help our employees, especially women, balance their personal and professional lives, enabling them to thrive in their careers while managing their responsibilities outside of work.
A Strong Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I)
Our approach to DE&I is multifaceted, aimed at creating awareness, providing education, offering advancement opportunities, and celebrating diversity, which include:
- Diversity Communities: Encora hosts employee resource groups for women, LGBTQ+ individuals, caregivers, veterans, ethnic/cultural minorities, and colleagues with different abilities to provide networking and advancement opportunities.
- Targeted Recruiting: Our partnerships and inclusive sourcing techniques proactively attract diverse talent.
- Management Training: Sensitization coaching promotes equitable hiring, performance reviews, and promotions, and mitigates unconscious bias.
- Celebrating Diversity: Across global divisions, Encora celebrates Pride Month, our Women Hackers campaign, and events that build cultural competency.
- Succession Planning: Leadership pipelines guide high potential from underrepresented groups.
Robust Learning and Development (L&D) Programs
Encora prioritizes continuous skills development through rigorous L&D programs, including structured onboarding, emerging technology training, internal certifications, mentoring, and performance assessments, following the Extended Delivery Center framework. Engineers collaborate with competency teams to train, bridge skill gaps, and share best practices.
We encourage attaining advanced certifications from Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Databricks, etc.
Mentorship and reverse shadowing also enable two-way knowledge sharing between experienced and new staff. Bi-annual skills assessments help gauge capabilities versus required competencies, providing insights to guide re-skilling, upskilling, or realignment.
Encora’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Activities
In 2023, Encora partnered with Goodera for CSR and Diversity activities, reinforcing our commitment to social responsibility. We also joined WomenTech's global conference, where our speaker, Flavia from Brazil, emphasized the importance of diversity as a driving force of innovation.
Encora has a dedicated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy focused on high-impact areas like food security, women's STEM education, youth training, and environmental sustainability where employees are encouraged to volunteer.
Sustainability initiatives enhance efficiency and minimize environmental impact through flexible workplace policies, optimized travel, e-waste recycling, and conservation projects.
Celebrating Encora’s Achievements
Continuous recognition from prestigious workplace culture recognition bodies, based on anonymous surveys, speaks to Encora’s efforts to create an inspiring culture where every member feels welcomed, supported, and empowered.
Encora has achieved workplace culture honors such as:
- Great Place to Work has certified Encora workplaces across eight countries, covering over 90% of our workforce, which includes:
- Best Workplaces in Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica, India, Bolivia, Colombia, Brazil, and the Philippines
- Best Workplaces for Women in Mexico and India
- Best Workplaces for Millennials in India
- Best Workplaces for Inclusion and Gender Equality in Bolivia
- Best Workplaces for Women
- Comparably awards further highlight Encora’s excellence across various aspects of workplace culture, including Best CEOs for Women, Best CEOs for Diversity, Best Company for Diversity, Best Company Culture, Best Company for Career Growth, and Best Company for Compensation.
- Encora has also maintained a 4+ overall rating on Glassdoor among its IT services peers, reflecting high levels of employee satisfaction.
Our Team's Perspective
We extend our thanks to all the women who have contributed to our campaigns and initiatives, driving positive change within our organization and paving the way for the women to come.
Let us introduce you to some of our many talented and capable forewomen:
Conclusion
Throughout this article, we have presented Encora's unwavering commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture that empowers women to thrive in their tech careers. By providing equal growth opportunities, comprehensive benefits, robust learning and development programs, and engaging in meaningful corporate social responsibility activities, Encora is not only supporting its own employees but also contributing to the broader goal of promoting gender equality in tech.
As we celebrate the achievements of women in tech and reflect on the progress made thus far, we acknowledge that there is still work to be done. Encora invites you to join us in our mission to build a more inclusive future for women in the tech industry. Together, we can create a world where women are empowered to pursue their passions, break down barriers, and achieve their full potential. Be part of a company that actively works to create a more inclusive and equitable industry for all.
Get Started! https://womenhackers.encora.com/
