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Q&A: Globant pledges to ‘Be Kind’ with 2020 initiative (Includes interview)

The Globant initiative will focus on three key tenets: being kind to peers, to humanity and to the planet. As an example, Globant is committed to fostering the growth and promotion of female leadership by training 5,000 women. In addition, the company is helping the environment by transitioning to renewable energy.

To learn more about how the Be Kind initiative and sustainability strategy will encourage diversity within the company, Digital Journal spoke with Wanda Weigert, Chief Brand Officerat Globant.

Digital Journal: What proportion of positions within the tech industry are held by women?

Wanda Weigert: Studies show that less than 1 in 4 (22 percent) tech industry positions are currently held by women.

DJ: What are the aims of the Be Kind initiative?

Weigert: Be Kind is our sustainability plan to transform organizations and people’s lives. We want to make a greater impact on humanity, the planet and our peers. Under these pillars, we reinforce Globant’s focus on guaranteeing diversity, on working with disadvantaged people and on becoming a carbon neutral company.

DJ: How did the idea for the Be Kind initiative come about?

Weigert: In order to create a real and profound impact in the world, it’s not enough to have a corporate plan. You need everyone to get involved. Be Kind is an invitation to all our stakeholders to assess and even change how they relate to the other. If we work all together towards the same goal, great things will happen. Be Kind intivet each Globant employee to find the cause they are most committed to and achieve measurable, concrete goals. We hope that our Be Kind initiative will inspire other organizations to begin their own similar initiatives to make workplaces, and the world, a better place.

DJ: How is Be Kind promoting diversity?

Weigert: To improve gender equality in the technology industry, Globant pledges to train 5,000 women around the globe by 2025 and will work on fostering growth and promotion of women leadership. This effort is an extension of existing diversity initiatives Globant has promoted for years. For example, our Women that Build initiative hosts events, seminars and trainings for women and girls from across the world.

DJ: What successes have there been to date?

Weigert: Globant has already committed to several philanthropic programs from inclusion programs to junior coding classes to take action across the globe, but the Be Kind initiative will allow us as a company to go a step further in inspiring change in our industry. For the past 10 years, we’ve promoted sustainability through energy saving and recycling programs such as the donation of unused hardware to reduce technology waste to make the world a better place.

DJ: What are your goals for 2020?

Weigert: In 2020, Globant aims to advance the Be Kind initiative further into our technology practice by encouraging a global AI Manifesto as this month marks one year since its creation. We aim to invite more companies to sign our manifesto, as well as continue to refine and improve the manifesto with the help of global companies and teams. We are also continuing in our work to become a fully carbon neutral company with 100% renewable energy use.

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Written By

Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news. Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.

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