Maximizing Your Impact: Integrating DEI into Social Responsibility Efforts
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In this episode Natasha is joined by Rod Mcleod, VP of Social Impact at Braze.
Rod McLeod is VP of Social Impact at Braze, a comprehensive customer engagement platform. He oversees the Braze Braze for Social Impact Fund, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Programs. Prior to entering the Social Impact space, Rod was a communications professional with more than 12 years of experience. He helped build the communications function and team at Braze, helping lead the company’s IPO in 2021. Prior to Braze, Rod was the VP of Communications at Kik, a popular chat app that also created the cryptocurrency Kin, raising approximately $100M in the process.
Braze takes an inclusive-first approach to DEI and is aiming to build DEI into existing business processes in order to maximize impact. Rod has also been part of the Tech for Black Founders initiative, which aims to provide the Braze product for free to smaller Black-founded businesses in an effort to address the disparity in VC funding. The program was founded in June 2020 and 18 companies are using Braze through it.
Episode Highlights:
Rod's reasons for pursuing a career in DEI and how he started in this field.
The challenges organisations are faced with when implementing DEI initiatives and how to overcome them
How to maintain the engagement of all stakeholders.
Braze's approach to achieving sustainable and impactful DEI initiatives.
The importance of DEI metrics: how to measure and track progress.
Rod’s advice for leaders starting their DEI journey
Connect with Rod on LinkedIn
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