Workplace diversity & inclusion (D&I) is an ongoing priority for BeyondTrust. Building a corporate culture that both embraces and leverages the business impacts of D&I is a key driver of BeyondTrust’s core values.
Let’s take a look at the progress BeyondTrust has made in 2022, the ongoing plans for a future of diversity & inclusion within the company, and the impact our D&I initiatives are having on employees across the company.
Companies need to create a culture that fully leverages the benefits of diversity—one in which…all employees, feel comfortable bringing their unique ideas, perspectives, and experiences to the table.
What does diversity & inclusion look like at BeyondTrust?
BeyondTrust’s diversity & inclusion (D&I) Initiatives were first launched in 2019. Since then, we have stayed focused on making strides in this area by investing in the ongoing development of programming and initiatives that support employees as they explore their own identities and encourage them to learn about and embrace the humanness and diversity of their colleagues and peers.
One of the core ways BeyondTrust empowers its D&I expansion is through the BeyondTrust Resource Groups (BTRGs).
What are BeyondTrust’s Employee Resource Groups?
BeyondTrust Employee Resource Groups (BTRGs) exist to bolster our Diversity & Inclusion initiatives by providing centralized support and programming for our employees, as well as a place to explore identity (their own and that of others). BTRGs are centered on community, education, and appreciation in order to humanize the workplace, build relationships, improve intersectionality, and celebrate our differences for an enhanced employee experience.
- All BTRGs are open to all employees
- BTRGs promote diversity, openness, education, and inclusiveness
- BTRGs respect differences in beliefs and opinions
BTRGs host both regular community gatherings and larger events for the company aimed at connection, education, and celebration/appreciation. Each BTRG has an has open, active, Teams channel which allows employees to connect and explore different groups on their own.
I believe in diversity of thought and unity of purpose at BeyondTrust. I feel strongly this is an essential part of what makes BeyondTrust excel in our employee experience and culture, and that it directly reflects on our ability to deliver the best experience to our customers.
2023 BeyondTrust Resource Groups (BTRGs)
BeyondTrust is continually growing and expanding its diversity of resource groups to support the growing diversity of its employees. Here is the list of all the BTRGs that will be helping to drive BeyondTrust’s diversity & inclusion initiatives in 2023 and beyond:
Amigos@BT
The mission of Amigos@BT is to create a safe environment for Hispanic/Latino employees to develop internal partnerships, and to provide opportunities for Hispanic/Latino employees to thrive within BeyondTrust.
Black@BT
Black@BT’s mission is to create a safe space by building community for our Black employees and allies to engage, connect, empower, and learn.
The Black@BT resource group is such an important space for our black employees. Over the past few years, our community has experience so much trauma that we need a space to just breath. As the lead of this group, I want our employees to feel heard, supported, and included. There are times we need to lean on each other to get through, and I am proud that we have created a space for our black employees to be their authentic selves and receive support from our allies.
Faith@BT
Faith@BT is dedicated to providing all BT employees access to a safe environment where they can gather, learn, and support one another in the spirit of their beliefs. This resource group encourages employees to bring their whole selves to work: mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual. Faith@BT has a growing number of chapters representing a variety of faith traditions.
Neurodiversity@BT
Neurodiversity@BT aims to foster a workplace environment where neurodivergent individuals are understood and valued. It also seeks to increase acceptance and inclusion of all employees while embracing neurological differences. This group creates a safe space for open communication and engagement for Neurodiverse employees and allies.
The Neurodiversity group here at BeyondTrust is helping build understanding and awareness of what it is like to live in a predominantly neurotypical world as a neurodivergent individual. Being heard and understood is a universal human desire, and at BeyondTrust, we now have a community space where we are truly able to bring our whole selves to work in a way that previously seemed impossible.
Pride@BT
Pride@BT’s mission is to develop partnerships amongst all employees within BeyondTrust. By doing so, we can create a safe environment where all voices can be heard and represented, while promoting tolerance, acceptance, and diversity.
Pride@BT runs numerous events, but a fan-favorite is “Summer of Pride,” a summer-long event series that includes company-wide activities, like the Ally Judgement-Free Live Forum and Virtual Drag Bingo. Summer of Pride has become an annual highlight for BeyondTrust employees. It even has its own t-shirts!
VALOR@BT
VALOR@BT provides support for our employees in every country who have served in some capacity in a uniformed service branch. The group seeks to increase recruitment, talent development, personal growth, and leadership opportunities for prior military members. VALOR also aims to support employees who have a family member who serves or has served in uniform, and to increase visibility on topics that are important to those who have served.
Women and Allies
The Women and Allies group is dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive environment for open communication and engagement within the female-identifying community and among their allies. It also aims to develop and grow careers for women at BeyondTrust and increase visibility on topics relating to the female experience at BeyondTrust.
Currently, 32% of our workforce identify as women, a figure that has seen an increase since 2020.
As an example of the ongoing programming the Women and Allies resource group runs as part of their internal networking initiative, in 2022 they started the “Possibili-teas” virtual series, featuring our exceptional female leaders at BeyondTrust.
BeyondTrust’s diversity & inclusion recognitions
Our recognition by Fortune Magazine as one of 2022’s Best Workplaces for Women represented a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to improve workplace diversity & inclusion and make BeyondTrust a safe and inspiring place for women and all employees. Other recognitions of BeyondTrust’s ongoing diversity & inclusion initiatives include:
- Diversity in Tech Employer Award at the WomenTech Global Awards 2020
- Disability Inclusion Award (Angela Duggan, Director of User Experience at BeyondTrust, was recognized as an individual finalist at the WomenTech Global Awards 2020)
- Multiple Women of the channel awards (Jodie Sutton, Senior Director of Channel Marketing at BeyondTrust, was named to the Women of the Channel list for 2022)
Creating an inclusive and equitable workplace for parents
In 2022, BeyondTrust was also recognized by Fortune Magazine as a Best Workplace for Parents™. BeyondTrust has long been taking steps to support working parents, even before the 2020 pandemic hit, when all employees—and especially those with children—had to begin to navigate the complexity of balancing work, childcare, and at-home learning in a new, at-home office space. The Best Workplaces for Parents award is a proud acknowledgement of BeyondTrust’s ability to accommodate and encourage the work-life balance of its employees, embracing their humanity, and allowing them to feel confident that the time they dedicate to their families and personal lives won’t jeopardize their ability to grow and advance in their careers.
Here are a few of the ways BeyondTrust supports families:
- The Beyond Parental Control chat allows employees to share photos, news, and many of the antics that their children are up to.
- The BeyondTrust’s Kids Got Talent show features videos of kids showcasing their many talents. Winners get bragging rights, but also a prize!
- MarioKart Tournaments
- Evening events for employees and their kids. An employee (and family) favorite is our family trivia, Are you Smarter than a BT Kid??
- Annual pre-Christmas visits from Mrs. Clause where she reads ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas to all the kids. PJ’s and Hot Chocolate a must!
Beyond BT family events are the numerous support opportunities the business provides to parents. This includes acknowledging that we have responsibilities that require us to do drop offs and pickups at peak work times. The flexibility and considerations have been a common theme in our engagement surveys.
The flexibility my manager offering to me as a parent of young children is one of the many reasons, I love it here.
Our employees are more than just workers; they are Mothers, Fathers, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles. We bring our whole selves to work, and we are given the opportunities to feel successful at home and at work, even when they’re in the same place.
Diversity & inclusion events and programming at BeyondTrust
Our strong commitment to creating an exceptional employee experience based on our core values for all employees is reflected in our continued investment in various development programs. D&I programs are planned by our employee-led “Diversity & Inclusion” (D&I) team, which includes employees at all levels and areas across the business, and by our BeyondTrust Resource Groups.
The BTRGs hosted more than 30 events for the company in 2022, including our 3rd annual BeyondDiversity Event (we’ll be continuing this tradition this year!). An internal summit for all employees, this event features a half-day of sessions that include employee stories, a keynote speaker, and a dive into our D&I strategy and data.
Here are just a few examples of the D&I programming that took place this past year:
- BeyondTrust's Women in Security Network - Founded in 2020, this program provides opportunities for women in cybersecurity to come together to network and collaborate across different organizations, share ideas, and encourage a more inclusive and diversified industry.
- U.S. Pride Month - The LGBTQIA+ Cinema Club were a highlight of the month, along with the numerous Discussions Pride@BT led throughout U.S. Pride Month.
- BeyondTrust International Women’s Day Event - This virtual event allowed BT employees to hear directly from a panel of women who have succeeded in their careers and continue to create an impact.
- Hispanic Heritage Month - The Amigos@BT employee resource group hosted a number of events to celebrate and build an understanding and appreciation of Hispanic culture.
- Junetheenth - BeyondTrust hosted educational lunches supplied by black businesses at all U.S. offices, and Black@BT shared the history of Juneteenth at our Atlanta Headquarters and hosted a virtual Juneteenth trivia competition for all employees.
- Black History Month – Celebration included a visit to the National Civil and Human Rights Museum to reflect and gain knowledge on all the great works Black Americans have done in the fight for their freedom in the US.
- Table Talk Series - Black@BT hosted a series of conversation covering topics such as DEI: Equality v Equity, Unlearning Traditional Biases: Race, and The Wealth Gap in the Black Community.
What do our employees think about BeyondTrust’s dedication to diversity and inclusion?
To provide some perspective, here’s what some of the employees across Beyondtrust have shared with us following our inclusion in Fortune Magazine’s Best Workplaces for Women in 2022:
“Over my 14-year career here, I have seen an increased focus and deep cultural work take place to implement programs and resources to create a workplace where all women at any level in the organization feel like they belong.” -- Deidre McInnis, Sr Director Total Rewards
“BeyondTrust has actively made space for so many women with a vast array of skills and experience to provide mentorship and guidance, and this has directly benefited me in the decade I have worked here. I feel very lucky to be a part of what makes this a great place to work!” -- Meaghan Shubaly, Application Security Manager
“As a working mother, BeyondTrust has offered incredible flexibility that has enabled me to achieve success at work as well as be there for my family.” -- Stacy Blaiss, VP Corporate Marketing
“When I came to BT, I wanted challenging work within a friendly, inclusive, and collaborative culture. I found just that. I believe that, at BT, your contributions are valued, you can safely be transparent with your opinions, and your differences are embraced.” -- Lorna Russell, VP Product Management
Why will we continue to support diversity and inclusion in 2023 and beyond?
In short, diversity and inclusion are initiatives that matter. The employees who drive these programs do so with such creativity, passion, and care, while living our core values each and every day. At BeyondTrust, we genuinely believe diversity and inclusion are core drivers for the employee experience and the key to our culture at BeyondTrust. When women—and all employees, irrespective of gender identity—are respected and their contributions are valued, they are more likely to be happy in their jobs and to feel connected to their coworkers. Creating an environment where all employees can work happily and productively as a team is the key to the entire company’s ability to grow and succeed.
In addition to building a sense of belonging for all of our employees, it is our imperative to identify and enable advancement opportunities for high-potential employees across all groups. As 2023 greets us with more change to come, we look forward to continuing to elevate our efforts in the D&I space. BeyondTrust is committed to making further progress in this area and expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups.
Click here to learn more about Employee Life at BeyondTrust.
Laura Edwards-Lassner, VP, Talent Management, BeyondTrust
Laura Edwards-Lassner has been with BeyondTrust for the past 5 of her 20+ years in HR. Laura is passionate about Diversity & Inclusion, with a focus on creating opportunities to support the career growth and development of the women of the organization. Laura mentors several women, both in the work setting and outside, encouraging each one of them to create opportunities for themselves. When not on a Teams call, Laura can be found enjoying the wonderment of being a Mom to 8-year old twin boys.
