Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Technology and Consulting: A Point of View!

By Almas Jaipuri, Sr. Consultant, Data Science & Analytics, and Falguni Deswal, Analyst, Client Success 

I, Almas Jaipuri, have been with Fresh Gravity for five years. During my interview, I was deeply impressed by the strong presence of highly influential women leaders in technical and management roles—a key factor in my decision to join the firm. Five years later, this commitment to diversity continues to grow, with women making up 40% of the workforce, 100% pay equity, and 50% of leadership positions held by women.

When I, Falguni Deswal, joined Fresh Gravity, I had no idea how enriching the experience would be. When I relocated to the Pune office, it was the first time I had stepped out of my comfort zone. However, from the moment I arrived, the support and encouragement from everyone was unwavering. My colleagues went above and beyond to help me settle in and their constant support made me feel included and valued at every step of the way.

This blog is a deep dive into our experiences at Fresh Gravity—experiences that have shaped our outlook towards the firm and have brought to light the diverse, inclusive, and talented pool of team members that have helped Fresh Gravity become a pioneer in the industry.  

But first, let’s get the basics out of the way. 

What is DEI and what does it include? 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are three distinct, yet interrelated concepts that are fundamental to creating a positive work environment.   

• Diversity refers to the presence of differences in the workplace, encompassing a wide range of factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, religion, language, age, marital status, sexual orientation, physical/mental ability, socio-economic status, and even cultural perspectives. It’s about bringing together individuals with diverse backgrounds, each contributing their unique experiences and viewpoints. 

• Equity goes beyond equality by ensuring that all individuals have access to the same opportunities. It involves recognizing that people have different needs and, therefore, may require different support structures to achieve equal outcomes. 

• Inclusion is about creating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported. It’s about making sure that diverse voices are heard and that individuals are not only present but also actively participate and thrive within the organization.

At Fresh Gravity, we proudly foster an environment that embraces gender diversity, intergenerational equity, interdisciplinary inclusivity, and the absence of organizational hierarchies, regional dominance, or any other sectional biases. 

When I (Almas) set out to pursue my ambition of moving overseas, Fresh Gravity provided me with the incredible opportunity to join its North America-based team. This opened new professional paths and connections for me. My colleagues here went above and beyond to make me feel welcome; they even attended my wedding in Toronto and celebrated with the rest of the firm by sharing precious moments on our internal communication channels. This made my day truly special as we transcended social and geographical barriers. 

From the very beginning, I (Falguni) felt empowered by my team at Fresh Gravity. I have never felt that my age or level of experience would limit my potential here. In fact, during my very first week, I was entrusted with managing a team of five and had the opportunity to directly engage with stakeholders. That responsibility boosted my confidence and solidified my trust in the team I was about to work with.
Since then, I’ve never hesitated to dive into firm-wide activities, and recently, I had the chance to share my thoughts on Why is Fresh Gravity the Best Place to Work. This wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible leadership and the welcoming, inclusive culture at the heart of the firm.  

How does Fresh Gravity promote DEI? 

At Fresh Gravity, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment in all aspects of our work. Here’s how we integrate DEI into our practices: 

1. Unconscious Bias Training: We offer necessary trainings through our HR & Training platforms to raise awareness of unconscious bias and provide actionable steps to address it, ensuring that bias doesn’t impact our team in their decisions or interactions. 
2. Diverse Recruitment Partnerships: Our recruitment team actively collaborates with universities, coding boot camps, and organizations that connect underrepresented talent with tech opportunities. We also participate in job fairs specifically aimed at attracting diverse candidates, which helps expand our talent pool. We take a proactive approach in engaging candidates from various backgrounds and ensure that our job descriptions are inclusive. 
3. Women in Leadership: We’re proud to have a significant representation of women in leadership and executive roles, demonstrating our commitment to gender diversity at all levels of the organization. 
4. Support for Working Mothers: We provide strong support for women throughout their motherhood journey with a 26-week maternity leave and flexible work hours to help them transition back to work at their own pace. Don’t believe us? Hear from a new mom at Fresh Gravity about her experience. 
5. Global Inclusivity: To ensure our team is diverse and inclusive of different regions, we offer work-from-home options, allowing us to tap into talent from all over the world while maintaining flexibility for our team members. 

Through these initiatives and others, Fresh Gravity has achieved near gender parity and takes pride in fostering a genuine commitment to inclusive growth, without relying on enforced quotas. 

Key Benefits of Our DEI Commitment 

Our strong commitment to embracing diverse talents and creating an inclusive environment has generated many valuable outcomes such as –   

1. Empowered Decision Making: A diverse group of people brings different experiences and outlooks. This has helped us identify challenges and present unique solutions that have led to better decision-making.  
2. Improved Innovation and Creativity: A diverse team brings a variety of perspectives, leading to better problem-solving and more creative ideas. This diversity enables Fresh Gravity to be innovation-led and drive meaningful advancements in our industry. 
3. Enhanced Employee Satisfaction: An inclusive environment ensures employees feel valued and respected, boosting morale, engagement, and retention.  This was reflected in our recent off-site event, which stood out as one of the most memorable and impactful company-wide events we’ve experienced. 
4. Better Recruitment, Talent Retention: Our top-notch recruitment team’s dedication to hiring the best talent through diverse channels has built a strong, multifaceted workforce. Many team members have grown and evolved with Fresh Gravity over the years, including me (Almas).

DEI is an Ongoing Journey 

DEI is an ongoing journey, one that needs to be adopted every step of the way. At Fresh Gravity, DEI initiatives are not just a priority but are woven into the fabric of our daily operations, helping us cultivate a workplace where equity, inclusion, and a genuine sense of belonging thrive for every employee. 

For the past 10 years, we’ve prioritized fair, unbiased recruitment, focusing on the qualifications and potential of each candidate.
Our commitment to providing equal opportunities drives our success and helps us build a team where everyone can thrive. 

If you’re looking to join a company that genuinely values DEI and embraces it in all aspects of its culture, we’d love to hear from you! Please send your resume to careers@freshgravity.com and take the first step toward making an impact with us.