At the core of every great company are the individuals it employs and the communities it serves. In order to support these individuals and communities, it is the organization’s responsibility to create an atmosphere where everyone feels safe and empowered to reach their fullest potential. At OneTrust we have built a team of leaders dedicated to guiding thoughtful and comprehensive change within our organization and the communities we operate in. In August we highlighted a few Diversity, Equity & Inclusion council members as we reflected on the council’s first year. Learn more about these members and the Council’s impact:
Adriana Jones Lima
What’s your job title and how long have you been at OneTrust?
I joined OneTrust almost three years ago Initially I worked on PrivacyConnect as an events coordinator then as a content creator. This past Fall I joined OneTrust’s PR team and support the PreferenceChoice and Data Discovery offerings. It has been a wild few years, but I’ve had the opportunity to grow and learn exponentially.
Why did you join the DE&I Council?
Like many others, I felt deeply moved after the death of George Floyd. As an African American living abroad, I felt extremely powerless and alone and wanted to find a way to support my friends and family back home.
When I saw the possibility to help create within change OneTrust and the communities we’re based in I jumped at the opportunity. Especially when I saw the opportunity to leverage my past grant writing and specialized recruitment experience, with the Council’s donation and recruitment efforts.
What are you most proud of accomplishing while on the DE&I Council?
This may seem relatively small, but I’d have to say I’m most proud of some of the communications I’ve led. From educational posts around Ramadan or Pride, to LinkedIn Lives celebrating Women’s Day and Asian American Heritage Month. Although these things may not have created monumental change, they helped to start a dialogue on difficult conversations, and I take pride in that.
What are some of the changes at OneTrust that are exciting to you? (Doesn’t have to be DE&I related)
I’ve loved talking to some of the working moms at OneTrust. Whether it’s discussing the fears of returning to work from maternity leave, balancing family life and work, setting boundaries with work from home, and so much more. I really hope we can have a formal support system for working parents at OneTrust in the future. For now, the informal network that is developing has been inspiring!
Francesca Barnes
What’s your job title and how long have you been at OneTrust?
I am a Customer Success Consultant and I have been with OneTrust for nearly 2 years now.
Why did you join the DE&I Council?
Although DE&I isn’t a new topic, 2020 was a global wake-up call to re-examine these initiatives. I wanted to be an advocate for change, ensuring that there was a culture of belonging for all our employees to feel comfortable and continue to grow within OneTrust.
What are you most proud of accomplishing while on the DE&I Council?
I worked closely with marketing to begin raising awareness amongst the company for global celebrations including Pride, Black History Month and Eid Al-Adha. This then complimented our work on the employee portal and the company’s interest to join our Employee Trust Groups (ETGs), further enhancing OneTrust’s inclusive culture.
What are some of the changes at OneTrust that are exciting to you? (Doesn’t have to be DE&I related)
As OneTrust continues to grow at an exponential rate, the rate of hiring is also increasing, contributing to the diverse perspectives and backgrounds that will be represented within the company. I’m excited for this to continue to drive and shape our DE&I initiatives, as we grow as a team and company.
Heidy Paterson
What’s your job title and how long have you been at OneTrust?
Program Manager; will be 2 years in November.
Why did you join the DE&I Council?
I joined the DE&I council because the summer of 2020 highlighted issues a lot of people of color were already very much aware of. I also own a small resume writing and career counseling business that caters to Latinx individuals and have seen first-hand the struggle Latinx women face when entering the workforce. Through the DE&I Council, I have been able to work on initiatives that are making real progress and real changes across the organization.
What are you most proud of accomplishing while on the DE&I Council?
The recent DE&I Ask Me Anything Townhall where we presented our goals and accomplishments to the company and answered some pretty tough questions from the audience! It was very exciting to receive so much great feedback and interest from people who want to be a part of the DE&I council and help OneTrust continue rolling out these great initiatives.
What are some of the changes at OneTrust that are exciting to you? (Doesn’t have to be DE&I related)
The recent changes to our health coverage benefits, unlimited PTO, and the additional company holidays tell me that our leadership team recognizes the importance of staying healthy and recharging.
Sonali Patel
What’s your job title and how long have you been at OneTrust?
Legal Counsel; 2 years
Why did you join the DE&I Council?
I love working at OneTrust and want to play my part in helping with the growth of the company. Numerous studies show that companies with healthy diversity tend to be more successful. It’s more than demographics for me though. I believe an equitable and inclusive environment aligned with our “one team” motto will help us be unstoppable. If I can put myself in a position where I can represent the voice of OT employees to help make the changes necessary to attain this goal, then why not join?
What are you most proud of accomplishing while on the DE&I Council?
I could list off all of the things – Employee Trust Groups (ETGs), engagement survey, MLK day and Juneteenth as company holidays, etc. – but honestly, what I’m most proud of accomplishing is the foundation that allows us to accomplish all of these things. It’s been a learning curve for sure, but a great experience nonetheless. On top of it all, I’m so proud of the fact that we have worked collaboratively with different OT departments (such as HR, Marketing, PR, etc.).
What are some of the changes at OneTrust that are exciting to you? (Doesn’t have to be DE&I related)
Employee Trust Groups. ETGs are going to be key in building that sense of community and belonging at OneTrust. There is a social aspect to the ETGs, but they are going to be so much more than that. ETGs will have goals that align with the goals of the company. I’m looking forward to the ETGs being a great resource for education and open dialogue.il
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