Prós
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to work in an organization with a working DEI culture? I joined Textio nine months ago, and it was a fantastic ride. Since I joined the company, it has undergone several repositioning (nature of start-ups) and launched a new product which I think is excellent for the market (the world needs more of this t pe of software, IMO) to help drive transformative and impactful diversity in both recruiting and performance review. People here are super helpful, responsive, and selfless in sharing ideas and chipping in to help. We have five principles that guide us through our day-to-day collaboration - Lead with curiosity, Learn by making, Lean into details, Listen to the loop, and Leave no one behind. It sounds corny on the surface, but everyone chips in, from our executives to individual contributors, to ensure no one is left behind. For me, this is truly one of the few companies that truly live by its principles. And I worked for many companies over the years. The CEO and the executive team are brilliant, hard-working, coming from genuinely diverse backgrounds but most importantly, great listeners (listening to the loop is part of our principle), which is super essential trait in my book. Most of us who have been working for more than a decade seem to be cynical about whether companies can genuinely achieve equity and inclusion in the workplace, as most of my work experience appears to be a workplace version of an El Dorado.
Contras
This is not really a con, but we've gone through changes (no different than any other startups I worked with), weathering the market conditions while launching an innovative product. It is super hard work bringing a product like Textio into the marketplace. If you are looking for a place to come in and cruise along, this is definitely not a place for you. And continuously nurturing and growing an equitable and inclusive culture is not easy. And like all startups, Textio doesn't always get it right; mistakes are made, and we learn as we go. In summary, if you are looking for a place with a clear mission to help drive equity and inclusion in the workplace and are willing to go all in, this place is definitely a Pro.
