In hindsight, founding the Shift feels inevitable. For a long time, I've harboured the desire to establish a company with a distinct approach to belonging, especially in the workplace. I conducted extensive research, consulting friends, family, colleagues, and professionals in the fields of DEI and research. Concurrently, I facilitated "DEI" workshops intermittently while working for other companies and in these workshops the same themes kept coming up. Surprisingly, I found fulfilment in all of these activities, managing to balance my various responsibilities - a full-time job, motherhood, and personal pursuits - quite effectively.
Despite the relative comfort of my life at a tech company in Berlin, where I received good pay and could support my family, I couldn't ignore the stagnation, nor the toxicity of the culture. The work itself was undemanding, but surviving in a culture based on performing rather than doing was exhausting and I became aware that not only was I not progressing but since becoming a mother, I probably never would. This stagnation seemed all too familiar, particularly in predominantly white workplaces where Black staff, especially women, often face barriers to advancement. Rejecting this as my fate, I, as a rebel and the master of my own destiny, sought change.
Personally, I was frustrated by the absence of two things. One, real conversations and two, a data-driven approach in workplace improvement efforts. With my background in tech, it seemed obvious that a data-centric methodology would bolster my mission to create inclusive environments where everyone can thrive.
I firmly believe that progression is a journey consisting of numerous small steps leading to a final destination. What sets the Shift apart is the belief in the importance of creativity in learning and the indispensability of a data-driven approach for planning and sustaining success. I couldn't be more enthusiastic about the journey the Shift is undertaking and the impact it will have on others.
Life is always good when you can get out of your own way and put others first.
