OUTSCHOOL
Role: Project Lead, Strategic Advisor,
Workshop Facilitator & DEI Leadership Coach
How can you build belonging within a tech company doubling in size?
Nourishing inclusion at scale
Co-Facilitator Zahida Sherman and I partnered with People Ops Lead Leslie Wilson to facilitate workshops — or, what we call catalysts for transformation to deliver on their commitment to help “all employees feel that they truly belong, that they are valued, that they are safe, and that they are given an equal opportunity to advance and succeed in our company.” Inspired by our approach to vulnerability and difficult conversations, Leslie reached out after facilitating a Safe Space on antiracism for Union Square Ventures HR leaders, a week after the murder of George Floyd. We collaborated with Outschool throughout the duration of 2021.
“Melissa and Zahida have significantly impacted our organization by leading with vulnerability and compassion. We are stronger, more honest with one another, and more innovative because of our work together.”
— Outschool Manager
Our collaboration
Strategic Implementation
DEI Strategic Advisory on Employee Survey & Calibration Process
DEI Coaching for Recruiting and Teacher Success Leads.
All-Company & Manager Training
Online Workshop: Unconscious Bias for All Company
Online Workshop: Power & Privilege Workshop for All Company
Online Workshop: Equitable Feedback for Managers
“The workshop helped me realize how often I hold unconscious biases and provided me with the understanding and tools to combat them. I left feeling hopeful and empowered.”
— Sophie, Outschool, Customer Support Representative
Our Impact
Putting DEI language into numbers:
73+% of workshop survey respondents expressed, “I feel a sense of inclusion and belonging” responding to the question: “How effective was the workshop in building a greater sense of belonging for you at Outschool?”
Key strategies for scaling a container for belonging
Set the tone through thoughtfully crafted workshop community agreements
We spend a lot of time carefully designing slides, agreements and email communication that will help set the foundation for uncomfortable conversations rooted in respect and compassion — both in the large group and small breakout rooms. Community agreements are a tool for co-creating the behaviors and actions we’d like to see in a workshop.
Build safety through creative and compassionate ice breakers
One of the first exercises for our workshop on Unconscious Bias was an invitation for people to be real and biased with us, essentially for everyone in the company to anonymously share what words came to mind when they looked at us over the Zoom. The purpose of this vulnerable exercise is to show how quickly bias can impact our perception of others in the workplace — and to start building psychological safety around naming and owning our bias.
Explore vulnerable scenarios of workplace oppression in small groups
Once we start to create a container of safety, we offer invitational small breakout room groups where employees can explore a scenario of potential oppression.
We know that everyone is coming from different emotional geographies and comfort levels in talking about oppression so we offer a modality of ways people can participate in the breakout room — whether it is through listening, talking, role playing or writing over chat. And with every discussion or breakout room, there is always a right to pass and sit quietly off camera in the main room.
