BALSA’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The BALSA Group Inclusivity Statement
The BALSA Group fosters a collaborative environment in which all voices and lived experiences are valued. Simultaneously providing professional development opportunities to our members and high-quality business insights to our clients is at the core of The BALSA Group’s mission. We firmly believe that diverse teams enhance creativity and problem solving, resulting in better insights for our clients and professional growth opportunities for our members. We are working to advance the professional development of all members, especially those from historically marginalized and underserved communities. We welcome applicants of all races, ethnicities, religions, sexualities, national origins, gender identities, ages, and all ability levels.
To help foster an inclusive environment, The BALSA Group has announced the implementation of inclusive meeting guidelines and the creation of the role of Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Inclusive Meeting Guidelines
BALSA teams meet weekly for the duration of the project, and we recognize that everyone processes and responds to information differently. If you need accommodations, contact your team advisor. In both team meetings and on Basecamp, we want to hear what you think!
Ask: Unmute yourself, type in the chat box, or follow-up on Basecamp or via private email after the meeting.
Listen: By avoiding interrupting a team member and including pauses for questions, we can allow time for information to be processed by all. Share space.
Speak: Use I statements when expressing an opinion, or cite the source where it came from.
Director of DE&I Role
The Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DoDEI) is charged with facilitating discussions and learning about opportunities for BALSA membership to become increasingly equitable and inclusive, with the end goal of fostering a collaborative environment in which all voices and lived experiences are valued. Additionally, this role will solidify open communication and collaboration with The BALSA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The BALSA Group, for event planning, pro bono projects, funding, and other opportunities.
Elections for this and the eight other officer positions are held annually in late February. If you are interested in running for this position, please don't hesitate to reach out to a current officer for more information. The current Director of DE&I is Jesús Santiago-Borges.
