Happy People Is The Goal: An Interview with Atlassian’s Head of Diversity

What if bringing more diversity into tech could be as simple as having a coffee with someone new?

At Atlassian, where Aubrey Blanche is the global head of diversity and inclusion, one successful program is just that simple: Women of Atlassian opt in, are matched randomly with a new teammate, and grow their professional network through an occasional latte.

It’s just one example of the way Aubrey makes the tech industry’s diversity challenge look tantalizingly solvable.

Using a combination of data and empathy, she’s making strides at Atlassian, which recently released its teamwide demographics for the first time.

For those just getting started on their own diversity and inclusion efforts, she offers commonsense advice like taking names off resumes, giving  job candidates a role-related project test before interviewing, and even starting a lunch group.

“One of the most powerful things is the power of questions,” she told CultureLab. “Constantly ask yourself: ‘What am I leaving out? Who am I leaving out? What perspective don’t we have?’ Diversity is not the end goal. High performing teams and happy people is the end goal. Diversity and inclusion is the way we get there.”

In this episode of CultureLab, she shares how she defines and works toward diversity on a global team, how she leverages intersectional identities to bring everyone to the table, and why diversity is a new competitive advantage for businesses.

Plus: Carolyn and I welcome a special Buffer guest, our own new Buffer mom Nicole Miller, as we talk about being a parent at a startup and our family leave policy.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

• What it’s like being a new parent at a growing startup
• How we created our family leave recommendations
• Why parents get more done in less time
• Nicole’s best advice for those who want to support parents at work
• What diversity looks like at a global company
• How Atlassian applies data to their diversity efforts
• Why diversity is crucial to creating high-functioning teams
• How a commitment to diversity has strengthened Atlassian’s brand
• How storytelling is they key to unlock deep empathy
• Advice for those who want to bring a diversity and inclusion focus to their organization
• How diversity is a competitive advantage for businesses
• A definition of intersectionality

Stuff we talk about in this episode:

• The role of Community Champions at Buffer
• Family at Buffer
• Studies that show parents make better employees
• Atlassian’s team diversity report
• The research behind diversity of thought
  • Scientific American on how diversity makes us smarter
  • The New York Times on how diversity aids creativity
• The hijabi cartoon figures drawn by Aubrey’s teammate

• Atlassian’s awesome values!

• Unconscious bias training
• 185 black women to follow on Twitter!

Notable moments

• 3:52: Too close to the problem
• 5:40: Roosters and puppies and babies
• 7:30: What it’s like to be the first
• 8:59: Good job, evolution
• 11:50: I need to hear that it’s OK
• 15:19: Globally cohesive, locally relevant
• 17:47: Diversity of thought makes teams more effective
• 19:08: Coffee dates!
• 22:31: The team level is where the magic happens
• 29:05: Everyone has diversity
• 32:35: Diversity is not the end goal
• 34:10: Moving the flywheel
• 44:44: We’re all contributing to these problems
• 45:23: Boring Wednesday nights
• 46:09: The best icebreaker question

Further reading

Atlassian’s detailed explanation of their approach to diversity reporting

Family at Buffer: How We Work to Include Everyone With Our Values and Perks

What Family Leave Really Looks Like at a Tech Startup

Get in touch!

• Connect with Aubrey: Twitter | website
• Connect with Carolyn on Twitter
• Connect with me, Courtney, on Twitter!

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Over to you!

Have you taken family leave at your work? What was the experience like? How diverse are the teams where you work? We’d love to hear from you in the comments, on Twitter, or at culturelab@buffer.com!