When it comes to community impact, there is no act too small. Even the smallest gestures can inspire waves of positive change. And for some, that starts in the workplace.
Dan Mansperger, inspired by his employer World Wide Technology (WWT), decided to impact his community by founding a summer camp to empower young women with the vital technology skills needed to enter the workforce.
Mansperger, who works at WWT as a lead Salesforce architect, said WWT’s dedication to driving positive social change “opened [his] eyes to recommitting to community involvement.”
Mansperger is also a proud Global Citizen, having attended the 2022 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park with his children alongside thousands of Global Citizens, activists, world leaders, and philanthropists uniting to end poverty in all its forms.
As part of the Global Citizen Festival campaign, WWT signed on to the Race to Zero campaign to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
For Mansperger, the event highlighted WWT’s commitment to bettering communities on a local and global scale.
“We all have something to give back to the community,” said Mansperger.
Seeding a passion for giving back to future generations is important for WWT employees like Mansperger and Kabir Bindra, a managing consultant based out of New York City, who wants to show his children how important it is to get involved in the community.
Bindra believes investing your time and talents into your community can improve the world and buck “the status quo,” which he said “isn’t enough.”
WWT, through its Global Community Impact program, strives to promote and support philanthropy that generates economic, social, and financial outcomes.
A key component of that effort is the company's approximately 9,000 employees worldwide.
People, diversity, and expertise are key aspects of the company's mission to "Make a New World Happen," where employees strive to make a difference on and off the clock.
Rita Espinoza, A senior client development associate at WWT, also likes to “be a support to others,” through her volunteer work at an animal shelter.
“No matter what, there are people that care,” said Espinoza.
Before becoming an administrative coordinator at WWT, Chiquitta Oberoi grew up in India, where she witnessed poverty and hunger firsthand, motivating her to start contributing to her community, and “give back to the people who have done so much for us, and make a change.”
At WWT, giving back means creating opportunities for employees to improve their communities. Each year, every WWT employee is granted a “Day of Caring”, an initiative where employees receive a full day’s pay to volunteer in ways that are impactful to them.
WWT also empowers employees to create an impact by encouraging participation in the company’s Employee Resource Groups — an important part of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging program, to strengthen the workforce culture and inspire positive impact outside the office.
In October, WWT’s Employee Resource Group “ABLE,” a disability inclusion group, hosted the 2023 ‘Starkloff Disability Employment Summit,’ which brought together industry leaders and subject matter experts to discuss strategies for expanding disability inclusion in the workplace and community.
Jessica Schoenfelder, who leads WWT ABLE, participated in a Summit roundtable discussion of how ERGs can advance disability equality.
One of her greatest accomplishments as the leader of WWT ABLE has been proposing that WWT hire an accommodations specialist, which WWT leadership supported and actioned.
There are eight ERGs at World Wide Technology, which support a variety of employee groups, from Asian/Pacific Islanders to Hispanic/LatinX to veterans to LGBTQIA+ employees.
WWT's other ERGs are also committed to making a positive impact on WWT's communities and the company itself.
“LEAD,” an ERG focused on driving opportunities for women, participates in local initiatives including ‘Girls on the Run,’ an organization dedicated to building girls’ confidence.
WWT's Black Network ERG, SHADES, collaborated with the Urban League's Public Safety & Community Response Team, electricians from Local 1 and Local 42, the NAACP, carpenters, police officers, and more to clean up a beloved community park.
This fall, WWT completed “The Great Transformation''– a three-year study facilitated by the Great Place to Work Institute to develop inclusive leaders and close DEIB gaps.
WWT’s unique version of the program “Inclusive Leadership," focused on strengthening current initiatives that develop inclusive leaders and expand inclusive training opportunities to future leaders and new managers.
Bob Ferrell, EVP of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and Public Sector Strategy at WWT, said the results of WWT’s participation in The Great Transformation have been gratifying–“specifically the development of programs focused on fostering inclusive leaders.”
WWT’s commitment to empowering employees has contributed to its placement on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® 2023 for 12 consecutive years and its designation as a “top-scorer” on the 2023 Disability Equality Index Report.
Hannah Hopson, a WWT client manager, said WWT “encourages their employees to pursue their dreams and their passions, in addition to their careers.”
For Kizzy Dunton, a WWT production manager, she spends the day advocating for “equal rights across all genders,” — a cause she deeply cares about.
According to Pre-Sales Consulting Engineer Samir Mehta, taking action means “helping others in your community.” WWT takes action by empowering its community members to make an impact in their worlds.
“Right here, right now, we’re making a new world happen,” said Mehta.