A Diversity and Inclusivity Q&A
Lani N. AllenEmployees are more likely to feel comfortable and happy in an environment where inclusivity is a priority and where people of all backgrounds feel confident in their ability and achieve their best.
Diversity at Einstein is of extreme importance to me. I currently oversee the recruitment and onboarding process for the College and interact daily with individuals from diverse backgrounds. They offer a selection of different talents and experiences that are of benefit to our Einstein family. When people of different backgrounds, experiences and working styles work side-by-side, they bounce ideas off of each other and offer feedback and suggestions—and creative concepts and research are born.
Since we are an organization that embraces diversity and is known for our pioneering research, we attract a wider range of diverse candidates to our vacancies, which keeps Einstein a progressive institution and appeals to individuals from all walks of life. Naturally, as the number of applicants for each vacancy rises, the chances of finding an exceptional candidate increases as well. I also find that when recruiting new team members, they all express that they want to work in an environment that is accepting of all backgrounds and promotes equality. Employees are more likely to feel comfortable and happy in an environment where inclusivity is a priority and where people of all backgrounds feel confident in their ability and achieve their best.
I have been a part of the Einstein family for two and a half years and have seen a lot of changes regarding diversity since my arrival, which I am extremely happy about. Within the Talent Acquisition Department, we promote diversity by recruiting candidates with diverse backgrounds. We do this by posting all of our positions on job boards/publications that target and attract diverse applicants.
I am proud to be a Safe Zone Ally at Einstein. This committee promotes safety and support for members of the LGBTQ+ Community. I also participate in diversity conferences at Pace University and will be speaking at a diversity conference at Fordham University to attract new graduates within the STEM career track to join our organization.
My hope is to see more programs implemented at Einstein that address diverse lifestyle issues. We have the SafeZone Ally Program, which is awesome; however, more can be done and accomplished. Also, it would be helpful to incorporate training on how to work with diverse populations.
Lani N. Allen
lani.allen@einsteinmed.org
Associate Director, Talent Acquisition
Department of Human Resources
Albert Einstein College of Medicine