Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at IV

As an organization, our ability to champion impactful invention requires a diverse array of talent. To best foster such an environment—and in response to employee feedback—IV formed a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council midway through 2021. The council is comprised of individuals from all areas of the company who share a commitment to advancing DEI not only at IV but in their broader communities. 

Purpose and Mission 
The DEI Council’s purpose is to inform IV’s DEI strategy, help set DEI priorities, serve as a channel to provide input and feedback on DEI related topics, and champion the adoption and implementation of DEI initiatives throughout IV. Our mission is to harness our culture of discovery to identify and remove systems that create, maintain, or promote inequities throughout our workplace. We actively guide DEI work at IV, driving initiatives that cultivate equal access and opportunity.

Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Intellectual Ventures was founded on the certainty that ideas have value. It is with that same certainty we acknowledge that not all ideas are equally valued. Our ability to champion impactful invention demands a diverse array of talent supported within an environment where all team members are included and empowered to do their best work. 

As an organization we learn from our past, address current issues, and remove lingering systems that create, maintain, or promote inequities throughout the workplace. We are committed to building a more diverse and inclusive environment by adopting and advancing equitable practices and processes.
 
Our DEI Council actively works with the Executive Leadership Team to identify and implement strategic goals dedicated to cultivating equity, opportunity, and inclusion across the organization. Here’s some of what we have been working on: 
 

• Rapidly expanded access to reproductive healthcare and gender affirming care for employees and dependents.  
• Provide work-life support by ensuring hybrid work flexibility for eligible roles. 
• Design and deploy internal events and educational opportunities for employees to dig deeper into DEI topics and learn from their colleagues and expert guest speakers and facilitators.  
• Run consistent reviews of hiring and recruitment strategies, promotions, compensation changes, and performance reviews for discrimination and/or bias.  
• Facilitate employee directed giving to local organizations that provide basic needs to underrepresented groups, inspire the next generation of BIPOC technologist and scientists, and ensure that LGBTQ+ youth can access the resources they need.   

Our work is just getting started and—like the process of the next great invention—we might not always get it right the first time, but we’re not afraid to try.