My D&I Journey with:
Raashi Sikka,
VP Global Diversity & Inclusion,
Ubisoft
1. What was your journey into diversity and inclusion?
My journey into diversity and inclusion work in a corporate setting was atypical, however, from a personal perspective not as much. I spent the first 7 years of my career in television, following which I was bitten by the tech and startup bug which led me to join Uber as an early employee (the first in New Delhi!). In my time at Uber, I had the opportunity to pivot and move into DEI work at a professional level. On a personal level, growing up as a brown girl from India in the US, I knew I was different. My cultural prism was challenged even more when I moved back to India and realized that while I looked like everyone around me, I didn’t necessarily have the same cultural lens given my early formative years in the US. Those early life experiences in many ways led me to this work – wanting to create the space for us to have these conversations about identity, inclusion and how to fix systems that are inherently inequitable.
2. How would you describe a typical day in your role?
I know many others have said this, but there is no typical day! For someone like me who enjoys context switching, this works out well. In order to share some insights into my every day, context is important. I’ve been at Ubisoft for 11 months and this is a completely new role in the organization, so I’m setting the foundations for this work. This means I’m spending quite some time in meetings with different stakeholders – our executive team members, our partners in HR, our production and creative teams, our ERGs. I’m also doing virtual and in-person roadshows to meet our global teams spread across more than 45 studios and offices. Additionally, I’m also hiring and building a global D&I team to lead and execute on our D&I vision, mission and strategy.
3. What is the best part of your job?
The people and the ever-evolving space. I’m a curious person and I appreciate the constant need to learn, unlearn and learn that this job provides me. I’m also in an industry that is new to me – gaming – and I absolutely love the opportunity to work on DEI through the lens of our games and content. Getting those warm fuzzies knowing that you’ve made a difference, albeit a small one, in someone’s life. Talking, listening, laughing, getting them to be the best version of themselves
4. What advice would you give to someone looking to move into D&I?
This applies to potentially any other career switch;
1. Truly know your “why” for getting into this work. The work is deeply gratifying but can also be draining and exhausting, especially if you aren’t clear on your “why.”
2. Do your research – speak with practitioners, speak with organizations and understand the nuances across different spaces and industries.
3. Be open and curious. Approach this space with the hunger and appetite to constantly learn and grow.
5. What are the main challenges faced by D&I professionals at the moment?
D&I professionals are in the spotlight and there’s an urgency to solve centuries’ worth of inequities overnight. Setting realistic timelines, building ambitious goals and having adequate resources and commitment from CEOs, Boards and executive teams is imperative to make transformational and sustainable change happen. At the same time, I would urge all practitioners to be empathetic and kind to themselves. This work has a profound impact on our lives – build the networks within and outside your organizations to help support you on your journey.
6. Name three skills that support you to succeed in D&I
1. Ability to effectively influence: As you do this work, you will engage with board members, C-suite executives, HR team members, ERG leaders and members, employees, external stakeholders and customers. Know your audience, understand what speaks to them, assess what matters to them and leverage your influencing skills to drive the change you’re trying to make.
2. Empathy and the ability to listen and connect.
3. The capacity to persevere through challenges, as well as courage and resilience.
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