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While the experience that this individual voices is certainly not the experience we would hope for from anyone who has worked alongside our incredible team (nor the transparent, conversational and direct approach we would hope this type of feedback would come through), we wish them only the most incredible success in the future. We absolutely welcome the feedback — as most of the points here address key issues that our team feels incredibly passionate about.
Gravity Jack will always be the first to admit that we are not a perfect company. Frankly, any company that feels as though it is, is bound to cease growing and improving -- ultimately, losing the hunger to be an influencer for change.
Over the last few years, Gravity Jack has made a great effort to be a leader in not only inland northwest technology, but also in the growth of diversity and jobs available for all genders and ethnicities as well. As many are well aware, this is no small task.
As of this year, Gravity Jack represents a gender mix of 77% male and 23% female. While we look forward to to the day where this number is more balanced, on both the national level and worldwide, the honest reality is that our team has managed to closely meet many of the world's major companies that share our space within the tech industry. These companies exist in the most competitive job markets and are blessed with access to incredible resources, allowing them to implement massive diversity initiatives. This includes Intel (75/25), Apple (69/31), Twitter (70/30), Google (70/30), Instagram (61/31), and Facebook (68/32). Gravity Jack’s ability to meet a similar level of diversity despite a far different market and level of available resources is something our team is incredibly proud of, but not yet content with. We continue to do all we can to improve the opportunities available in the northwest for all.
When it comes to ethnic diversity, this is a front that Gravity Jack continues to work to improve as well — and one that we can whole heartedly agree is not yet there. Our team is an equal opportunity employer and there is not a single individual at the company who would consider the race of an applicant as a factor in any interview. There are no excuses for teams that lack a shared dedication to the mission of diversity — but that does not describe Gravity Jack.
The facts from Spokane’s latest census are that the Spokane region is represented by a population that is just 6% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 2% African American and 1% Native American. While both the growth of mobile and STEM education are making great strides in opening the world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to many students who would have, previously, rarely considered software engineering as a career path, the applicant sample for Gravity Jack is still limited from a diversity perspective.
It is Gravity Jack’s discomfort with these realities that have driven our actions. It is one thing to talk about these issues, but taking action is what is required (and the responsibility of any team like Gravity Jack).
Gravity Jack’s partnership with (and weekly work alongside) the Spokane NAACP chapter is just one example of how our team is dedicated to being a voice of change, diversity and encouragement for all within the world of technology. Additionally, earlier this year, Gravity Jack created Team.Digital — a collaborative partnership, bringing together the biggest technology companies and organizations in the inland northwest. Team.Digital was formed with the sole mission of working to bring these resources together to proactively address these issues head on, by attracting increased talent and diversity to the region. It is something we’re incredibly excited about. More information is available at http://team.digital.
The challenges raised here are not unique to (or caused by) Gravity Jack. They are critical, real world responsibilities that each and every company must address and dedicate themselves to improving.
Gravity Jack always prefers to have honest, direct and face-to-face interaction but we’re incredibly grateful for the dialogue that this review creates. Our team is humble enough to admit that, while we may be actively taking steps, true, authentic change across an entire industry takes time. There is no doubt: We are not there yet.
There will always be more that Gravity Jack is able to do to help support diversity in the northwest and I speak whole heartedly for our team when I say that we will never back down from that responsibility. We are thankful for the opportunity to openly share where our team stands in our mission each day.
Should anyone have questions that our team can help answer, we fully encourage you to reach out via email (hello@gravityjack.com) or our website. We’d love to listen, discuss, open our doors for a visit or hear how we can continue to be an advocate of change in the amazing and beautiful inland northwest!