Aptean’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council

For us and for many, the events of 2020 encouraged us to reflect on who we are and what we stand for—as a company and as individuals who make up a larger whole.

And over the past year, Aptean has been working hard to become a more diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. For everybody everywhere.

In our DEI mission statement, we are bold and unrelenting in our aspirations for a more inclusive workplace and culture:

Aptean pledges to promote a company culture where diversity, equity and inclusion are central. We are committed to applying this principle as we interact with our customers, build our teams, cultivate our leaders and shape a company in which any employee can succeed, regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, sexual and gender identity, religion, disability or age. Celebrating our diverse experiences, opinions and beliefs allows us to embrace what makes us unique and to use this as an asset in bringing innovative solutions to our customer base.

We’re firm believers in the fact that our differences unite us. And our differences make us stronger.

Over the last year, Aptean has established a formal DEI council, created a cultural recognition committee and matched employee donations to organizations focused on creating opportunities for and protecting groups in need.

We are learning. And we are eager to do better than we have before.

Our CEO, TVN Reddy, says, “At Aptean, our global and diverse employee base is our greatest asset. It is through embracing and understanding our differences that we are able to harness our individual power to maximize the success of our customers, our employees and our company.”

Who We Are

We are a company dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Aptean is proud to employ so many people from so many different parts of the world.

The last study we conducted was in May 2021, but from those numbers we can tell you that of our nearly 2,500 employees, about 41% live in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Roughly 29% live in the Asia-Pacific, 28% live in North America and 2% are based in Latin America.

So, what’s the point of sharing all these statistics? Well, for us, it means there’s limitless opportunity to learn from each other and to celebrate and honor cultural values from each geographical base.

Here in the U.S., for example, we recently celebrated Juneteenth, a day that honors African-American freedom and achievement and commemorates the abolition of slavery in Texas in 1865.

In November, we celebrate Diwali, a five-day “festival of lights” celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world.

In March, we honor Passover and Holi.

The point is this: we can learn from each other. By becoming more inclusive, we can become more informed, more welcoming and more understanding.

And we’re not perfect. But we’re trying. We’re making conscious efforts to become a company where, truly, everyone belongs.

A Book Club Dedicated to DEI

There’s an undeniable magic that takes place in between the covers of a book.

It’s the only kind of digestible media that allows us to fully and unequivocally occupy the headspace of another.

And for me personally, there are few things I love more than a good book.

I’ve been a young girl in South Sudan desperate for water and family. I’ve been a Greaser in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I’ve been a blind girl in Nazi-occupied Paris. You get the idea. And you’ve likely been people I’ve never even dreamed about.

Through reading, we’re able to become more informed, aware and empathetic people of the world. And, for me, participating in a DEI book club felt like a no-brainer. With our book selections, we’re reading with intention. To acknowledge our weaknesses. To become better. To learn how to move forward with what we now know. And leverage this knowledge to better our DEI Council and Aptean.

Companies that embrace diversity are more successful in creating a collaborative culture, increasing retention and improving the bottom line. The work in doing that is never complete. Creating a book club is an opportunity to continue our education and discuss its value and importance in our personal lives and the workplace.

Our first book is Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking by Matthew Syed. Read along with us.

If you’d like to talk with us about our DEI council, our book club, or our journey to becoming more inclusive, diverse and equitable, please reach out to the council today. We’d love to talk.