Stanley Black & Decker Innovation Challenge<\/a>, partnering with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, is one example of the intentional approach Steelcase takes toward DEI by investing in future leaders. The Thurgood Marshall College Fund specifically represents member schools of the Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) union. The Innovation Challenge incorporates engaging business models, design thinking, venture ideation and intensive pitch sessions. Students who land internships and exposure to corporate opportunities at Steelcase and other sponsor organizations.<\/p>\nIt\u2019s an opportunity for organizations to connect with young talent like interns Jackeima Flemming and Nico Hardin, who have a vision and drive for a better future. Both Flemming, a product marketing intern, and Hardin, a CEO business management intern, came to the Steelcase community through the Innovation Challenge.<\/p>\nJackeima Flemming<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAs a student from a predominately black college, Flemming believes there are \u201cuncomfortable truths\u201d that can stigmatize schools like hers \u2013 and stand in the way of high-achieving students receiving valuable opportunities and corporate exposure. She feels historically black colleges are traditionally marginalized; its students, typically misunderstood.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of those perceptions, sometimes people think we do not have the best resources or the best talent. But it\u2019s the exact opposite,\u201d Jackeima explains.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince we know it\u2019s a struggle to be seen as the \u2018best of the best,\u2019 to have to fight for the resources that come more easily to other schools, it causes us to be a really resilient set of individuals.\u201d<\/p>Jackeima FlemmingInnovation Challenge Scholar + Steelcase Intern<\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\nNico Hardin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nNico says he recognizes Steelcase\u2019s stated goals, the progress it\u2019s made so far and what the organization has yet to achieve in its quest for excellence in diversity \u2013 and believes by engaging in programs like the Innovation Challenge, Steelcase is on the right path.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re trying to solve work solutions for the world \u2013 you need to foster a culture consisting of global voices.\u201d<\/p>Nico HardinInnovation Challenge Scholar + Steelcase Intern<\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\nBOUNDLESS POSSIBILITIES<\/h3>\n Both Jackeima and Nico say the Innovation Challenge was special because it allowed for experience and access to real-world corporate leaders and a host of challenging scenarios based in reality. Five different teams were each presented with realistic challenges faced by large organizations, and the students were tasked with devising innovative solutions to address them. Nico\u2019s team took on the challenge of putting themselves in the shoes of senior Steelcase leadership to come up with safe solutions for bringing people back to the office during the pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, learning to pitch was huge. In a normal job, that\u2019s something you\u2019re going to do all the time. I don\u2019t remember learning that in class,\u201d Hardin said. \u201cIt\u2019s just invaluable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steelcase Global Talent Acquisition Consultant Malissa Moore was blown away by the insights of the student projects. Moore says the challenge was an important opportunity for these students to experience a project beyond a syllabus, grades and term papers.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of it, just to see how cool it was for them to package everything and present it succinctly and smoothly. If you didn\u2019t know better, you would think you\u2019re watching senior level executives,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n
EQUITABLE TALENT PIPELINES<\/h3>\n Moore was involved in the early evolution of the company\u2019s involvement with the Innovation Challenge, and says programs like it are a key way large companies can proactively grow more racially-diverse talent pipelines.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to be more intentional about engaging and partnering with diverse student organizations like Thurgood Marshall,\u201d says Moore. \u201cWe have to get even more specific about turning to and engaging HBCUs to remove barriers to opportunity for talent of color.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moore acknowledges the tight labor market has made the talent pipeline overall more competitive than in years\u2019 past, meaning Steelcase has to work harder than ever to compete for talent. That meant getting more creative in how they engaged with the black college population. With over 300,000 students across 47 public institutions, Moore says it makes good sense to partner with the Thurgood Marshall Foundation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we want to continue to bring in more talent, we knew we needed to partner with the entity that\u2019s done it the longest and the best,\u201d Moore says.<\/p>\n
As a program insider, Nico agrees. \u201cWhen you start bringing in people from different cultures, different backgrounds and different regions, you get more perspectives; you get a lot more diverse input.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steelcase is once again investing in and partnering with the Innovation Challenge in 2022 and looks forward to continuing to nurture the positive relationship with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and its 35-year legacy of scholarship excellence.<\/p>\n
Learn More: The Steelcase Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.<\/p>\n
Explore Now<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Steelcase partners with Thurgood Marshall College Fund\u2019s Innovation Challenge to provide students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities exposure to corporate opportunities while developing future leaders of color.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20507,"featured_media":759402,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"topic":[47663],"class_list":["post-759247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","topic-people-planet"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/p>\n![\"Jackeima](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1664460857\/22-0184047.jpg\")
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