Charlotte Dales: Revolutionizing Workplace Inclusion with Inclusively
My guest on episode #463 of #thePOZcast is Charlotte Dales — Co-Founder and CEO of Inclusively, the game-changing workforce planning platform helping companies build truly equitable and productive workplaces. With Inclusively’s Retain platform, employees can anonymously find the support and resources they need to thrive, while companies get powerful data to make smarter investments that boost productivity and retention. Charlotte’s inspiration? Her cousin Cameron, who became Florida’s first licensed aesthetician with Down syndrome. Seeing Cameron’s success lit a fire in Charlotte to open doors for disabled talent everywhere — and that’s exactly what she’s doing with Inclusively.
Before Inclusively, Charlotte cut her teeth in finance at Deutsche Bank in London, then co-founded CAKE Technologies, a mobile payments app that scaled across 200 restaurants before getting acquired by American Express. She’s combined her fintech and startup chops to revolutionize how employers hire and support talent — creating a more inclusive, transparent, and accommodating hiring process for everyone.
Learn More: www.inclusively.com
Check out Inclusively's industry research: https://www.inclusively.com/resources/#reports
#thePOZcast is proudly brought to you by Fountain - the leading enterprise platform for workforce management. Our platform enables companies to support their frontline workers from job application to departure. Fountain elevates the hiring, management, and retention of frontline workers at scale.
To learn more, please visit: https://www.fountain.com/?utm_source=shrm-2024&utm_medium=event&utm_campaign=shrm-2024-podcast-adam-posner.
Thanks for listening, and please follow us on Insta @NHPTalent and www.youtube.com/thePOZcast
For all episodes, please check out www.thePOZcast.com
Summary
In this episode, Adam Posner interviews Charlotte Dales, co-founder and CEO of Inclusively, a platform dedicated to creating equitable workplaces. Charlotte shares her journey from finance to founding Inclusively, inspired by her cousin Cameron's achievements despite challenges. The conversation delves into the importance of workplace accommodations, the role of anonymity in fostering inclusion, and the need for data-driven insights to bridge gaps in employee support. Charlotte discusses the pivot from a hiring platform to a focus on retention and the future of work, emphasizing skills-based hiring and authentic DEI practices. She also offers advice for aspiring founders on balancing personal and professional life while defining success beyond financial metrics.
Takeaways:
- Inclusively aims to create equitable workplaces through technology.
- Charlotte's inspiration came from her cousin Cameron's journey.
- Accommodations in the workplace can significantly impact employee success.
- Anonymity in requesting support is crucial for employee comfort.
- Data-driven insights help align employee needs with company offerings.
- The business model pivoted from hiring to retaining talent.
- Skills-based hiring complements the need for accommodations.
- Authenticity in DEI practices is essential for real impact.
- Balancing work and personal life can enhance productivity.
- Success is defined by the positive impact on future generations.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Inclusively and Its Mission
02:59 Charlotte's Journey: From Finance to Founding Inclusively
06:03 Inspiration from Family: Cameron's Story
08:55 The Importance of Accommodations in the Workplace
11:51 The Role of Anonymity in Workplace Inclusion
14:47 Bridging the Gap: Data-Driven Insights for Employers
17:57 Pivoting the Business Model: From Hiring to Retaining Talent
20:54 The Future of Work: Skills-Based Hiring and Inclusion
24:00 Navigating the DEI Landscape: Authenticity vs. Performative Actions
26:58 Advice for Aspiring Founders: Balancing Life and Work
29:42 Defining Success: Beyond Numbers and Exits
