In an increasingly interconnected world, diversity is essential for driving innovation and success in the workplace. Yet, many companies still struggle to recognize that diversity goes far beyond hiring and retention numbers. It’s about bringing together a broad range of people with different experiences, perspectives and backgrounds to solve complex problems in new and creative ways. When varied voices are missing from the conversation, critical oversights arise, leading to products and solutions that fail to meet the needs of everyone. Achieving a workplace that engages, and retains a varied workforce is a long-term commitment, but it’s one that pays off by fostering greater innovation, inclusivity, and business success in the long run.
We spoke to two leaders at Denver tech company Ping Identity Corporation about the importance of diversity in shaping products, perspectives, and the future. These are the three things every inclusion-focused company knows to be true, from two women leading the charge on Ping’s diversity and community initiatives.
1. Diversity drives innovation
We see evidence of the importance of effectively engaging diversity every day in the way systems and products do—or more often don’t—work for certain groups of people. Think about the early development of facial recognition technology. These systems were initially trained on predominantly white, male datasets, which led to significant inaccuracies when identifying women and people of color. You also see this in product design, like when automakers historically designed safety features based on male body types, resulting in higher injury rates for women in car accidents. Without different perspectives, critical oversights emerge, limiting creativity and the ability to solve problems for a broader range of people—aka innovation.
“As the world population becomes more diverse, it’s imperative that those who are designing our products be in tune with the uniquenesses and challenges of those who will be using our products,” says Kari Mayfield, director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Ping Identity. “This can be achieved through teams with varied experiences and perspectives, and many studies have shown us that diverse teams improve innovation and business success.”
Engineering operations manager Joany Huang adds, “For the field of identity security, women bring a lot of empathy and brilliance in our way of thinking about the world. Having more forums and opportunities can help bring in more voices and innovations from women, furthering the growth of the identity security industry.”
2. Diversity can be cultivated beyond a single facet of identity
“Diversity” is often measured via hiring quotas for certain demographics, when in actuality, focusing on hiring for “X group” is limiting—and doesn’t necessarily represent the full scope of the diversity that companies should hope to achieve.
“We define diversity broadly—including gender race, ethnicity, sexuality, generation, ability (visible and invisible), etc. It also means differences in thinking styles, experiences, perspectives, and geography,” Mayfield says. “While historically we’ve focused on increasing gender in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), which is still important, now more than ever we should embrace all types of differences. Given our multicultural, multi-ethnic, multi-generational ‘globalness’ of our talent, we need to embrace the intersectionality of our diversity.”
When people from different industries, socioeconomic backgrounds, or even geographical regions come together, they bring unique ways of thinking and problem-solving. For instance, someone with a non-traditional career path or a background in the arts might approach challenges differently than someone with a formal business education, sparking innovative ideas. By fostering a truly inclusive environment, companies encourage creative solutions and better adaptability, ultimately driving success.
3. Diversity is a long game
When you aim to cultivate an inclusive workplace where every employee feels a sense of belonging, or across industries, you have to recognize that it’s a long game. You won’t see immediate results overnight, because real change takes time, commitment, and cultural shifts. It involves nurturing talent, offering mentorship, and ensuring opportunities for advancement, and in the case of male-dominated industries, it starts long before employees are even hired.
“As we develop in our careers it’s important that we become role models and give back—what a great way by starting with our ‘junior talent,’” Mayfield says. “By gaining access to them very early on, down the road, we hope to instill an appreciation and understanding that they, too, can have a successful, and exciting career in STEM.”
As such, Ping Identity has been the main sponsor of Denver-based Girls and Science for the last five years. Each year, the company has Girls and Science women mentors and a dedicated work group participating in various events. The month-long program aims to foster interest and participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics among young girls.
Huang, who was a mentor for the event, says the impact is clear as day. “At the museum day, we observed girls who have participated in the Girls and Science event for multiple years. This year, we prepared an interactive storybook coding program for the girls, and we saw the excitement in their eyes when their code worked. Many girls proudly shared with us that they have participated in coding or programming activities in their school curriculum, which is amazing.”
What’s more, she feels the focus on diversity in her own career. “As a woman in tech myself, programs like Girls and Science have given me the opportunities to meet other amazing women in the field, making me feel more supported and motivated,” she says. “I have found more female role models in tech to look up to and have gained valuable mentorship opportunities to grow professionally. Programs like these help bridge the gap for women, who are traditionally underrepresented in the tech industry.”
Mayfield adds, “While it can feel like a slow momentum with continued intention and focus on encouraging our future leaders, we will minimize the gap over time.” A more equitable future takes dedication—something every diverse company knows to be true.
Schedule & Flexibility metrics such as Paid Time Off and Ability to Telecommute are strong at Ping Identity Corporation, a security and investigations company headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Their PTO is unlimited, and they also offer remote and hybrid work options. Plus, their highest metric is Employer Responsiveness, meaning you can expect an employer that listens and responds to your needs. Click to explore Ping Identity’s profile, ratings, and open jobs!
