“The four freedoms that generate flourishing at work are: being our authentic selves, becoming our best selves, occasionally fading into the background and failing in ways that help us and our teams learn,” Laura Morgan Roberts wrote in Harvard Business Review.
Her article “Where Does DEI Go from Here?” proposes that fostering these four freedoms supports employees who come from diverse backgrounds, as well as allies and companies as a whole. Workplaces committed to building a culture of liberation “have seen enhanced productivity and increased feelings of satisfaction and safety among employees, particularly those in historically marginalized groups,” she wrote.
At GitLab, 10 team member resource groups, also known as TMRGs, serve as a framework for generating each of the four freedoms. According to Chief People Officer Wendy Barnes, “TMRGs offer team members togetherness, camaraderie and connections to GitLab giving them a sense of belonging while introducing new and current team members to GitLab’s culture.”
As employee-formed and -maintained groups, the TMRGs provide individuals with opportunities to develop professional and leadership skills and build relationships across the global company while advocating for their colleagues and communities within the organization.
TMRGS AT GITLAB
- API — Asia Pacific Islander
- Disability and Neurodivergence
- Generational Understanding
- Global Voices
- Gente
- Black@GitLab
- Pride
- Women at GitLab
- Caregivers
For the Black@GitLab TMRG, that mission comes to life through special events, mentorship programs and community building efforts that honor the history, experiences and identities of GitLab’s Black employees. Benchmark events like Juneteenth offer opportunities for Black@GitLab team members to host events — like its 2023 event featuring Tyrance Billingsley, the founder of Black Tech Street.
“We commemorated the holiday by highlighting how Black Tech Street looks to create a model for using the creation of Black tech ecosystems to economically uplift Black communities across the United States,” said Madou Coulibaly, a senior solutions architect and Black@GitLab leader.
As part of a global organization, the Black@GitLab TMRG isn’t limited to issues that concern American team members. Recently, the group hosted a fireside chat facilitated by two members of GitLab’s UK team marking the challenges faced by the “Windrush generation” of Caribbean immigrants to the United Kingdom.
“The event served not only to educate the team about the history of Caribbean immigration and a painful chapter in UK history,” Coulibaly said, “but also to underscore the ongoing need for fair and just immigration policies.”
As evidenced by both of these events, the work of the Black@GitLab TMRG extends beyond the confines of the workplace. A leader in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, Coulibaly emphasized the importance of patience and navigating unconscious bias not only in the workspace but also in personal interactions. He acknowledged that these experiences have heightened his curiosity about societal perceptions and equipped him to engage in crucial conversations with friends and family outside of work, as well.
“All different shared experiences lead me to ask myself more questions about myself and my entourage, make me more curious about how friends and family perceive situations, help me engage those topics with them and also make sure to equip my kids to face those challenges,” he said.
“All different shared experiences lead me to ask myself more questions about myself and my entourage — and make me more curious.”
Built In spoke with Coulibaly to learn more about how he helps support Black@GitLab’s mission and how the group’s work furthers opportunities for Black team members across the company.
What is Black@GitLab’s mission?
The mission of Black@GitLab is to foster a workplace environment where Black team members feel valued, supported and empowered to succeed. We aim to advocate for equity, representation and inclusion across all levels of the organization. Our overarching goal is to provide support networks through programs like one-on-ones with our executive sponsor and GitLab Chief Product Officer, David DeSanto, as well as mentorship opportunities and resources to help Black team members navigate challenges and advance in their careers.
BRINGING BLACK@GITLAB’S MISSION TO LIFE
According to Coulibaly, three initiatives have recently been at the forefront of Black@GitLab’s work to support Black team members across the company.
- Sales Sponsorship Pilot Program — “The program targets Black team members within the sales organization, as currently we have no Black team members at job grade nine or above within sales nor representation in sales leadership positions. We want to ensure that we are addressing this imbalance and creating pathways for Black team members to progress effectively at GitLab.”
- “Stocking up on Your Stocks” session — “Hosted by internal team members, this session aimed to empower Black individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions about managing their stock options effectively.”
- Black@GitLab visibility — “To help branding and awareness around the TMRG, we have built our handbook page and created Black@GitLab t-shirts and stickers, Black History Month Zoom backgrounds and other design elements for members to use.”
What makes Black@GitLab different from other company groups?
What distinguishes this TMRG is our focus on addressing the unique challenges and experiences faced by Black individuals in the workplace. We want to make sure that the voice from our community is heard by the leadership. Since the creation of the TMRG, we’ve had the chance to have quarterly dedicated meetings with our CEO where we can share our thoughts about what’s happening in our day-to-day life at GitLab. We are also able to meet once a year with one of the members of the GitLab Board of Directors, Merline Saintil.
How does Black@GitLab’s work fit into the larger mission of the company?
The Black@GitLab TMRG fully supports GitLab’s core values of diversity, inclusion and belonging. We provide an inside view, for a potential candidate, into our culture and an additional connection to our TMRG for that candidate if they were to join GitLab. We bring awareness and reminders about our legacy and our roots through Black History Month, Juneteenth and Windrush events. It is a reminder that our efforts in the TMRG are not just about improving diversity metrics but about creating a foundation for a more diverse and inclusive workplace for the next generation. I’m grateful to be a part of it.
CONSTANT EVOLUTION
As GitLab’s people change, so do their needs. The company recognizes this by encouraging its team members to continuously iterate on and grow its TMRGs, even publishing a TMRG guide to help new groups be founded and grown.
