Man with glasses

We started
Collective

to bring a bolder,
more human
approach* to DEI

*

A LETTER FROM THE FOUNDER

*

Before starting Collective, I worked in a number of industries and companies of varying sizes. Some might say I was your classic job hopper with a resume that would make any recruiter cringe. I thought there was something wrong with me that I was so unhappy in my workplace. But as I spoke to more and more people like me—female, queer, disabled, POC—whose workplaces didn’t seem to work for them either, a lightbulb went off. What if it wasn’t me that was the problem? What if the truth was that the typical workplace just wasn’t designed with me in mind. In fact, it wasn’t designed with a lot of us in mind.

Enter Collective. In 2017, I quit my job and dedicated myself to tackling the biggest challenge faced by companies today—how to attract, engage, and retain the workforce of the future (read: a diverse one). Collective was founded on the belief that employees that feel seen, understood, and valued do their best work, and I’m so proud to lead a team of passionate, brilliant individuals who are committed to helping you do just that. We’re excited you found us— now let’s get to work!

Sincerely yours,

Kellie Wagner
Kellie Wagner

Our mission is to cultivate the power of difference at work as a force for human connection, collaboration and progress.

The Collective Mission

OUR APPROACH

We’re over stuffy trainings and ineffective videos that do little but make people cringe (you know the type). We approach DEI in a fresh way and are committed to creating real, sustainable change — vanity metrics are no good to us, or to you. Whether it’s building out a DEI strategy or getting a pulse on your culture, we believe in a few core tenets when it comes to our work: honest partnership above all else, human-centric is better than data-centric, and change stems from short-term tactical wins and true personal transformation.

Women side-by-side

Consider a long-term relationship over a one-time thing

We work with partners who value long-term partnerships over one-and-done solutions. We’ll immerse ourselves in your employee experience. We know that this work is never one-size-fits all. Our consultants craft customized strategies that go much deeper than generic recommendations. Now is a great time to get to know each other better.

Keep it real

Tuning in to what a team needs to feel empowered and productive is the key to working through DEI challenges. Employees are more than a data point, so we go beyond checking boxes. (If you’re here to just check this off your to-do list, kindly look elsewhere.) Statistical insights are most effective when coupled with a strategy of listening, so we facilitate an environment where everybody feels heard. And we focus on amplifying marginalized voices. It’s essential.

Make your best practices better

We’re intentional in the ways our process touches people, companies, and broader systems. We want our work to last. We tackle important technical problems, providing tools and building skills to minimize bias. We also confront adaptive challenges, taking the next step towards a larger shift in how we challenge bias. There’s a magic that happens when people rise to the occasion.

CHANGE*

Requires
commitment

OUR
MANIFESTO

A diverse group of people

There’s no doubt about it: Work is tough. And creating new systems, infrastructures, and frameworks around work today is even tougher.

But the best way to tackle big problems is simple: one step at a time.

When it comes to DEI, we like to break it down this way: Every person in every workplace is a little different from any other person you’ve ever met.

And they are also, in a lot of ways, very much the same as any other person you’ve ever met.

And it’s by understanding those differences, and those similarities, that we can make everyone feel seen and valued at work.

That’s what DEI means. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

If you’d prefer to use a different term to express the same idea–we like to call it Collective.

We’re Collective.

We believe that an individual who feels supported by their team is the world’s most powerful resource.

We believe that research and analytics should support lived experience, not the other way around.

We believe that the best way to understand the world is to listen to each other’s ideas.

We believe that real results come from real talk.

We believe that every workforce can benefit from stronger connections, deeper understanding, more fun, and an explicit confrontation of racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, ageism, xenophobia and all forms of oppression.

Ultimately, we believe that progress in the workplace is possible if we do it together. We’re starting by establishing common ground and cultivating the power of difference.

And we’re always down to listen.

So let’s get to work.

Diverse group

Our values

Embody Integrity

How we do the work matters just as much as the work itself. For us, impact and culture matter more than just a paycheck.

Lead with Curiosity

We let curiosity, not judgement, guide us, choosing to expand our perspectives and understanding of the world and those around us.

Support and Challenge

We co-create honest and compassionate partnerships that foster change by supporting one another and speaking the hard truths with care.

Practice Bravery

We commit to this process with heart and mind by bringing forth our true selves and showing courage in the face of difficult work.

Show Grace in Growth

We learn from practice, and believe with each new challenge comes another chance to grow. As we do, we show humility and grace.