Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) has released its fourth annual list of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Influencers in the workforce solutions ecosystem and Sameer Penakalapati has been included on the 2024 list.
Sameer Penakalapati understands that data is crucial for measuring the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion in today’s work environment. As the founder and CEO of Indotronix Avani Group, his strategic approach to analyzing internal workforce composition and his dedication to diversifying candidate sourcing have marked him as an innovator. “The biggest lesson I have learned is if you do not have ways to measure trends or see just how your diverse talent is being sourced, then your areas of growth can be limited,” he explains.
In 2023, Penakalapati led efforts to provide clients with insights into their hiring data over the past three years, comparing it with their current objectives. He also established a company-wide initiative at Indotronix Avani to achieve a 50% representation of women in the workforce, investing significantly in this goal. This led to substantial infrastructure improvements to support female employees. Drawing from his experiences as an immigrant, he underscores the significant benefits of a diverse team on a business.
Looking ahead, Sameer focuses on diversifying the workforce in remote and contingent labor markets. He sees a unique opportunity for businesses to engage a globally diverse talent pool. He emphasizes that the hybrid and remote work models can enhance the balance in DE&I initiatives, making organizations more inclusive than ever before.
“Current headlines and even SIA’s most recent research shows a disappointing decrease in time, attention and resources being spent on diversity, equity and inclusion by businesses and individuals. But our 2024 influencers combat such trends by making DE&I more than an initiative and more of an imperative,” said SIA President Ursula Williams. “SIA is incredibly proud of the steadfast advocates on our 2024 DE&I Influencers list, and we honor them for endeavoring to create a more diverse, fair and inclusive world of work.”
The annual DE&I Influencers list honors US and Canadian professionals, executives and leaders fostering a workforce solutions ecosystem where all can belong and succeed. SIA’s 2024 DE&I Influencers list is available online with profiles of each individual influencer, and honorees are featured in the May/June 2024 issue of Staffing Industry Review magazine.