Session: Diversity is being invited to the party - Inclusion is being asked to dance
Did you ever wonder why you are having such big problems using your phone although it as advertised as “easy as pie”? Why you really do not feel comfortable with the usability design in your new word processor? Do you have or did you lose clients because they did not know what to do with your latest app? The chances are that all these technologies were not invented for you or your client!
The picture of the typical decision makers in companies that offer digital programs, apps and services unfortunately is still very homogenous – white, male, high degree, grown up in the digital era. This group sets the parameters on how our digital world works. They offer products that relate to their requirements and that are judged on the basis of their experiences – so far. Because problems with this are well and publicly known.
Are we helplessly at the mercy of the rules by with the digital game is played? Do we simply have to accept these mistakes in the matrix? Can you think of a situation where a good solution came from a homogenous group? How would it look like if companies really align their products with the reality of the world?
We can set the parameters and with that power we can also change them! What it needs for that is to think outside the box! What are the rules of the game that we are playing? How will digital products become successful? And why is diversity the key factor in that?
Bio
Saskia Listle is a Consultant, Expert and Speaker on "Digitalization as a Facilitator". She is using her relentless curiosity to help elevate understanding and connection so that people can make better decisions. In her professional career she always and intuitively tried to ease her day to day business by using the digital sphere as a sparring partner – and influenced her colleagues to do the same by using her way of explaining digital things accessibly and without many buzzwords. Today she helps companies to draw on their full digital potential to create a better product, service or working environment.
Part of that is her commitment as an activist on diversity and equality in the Digitalization. She raises awareness for the rules of the digital sphere and the challenges of diversity and helps underrepresented groups to gain a voice in the process of creating an equal future.