Elevate Global launches ‘Blind Profiles’ initiative

Global staffing partner for brand experiences, Elevate, has launched ‘Blind Profiles’, an initiative that aims to tackle unconscious bias in staff selection. Instead of sharing photos immediately, or even seeing video thumbnails, clients will need to review experience/skills first and then click through to see a video. By sharing profiles in this way, Elevate Global’s candidates are more likely to be chosen based solely on their skillsets and personality, without any influence from their appearance. This new process aims to tackle the unconscious bias from clients at the point of selection. Julie Reed, managing director for Europe markets. Elevate Global, said: “Our blind profiles are making the difference when we pitch and it’s something some of our clients specifically asked for when we pitched and won work for this year’s Rugby World Cup. “Ensuring inclusivity and opportunities for all are important things to us at Elevate and something that differentiates us from competitors, For our clients, being able to click through to view a video still gave them the opportunity to really understand the staff personalities and communication skills.” How it is impacting business As part of Elevating Purpose, Elevate Global’s social and action framework to promote inclusivity and sustainability, it has piloted this initiative in its French and UK markets. As a result, the agency has seen an 8% rise in women working on the field as well as increases in those who identify as having a disability (source: 2023 Diversity, Equity and Inequality Report). Elevate Global is also working on quantifying the correlation and will report on this in next year’s report. By April 2024, Elevate Global will use Blind Profiles across all its markets and maintain this as its standard process. Should clients request a profile with photos, Elevate Global will work with them to understand why and share our thinking on why they should consider another way. Carina Filek, COO, Elevate Global, added: “As someone who used to work in the field, I’m well accustomed to needing to have the ‘right look’ when it comes to being selected for brand work. This thinking is out of date and has no place in the present. “We talk about inclusivity and reducing bias in our business hiring, yet when it comes to event staff, the industry standard for event staff is for a profile with photos; headshots and full length. In 2023, this approach isn’t right and shouldn’t be acceptable. We must select our teams based on brand fit, passion, personality and experience, not appearance, which is why we are proud to have our blind profiles as an Elevate Global standard way of working.”