I’m pleased to share Riot’s third annual Diversity and Inclusion Report. Three years ago, we made the commitment to publicly share our journey to become a more diverse and inclusive company.
We continue to trend positively in representation of women, specifically in our leadership ranks, with women now comprising 25% of our leadership council. Year over year, the results from our semiannual pay equity review continue to show no statistically significant differences in pay for women or underrepresented minorities at Riot. We continue to make strides in creating inclusive experiences for Rioters, with our internal Inclusion Index now at 85%. Our internal survey numbers are also validated by external anonymous surveys, like the annual Great Place to Work questionnaire, where (as of a week or so ago) we were certified as a Great Place to Work for the third year in a row with our highest favorability rating ever--95%! Finally, our products and content continue to utilize a diverse lens, which means players have even more opportunities to see themselves reflected in our games. We’re also still investing more resources in the next generation of gaming professionals and creators.
While we acknowledge and can be proud of the progress that we have made, we still have room to improve and grow. One area in particular is representation of underrepresented minorities (URMs), particularly in leadership. This will be a continued focus for our talent acquisition and D&I teams.
These past three years with Riot have been among the most challenging, and yet most rewarding, of my 20+ year career helping companies strengthen their people and cultural practices, which is why it is with a heavy heart that I will be stepping down from my role as Chief Diversity Officer. Although I will no longer be active in the day-to-day operations associated with this work, I am delighted to remain an advisor to Riot leadership and the founders.
From the moment I walked onto campus, I have put my heart and soul into Riot because I believe that Riot is an incredible place with exceptional people. While I’ve always encouraged Rioters to take care of themselves, I have come to the realization that it is time for me to take my own advice: get to the business of radical self-care. I have already created a self care plan that includes a trip to Amsterdam and Morocco with my daughter, spending time with my mother in Chicago, a meditation retreat, going to the gym, and reconnecting with old friends.
As Riot’s first Chief Diversity Officer, it has been my honor to be part of Riot’s story. I joined Riot at a pivotal time in the company’s history, where we were facing some of our biggest obstacles, both internally and externally. The road may not have always been easy, but we got through it while coming to discover a better version of ourselves, and that is something to be proud of. We have built a great foundation across the company, and with a very skilled diversity and inclusion team, I leave knowing that the work will continue. The D&I team will now be led by Patty Dingle, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion, who will in turn report to our Chief People Officer, Emily Winkle. Included below is a discussion I had with Patty, Emily, and Riot’s President, Dylan Jadeja, about the future of D&I at Riot and how we intend to keep moving forward:
During my time at Riot, I got to work with some great humans. For that I will be forever grateful. I would like to thank the many Rioters including Camp 2 leadership, Riot Inclusion Groups, and Rioter Council for their passion and commitment to our journey, and to our player community for welcoming me; I encourage each of us to continue to strive to make a difference in our industry. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Riot, and, as for me, stay tuned!