At Assent, building a stronger, fairer workplace isn’t just a goal. It’s part of who we are. Over the past year, we’ve achieved a 1:1 pay equity ratio across all genders, surpassed 52% representation of women and non-binary employees in leadership, and expanded participation in our leadership development program by nearly 200%.
These milestones didn’t happen by accident. They’re the result of intentional, people-centered work that reflects our core belief: When individuals thrive, so do companies and communities.
Today, I’m excited to share how we’re continuing to invest in our people, strengthen our culture, and amplify our impact, and offer a glimpse of what’s ahead as we keep moving forward, together.
Staying True to Our Purpose
Before Assent, I served as COO at the Coaching Association of Canada. My path has always been a bit non-traditional, but a common thread runs through each role: bringing out the best in people. Here at Assent, that means ensuring every individual has room to shine. In our work, we help manufacturers navigate supply chain sustainability issues, including forced labor, child labor, conflict minerals, and more. Our purpose-driven ethos resonates deeply with those of us who want to do meaningful work every day — and it’s a key reason talent so often seeks us out.
This year, I’m particularly proud of how we were able to live up to our values. For one, we achieved a 1:1 pay equity ratio between men and women and non-binary employees. We also surpassed 52% representation of women and non-binary folks in leadership roles. I believe this is not about “hitting a quota” but about fostering a wide range of perspectives that spark creativity and innovation.
Finally, participation in our leadership certification program, “Lead With Purpose,” expanded from 28% to 78.5% in under a year — a testament to how many of us want to grow and support others on this journey.
We know that true inclusivity doesn’t happen overnight. Instead, it’s about taking intentional steps, day after day. I’m a firm believer in the cumulative impact of small gains — what I call the “one percent improvements.” Even checking in with one more person each day or ending a meeting five minutes early so we can all reset can make a significant difference in workplace culture. Over time, these little gestures add up in powerful ways.
Building Community & Culture
Going beyond our people-focused initiatives at Assent, we also saw success in building up the surrounding community in 2024. We hosted a rapid-fire interview event to connect with newcomer candidates — 100 interviews in under 100 minutes! It was energizing and helped us uncover talent that might not surface in a traditional hiring process.
I’m proud to say that we also organized a Latinx panel with 30 guests to explore biases and experiences in the workplace. We also welcomed an Indigenous elder to share insights on truth and reconciliation, which helped us reflect on how to be better allies and champions of respect.
All of these efforts reaffirm our commitment to fostering inclusivity, respect, and shared growth — not just within our walls, but across the communities we serve.
Fostering Well-Being & Balance
A thriving organization goes beyond diversity and fairness. It’s also about giving people room to recharge and grow. One way we did this in 2024 was by piloting in-person yoga sessions in our Ottawa headquarters and organizing a global cleanup day that brought together Assentees from different regions. We even sponsored several 5K charity races to encourage team-building and healthy habits.
Taking care of ourselves and one another lets us bring our best selves to work — and ultimately deliver better solutions to our customers.
Using AI for Greater Impact
While people and community are at the core of Assent, we also see technology as a powerful catalyst for positive change. We’ve integrated artificial intelligence into our solutions to strengthen things like supplier data analysis and risk detection, helping our customers pinpoint areas for improvement faster and more accurately.
By pairing AI-driven insights with our human-centric approach, we can achieve the best of both worlds: operational efficiency and a focus on ethically responsible supply chains.
Looking Ahead: Our Evolving Sustainability Journey
Every year, we publish an in-depth sustainability report, highlighting our progress in everything from lowering our carbon footprint to driving a fair, inclusive culture. In our 2024 Corporate Sustainability Report, you’ll learn more about our pay equity win, how we’re honing our equity goals for 2025, and what we’re doing in mentoring and leadership development.
I’m often asked why we keep refining how we measure inclusion and community impact. The answer is simple: We want to hold ourselves accountable in tangible ways. When data guides us, we can track meaningful progress and stay motivated to keep improving.
Parting Thoughts
My path to leadership has been shaped by mentors who reminded me that joy and connection matter in every workplace — even (or especially) when times are tough. That’s why, at Assent, we don’t hide from challenges or shifting global dynamics. Instead, we focus on purpose and transparency. We let people know exactly what’s happening and where we stand, celebrate successes big and small, and empower every individual to offer their own “one percent improvements.”
To me, that’s what it means to truly invest in people, community, and culture. I’m proud of our progress, but we’re not done yet. We’re committed to pushing ourselves further, learning from one another, and creating a place where everyone can thrive both inside our walls and beyond them.
If you’d like to see how we’re embedding ethical and social practices into supply chains worldwide, I invite you to explore our full 2024 Corporate Sustainability Report.
And if you’re looking for a workplace where purpose drives real progress, come build the future with us.
