As a thriving, dynamic cultural institution in the heart of a rising city, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) has a passion for and relentless commitment to artistry. But hiring and retaining top talent, especially at the national level, is very competitive, particularly when there’s a finite pool of experienced, top-tier performers. For the CSO, being on the leading edge of workplace policies and practices meant the difference between landing or losing a key hire, between keeping top talent or seeing them poached for better opportunities elsewhere. 

As the CSO’s VP of Human Resources, Kyle Wynk-Sivashankar knew that more could be done to improve recruitment efforts in the Midwest. So Wynk-Sivashankar partnered with Ellequate to help elevate his organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion practices—including work-life-integration initiatives—in the hopes of increasing employee engagement and satisfaction, as well as becoming an employer of choice.

Getting Started With Ellequate

The CSO joined the first Ellequate cohort in 2018. The data provided from their initial participation helped them develop meaningful action plans and empowered them to advocate for and implement significant policy changes over the course of two years.

As an employer seeking recertification in 2020, Ellequate provided the CSO with detailed reports aimed at measuring the impact of their new policies, ensuring the greatest possible success for the near and long term. By providing ongoing support, the organization’s HR team feels empowered, having the data, tools, and skills needed to be successful in their efforts for greater diversity and inclusion. 

As part of the CSO’s recertification efforts, Ellequate:

• Assessed past and current approaches to diversity, equity, and inclusion across six key areas

• Trained and coached HR professionals in the creation and implementation of improved policies and practices 

• Uncovered disparities in employee experience by disaggregating employee survey data, identifying key insights, and prioritizing opportunities for growth

The ultimate result? The CSO continues to be recognized by Ellequate as a Leader In Gender Equity, signaling that the CSO is not only a top tier performance organization, but has top tier standards for diversity, equity, inclusion, quality of life, and work-life balance.

With Certification Comes Results

Since being certified, the CSO has found themselves significantly better positioned to attract, hire and retain top artistic talent in an incredibly competitive industry. Having improved in a variety of areas—from family-friendly benefits and flexible work arrangements to LGBTQ+ inclusive policies—the CSO has seen noticeable improvements in their culture and significant reductions in turnover. 

Some employees have even reported that they were recruited by competitors, but chose to stay at the organization because of the quality-of-life benefits implemented as a result of participation in Ellequate’s program. In addition, the organization was significantly better prepared to address the challenges of navigating a global pandemic in 2020 because the foundation had already been laid for policies that support flexible work where possible, and the communication necessary to ensure that work remains effective.

As a result of working with Ellequate, the CSO now has:

• “A competitive edge” in employee hiring and retention

• A better knowledge of the actual state of the organization, meaning fewer blind spots

• Improvement in morale—with 89% of employees saying the CSO is a “great place to work.”

• Specific knowledge of areas for ongoing improvement (less fumbling in the dark)

• The ability to advocate for improvement and to overcome institutional inertia or resistance to change

But their work isn’t done. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra continues to partner with Ellequate, ensuring they remain competitive as a leader in workplace equity and raising the bar for other orchestras across the country. 

Are you ready to boost your DEI efforts with a data-driven and people-centered strategy? Learn how to become an Ellequate member.

Related Posts