Launching Adobe UK’s Black Employee Network
Contributed by Dawn Osbourne, Adobe UK
Last month was Black History Month in the United Kingdom; a celebration of black history, arts and culture. For more than thirty years, this has created a lively platform to discuss, debate and remember all those who have made a real impact in the story of our history – something I feel incredibly passionate about.
And, this celebration felt like the perfect time to launch Adobe’s Black Employee Network (BEN UK). We have some brilliant creative talent at Adobe, from all walks of life, changing the way people go about their lives – but there is still more we can do to advance inclusion in our industry.
The goal of BEN UK is to reflect the value of diversity and inclusion within Adobe, unite as a global family and give back to the community in an effective way. So, we set out to put a spotlight on the diversity that makes our employee base, and indeed the extended Adobe community, so exceptional.
And what better way to kick off the launch of the network in our Shoreditch offices than with a delicious Food Festival showcasing Caribbean and African cuisine?
Almost 200 Adobe employees gathered to sample local dishes from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Ghana and Nigeria. Meanwhile, in our Maidenhead office, the BEN UK team were onsite to chat to employees about the network and get them involved!
We also posted “BENspirational” quotes around our London offices from well-known black creatives and leaders. A QR code was included for staff to scan for more information about the stars, who ranged from Kofi Annan to Tina Turner.
I am excited and proud to be leading BEN UK, joining Adobe’s existing Employee Networks to promote diversity, bring more communities together, and showcase the opportunities for all creative talent.
So, what’s next for the BEN team? We want to keep getting the word out there in 2019 with more events to raise awareness of, and celebrate, diversity. This is the first step to promote a culture which inspires personal and team growth. That’s what #Adobeforall means to me.
Follow #AdobeForAll and see how our employees are making their communities a diverse and inclusive place for all. Visit our Diversity and Inclusion site to learn more about our initiatives. And read more about our employee networks and the employees that breathe life into them: