i|Bridge Solutions Blog

Empowering Women in Tech: Nurturing Diversity in the Technology Landscape

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Throughout history, women have played pivotal roles in shaping the landscape of technology, yet they remain underrepresented in the field. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it’s imperative to recognize the significant contributions of women in tech and take proactive steps towards fostering inclusivity and diversity in the industry.

Despite comprising nearly half of the overall workforce in the US, only 31% of IT employees are women, according to Gartner. This glaring gender gap underscores the importance of initiatives aimed at empowering women to excel in technology. With nearly half a million job openings in cybersecurity alone, the tech industry presents a prime opportunity for women to thrive and innovate.

At Consulting Solutions, we understand that the journey towards gender equality in tech is far from over. This month, we’re highlighting non-profit organizations dedicated to boosting women’s representation, particularly in IT and STEAM fields. These organizations provide avenues for support through financial donations, volunteering, advocacy, and awareness-raising efforts, all of which contribute to fostering a more inclusive environment for women in tech.

Here are a few remarkable organizations making a difference:

  1. Anita Borg Institute – AnitaB.org: Founded by computer scientists Anita Borg and Telle Whitney, AnitaB.org is a global nonprofit dedicated to recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in technology. Through various programs and initiatives, they strive to create opportunities for women to thrive in the tech industry.
  2. Girls Who Code: Girls Who Code is a global nonprofit focused on increasing female representation in computer science. Their programs, including summer immersion programs, after-school clubs, and college loops, empower young women with the skills and confidence to pursue careers in tech.
  3. Black Girls Code: Founded in 2012, Black Girls Code aims to introduce girls from underrepresented communities to coding and technology. Through web design, game design, mobile app design, and robotics programs, they provide girls with access to technical education and opportunities for growth.
  4. Women Who Code: Women Who Code is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring women to excel in technology careers. Through community events, coding workshops, and leadership opportunities, they support women in IT and advocate for a more inclusive tech industry.
  5. Women in Technology (WIT): Empowers girls and women in STEAM fields, providing education, exposure, and experience from classrooms to boardrooms. Through sharing success stories, they inspire girls and women to shape their futures. They offer free professional development and networking to professionals and programs benefitting 4,000+ students. They are dedicated to improving female STEAM workforce participation and championing women’s opportunities in education and careers.

These organizations serve as beacons of hope and catalysts for change in the tech world. By supporting their efforts, we can collectively work towards closing the gender gap and creating a more equitable and diverse tech workforce.

Empowering Women in Tech: A Call to Action for Equality and Inclusion

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March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the courageous women who advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion in their respective fields. From suffragists demanding the vote to modern-day activists fighting for equality, women have led the charge for a more inclusive society. Their stories inspire us to stand against oppression and discrimination.

Despite making significant contributions, women remain significantly underrepresented in the field of information technology. According to Gartner, although women constitute nearly half of the overall workforce in the US, they only comprise 31% of IT employees. This disparity is reflected in the decreasing participation rate of women in the labor force and the declining percentage of women leadership positions in the technology industry. Additionally, female leaders in tech often face numerous challenges, including having their ideas credited to others, encountering microaggressions, and experiencing difficulties in advancement.

As we contemplate our progress and the journey ahead, Consulting Solutions passionately encourages all to embrace Women’s History Month with unwavering enthusiasm and solidarity. Our company’s ethos, grounded in the principles of trust and integrity, serves as the cornerstone of our role as trusted IT staffing and strategic consulting partners. Our principle of “Creating a culture of acceptance, equity, inclusion, and belonging for all employees and clients” stands as a testament to our dedication in this area and underscores our relentless pursuit of this vital initiative. Let’s take a moment to acknowledge and honor the women within our organizations and communities who tirelessly advocate for change and lead efforts to promote equality. By amplifying the voices of marginalized women, including those of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities, and by actively pursuing inclusive solutions, we can collectively contribute to the creation of a more equitable world for all.

Celebrating Women’s History Month isn’t just about looking back; it’s a call to action. It urges us to confront systemic barriers and envision a future where every woman thrives. Consulting Solutions is committed to supporting and promoting gender diversity in the tech industry and beyond. We believe that by recognizing and valuing the contributions of women, we can drive positive change and build a more inclusive society.

Fostering Mental Wellbeing in the IT and IT Consulting Industry: A Guide for Remote and Hybrid Work Environments 

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October is National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month. On behalf of Consulting Solutions, we are honored to observe this month and express our unwavering support to all individuals who may be struggling with mental health in their personal lives or who are affected by mental health issues in the lives of their friends or family.  

Our first guiding principle at Consulting Solutions states, “Our most important asset is our employees.” Our employees’ mental health and wellness are our priority and remain at the core of all we do as a business leader in the IT Staffing and Consulting space.  

Consulting Solutions would like to highlight the importance of mental health education, increase awareness around mental health education within the workplace, and share tips to safeguard your mental health and wellbeing. This blog explores the significance of mental health awareness in the IT world, particularly for employees in remote and hybrid settings, offering insights on how both employees and employers can contribute to a healthier, more productive work environment.  

 

The Importance of Mental Health in IT and Unique Challenges for Remote and Hybrid Workers. 

The IT and IT Consulting field is renowned for its high-pressure environment, demanding deadlines, and continuous problem-solving. Employees are often exposed to long hours, tight project schedules, and the need to adapt rapidly to technological changes. 

In recent years, we have witnessed the upending of historically cherished business practices pertaining to workforce routines and expectations, as evidenced by a sharp rise in both remote and hybrid work arrangements. Remote and hybrid work arrangements, which have become increasingly common in the IT industry, come with their unique challenges. Feelings of being overwhelmed, isolated, blurred boundaries between work and personal life, and a lack of social interaction are examples of what may affect an employee’s mental health in the short term or over a longer duration of time. These factors can lead to higher levels of stress, burnout, and other mental health concerns.  

The fast and constant changes in our workforce require Consulting Solutions to maintain an ongoing focus on holistic health which includes a heightened focus on the psychological and emotional health of our employees. It is imperative for all companies to recognize that the mental health of our employees has a direct and powerful impact on employees’ productivity, creativity, and overall job satisfaction.

 

 How Employees and Employers Can Improve Mental Wellbeing. 

What Employees Can Do – 

  1. Seek Support: Don’t hesitate to reach out for support if you’re struggling. Many employers offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) that provide confidential counseling services. 
  1. Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Designate a workspace and create a schedule to maintain a work-life balance. 
  1. Stay Connected: Make an effort to stay connected with colleagues. Regular video calls, team meetings, and casual catch-ups can help maintain a sense of belonging. 
  1. Physical Activity: Incorporate physical activity into your daily routine. Exercise has a profound impact on mental health and can alleviate stress. 

 

 What Employers Can Do – 

  1. Foster Inclusivity: Celebrate diversity and create an inclusive work environment that values every employee, regardless of their background or mental health status. 
  1. Promote a Culture of Support: Encourage open communication about mental health. Employees should feel comfortable discussing their concerns and seeking help when needed. 
  1. Flexible Schedules: Offer flexible work hours, allowing employees to adapt their workdays to their needs while meeting project requirements. 
  1. Mental Health Resources: Provide access to mental health resources, such as counseling services or workshops, and ensure employees are aware of these options. 
  1. Training and Education: Offer training on stress management, mental health awareness, and resilience to help employees cope with the demands of the job. 

 

Mental health encompasses emotional and psychological health and resiliency. At Consulting Solutions, we recognize the importance of increased awareness around these critical issues and pledge to continually improve our efforts, especially for those working in remote or hybrid environments, as it is paramount to promoting a healthy and supportive work environment. We urge each of you to acknowledge and embrace the collective responsibility of employers and employees to engender an understanding and nurturing work environment that prioritizes mental health. Individuals and organizations are essential to the creation and maintenance of a healthier and more productive IT workforce. Remember, a mentally healthy workforce is a more innovative and resilient one. 

 

Author: JJ Atwood: HR Talent Solutions Manager at Consulting Solutions 

 

Note: The Consulting Solutions HR Team organized WellnessFest 2023, a month-long initiative promoting employee well-being. The program covered Nutrition, Mental Health, Financial Wellness, and Sleep Habits, underscoring the company’s commitment to a healthy and balanced work environment. 

React and Adapt: Why Organizations Need Agile Transformation

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React and Adapt: Why Organizations Need Agile Transformation

Today’s business climate is rife with challenges, among them a rising competition for talent, upended supply chains—and as exemplified during the global pandemic—the need to rapidly shift product design to meet the ever-evolving demands and expectations of customers.

Organizations need transformative abilities grounded in faster, more agile ways of working in order to roll with, and not behind, the changing tides. Ultimately, this leads to becoming a more customer-focused organization instead of one mired in increasingly outdated processes. In other words, one that focuses on outcomes rather than output.

Understanding Business Agility

Agile transformation has become an industry buzz-term signaling market responsiveness and productivity. But what does such agility entail, really?

Broadly, it’s implementing a more iterative, collaborative, and transparent manner of getting things done, faster—from top-level decision-making and capital-expenditure alignments to product development and design. It removes traditional hierarchical roadblocks and drawn-out processes in favor of more innovative, data-driven decisions and actions.

This is especially imperative at the product level, where agile teams rely on shorter development sprints as opposed to longer cycles, and benefit from customer-feedback loops so they can frequently experiment, test, review, and revise without sacrificing quality.

Foremostly, and at all levels of the organization, the agile mindset takes customer needs into account all along the way. It continually asks these questions:

  • What are customers’ top pain points and how can we most quickly resolve them?
  • How can we make ourselves easier to do business with?
  • How can we empower our teams to best fulfill these essential objectives?

At the pandemic’s onset, many organizations realized the failures of monolithic systems and inflexible processes that thwarted their ability to shift gears speedily. Consider a financial institution unable to easily transition from largely in-person banking to 100-percent online banking, or the retailer that struggles to understand their customers and their purchasing habits/trends.

True agility means giving the customer what they need most, right now and in the most seamless manner.

Beyond CX and UX

In addition to intrinsically embracing a more customer-centric way of doing business, agile transformation requires:

  • Greater transparency of communications and decisions, ensuring both leaders and teams understand the “why,” and that management is privy to teams’ in-the-trenches insights
  • Development of robust strategies and backlogs that ensure common understanding
  • Provide people with greater latitude to experiment, fail, and learn from those mistakes
  • Creation of stronger leaders and teams through HR practices that prioritize employee satisfaction, skills development, and upward career paths

The latter point, in fact, is key for attaining and retaining a top-level workforce in today’s competitive business arena. In-demand IT talent are easily recruited away to greener pastures when not being provided with such support in their current capacities.

The bottom line is that, from top-level decisions to product design and customer journey maps to employee enrichment, agile thinking must inform the way all aspects of business are executed.

Redefining Your Organization In a Digital World

Consulting Solutions’ Agile + Product + Design Practice is created to help organizations move to a more agile way of working, whether the desire is to transform the entire organization or to begin by implementing agile strategies at the team level. For those already implementing agile, we can also help break anti-patterns to optimize results.

Organizations that adapt agile product and design principles are empowering themselves to deliver high-quality, impactful work to customers in a way that meets their most immediate needs. In our hyper-competitive, always-on world, customer-first will increasingly be core to the mission statements of tomorrow’s successful companies.

Consulting Solutions Announces Acquisition of iBridge Solutions

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iBridge will be a standalone division of Consulting Solutions and will continue to focus on providing technology services and workforce solutions in the St. Louis, Missouri area

JACKSONVILLE, Florida — July 7, 2022 — Consulting Solutions, a portfolio company of White Wolf Capital (“White Wolf”), today announced the acquisition of iBridge Solutions, LLC (“iBridge”), an information technology consulting firm with over 20 years of experience supporting some of the nation’s largest companies, including a loyal base of blue-chip customers. iBridge is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.

The addition of iBridge’s clientele and consulting talent will continue to strengthen Consulting Solutions’ market position as one of the fastest-growing providers of workforce solutions and consulting services in North America. iBridge will become a standalone division of Consulting Solutions and will continue to focus on providing value-added services in the St. Louis area in contract, contract to hire, direct-hire placement, and Statement of Work across a range of technologies.

“We are pleased to welcome the iBridge team into the Consulting Solutions family of companies,” said Corry Doyle, Managing Director of White Wolf Capital. “Like our other organizations, iBridge’s business model is customer-centric and based on providing exemplary IT consulting services and workforce solutions that enable digital transformation initiatives. We’re excited about this expansion to our team as well as the cultural synergies shared with iBridge.”

“iBridge’s superior services and commitment to its clients, consultants, and employees align closely with our own values,” said Michael Werblun, CEO of Consulting Solutions. “We look forward to the path ahead as we continue to grow our organization through strategic acquisitions of IT service organizations that share our principles and devotion to technology innovation and expertise. In turn, iBridge customers will have access to an even broader range of consultant talent and service offerings through our lineup of companies.”

“iBridge is proud to become part of the Consulting Solutions team and family of brands, which offer the same integrity and focus on customer satisfaction as our own organization,” said Craig Boren, Cofounder of iBridge. “We’re excited to better serve our long-time customers by providing broader services in partnership with the rest of the Consulting Solutions portfolio. We view this acquisition as a continuation of the iBridge story and the next chapter in our continual mission to raise the bar in terms of our consulting and service offerings dedicated to client success.”

About iBridge

iBridge was founded in 2000 to provide information technology staffing services to Fortune 1000 clients, rapidly developing a reputation as a well-established and respected IT staffing firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that can provide quality candidates who deliver hard-to-find skillsets and drive successful client outcomes. iBridge’s clients span numerous industries, including Consumer Products, Healthcare, Financial Services, Retail, and Government.

About Consulting Solutions

Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, Consulting Solutions (www.consultingsolutions.com) is a nationally recognized leader in technology solutions and services. Consulting Solutions’ key practice areas include Agile Development, Application Development, Advanced Analytics, Cloud & Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, Delivery Leadership, and ERP. Our scalable engagement models—from individual technology consultants to strategic enterprise programs—enable clients to tap into world-class talent, expertise, and services to drive technology and enterprise transformation initiatives. Consulting Solutions was recently named to the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies, the SIA Fastest-Growing Staffing Firms in the U.S. and SIA Largest Staffing Firms in the U.S. and was recognized as ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing for both Client and Talent Satisfaction.

About White Wolf

White Wolf is a private investment firm that began operations in late 2011 and is focused on making both direct and indirect investments in leading middle market companies located in North America. On the direct side, White Wolf seeks both private equity as well as private credit investment opportunities in companies with $20 million to $200 million in revenues and up to $20 million in EBITDA. Typical situations include management buyouts, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, and investments for growth. Preferred industries include Manufacturing, Business Services, Government Services, Staffing, Security, Aerospace, and Defense. In addition to making direct investments in operating companies, White Wolf also looks to invest with other private fund managers as a limited partner. Targeted investment candidates are North American-focused private credit funds looking to raise $50 million to $500 million in assets under management, with a focus on the lower-middle and middle-market. For further information, please visit: www.whitewolfcapital.com.