Learn how the Inclusive Working Group at YouTube is driving equity-first thinking and how you can apply these principles to your own business
Graphic: MorningBird Media, Springfield, MA
As an entrepreneur or small business owner, it's important to consider equity and inclusion in the development of new products, processes, and policies. For help in this we can look at the Inclusive Working Group (IWG) created by YouTube. The IWG is a dedicated team of professionals consisting of a product inclusion lead, executive sponsors, employee resource group (ERG) representatives, and leaders from across YouTube, including experts in machine learning and responsible AI.
The IWG helps YouTube employees consider key risks and opportunities during the development of new products, processes, and policies. By partnering directly with teams, the IWG can provide actionable feedback to ensure that equity and inclusion are considered early and often in the development process. This allows teams to identify and mitigate risks and adjust direction when necessary.
How can you apply these to your business?
One of the key benefits of the IWG is its cross-functional subject matter expertise with executive buy-in. The group brings together voices from across multiple functions and underrepresented groups to consider questions of inclusion. Executive sponsorship is essential to formalize and champion the IWG's role in improving the overall quality of product launches.
To date, the IWG has partnered with YouTube teams on over 900 projects. In 2023, the program will expand its coverage to 100% of YouTube's product teams and range of collaborators. The IWG will also focus on educating teams by sharing learnings from case studies, research, frameworks, and other content to continue driving scalable ways of thinking equity-first.
By considering equity and inclusion early and often in the development process, you can create products, processes, and policies that better reflect your users' lived experiences. This can help your business build stronger connections with your audience and create more inclusive and equitable experiences. The IWG can be a valuable resource for small business owners and entrepreneurs who want to prioritize equity and inclusion in their work.
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