In August 2023, Handcrafted learning was awarded the highest honor in the learning and development industry for a new diversity and inclusion training created on behalf of Fidelity Investments.
The Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards recognize best practices for initiatives in Human Resources, Talent Acquisition and Management, and Learning and Development. For its Fidelity training, Handcrafted Learning won Gold for “Best Learning Program That Supports and Promotes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” The honor was awarded for Activating Allyship and Unlocking Allyship, two practice-based eLearning experiences that were handcrafted to help managers and associates measurably build inclusive behaviors.
“Fidelity’s Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Strategy is built on our five key commitments—Diversity, Inclusion, Opportunity, Transparency and Accountability—and is designed to help us achieve a diverse and inclusive workforce. This shapes the way we engage with and support our associates, how we serve our customers and clients, and how we strengthen the communities in which we live, work and serve,” said Wendy John, Head of Global Diversity and Inclusion at Fidelity Investments. “The strategy helps create clarity for all associates, at all levels, on what actions they can take to support an inclusive culture, and the Activating Allyship and Unlocking Allyship learning programs have supported a progressive and continuous learning experience for all of our associates. This learning is essential in our efforts to foster an inclusive workplace.”
The first interactive eLearning experience, Activating Allyship, was launched in October 2021 to managers around the globe. Within days of launch, employees were enthusiastically sharing the training with one another, creating a groundswell of support. Since then, Activating Allyship and its sequel, Unlocking Allyship, have been experienced by Fidelity’s 70,000 employees with a 97% satisfaction score from survey respondents. “I keep hearing ‘best training ever’,” said Gail Manley, Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy at Fidelity. “It’s unheard of to get ratings that high for an eLearning.”
Gem Moon, Design Director at Handcrafted Learning, attributes the grassroots success of the allyship learning experiences to the realistic content and choice-driven interactivity. “We designed nuanced content that reflects how people really think, talk, and act. Each scenario was based on real employee experiences from our Fortune 500 partners, so as learners make choices, make mistakes, and experience the outcomes of their decisions, they’re practicing behaviors they can apply in the real world.”
Hundreds of the anonymous write-in comments from Activating Allyship and Unlocking Allyship specifically reference the realism and relatability of the scenarios. “The real-life scenarios were extremely helpful in allowing me to think through how to proceed,” writes one learner. “This practice is helpful because we often aren’t given the opportunity in real life situations where things transpire at a rapid pace.”
One of the goals of the Fidelity and Handcrafted project team was to prove that interactivity and accessibility were not at odds. Users of assistive technology were able to experience the practice-based design of Activating Allyship and Unlocking Allyship like all learners. “I thought it was fantastic. The options were great,” said Jeff Wissel, Chief Accessibility Officer for Disability:IN, the global disability inclusion nonprofit that advises Fortune 500 companies on accessibility. Jeff Wissel is proudly legally blind. “From an accessibility standpoint, it felt so natural. I felt included.”
Not only was the training unprecedentedly popular among Fidelity managers and associates, but it made a measurable difference in the experience of underrepresented employees. Fidelity’s bi-annual Associate Pulse Survey results are published in the 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Report. In the survey, 45,000 associates shared their perspectives on Fidelity’s culture. Between Q2 2021 and Q1 2022—the time in which Activating Allyship launched to Fidelity’s population—there is an increase in the percentage of associates who believe that Fidelity creates a culture of inclusion. The largest statistical shift is among Black employees: a 6% increase in three quarters.
“Excellence Award winners are shown to be organizations that truly value their employees and invest in them through their human capital management programs,” said Brandon Hall Group Chief Operating Officer Rachel Cooke, Excellence Awards program leader. “These programs have been validated as best in class for business value and the impact on the employees themselves.”
Wendy John summarized the ongoing impact of the allyship eLearning experiences on Fidelity’s culture and business goals. “The learning programs surrounding the concept of Allyship have advanced our firm’s inclusion goals and our strategy by building skills and behaviors that foster inclusion and belonging across our workforce. This helps associates feel valued and that they can thrive at Fidelity, which also supports our firm’s retention efforts.”
About Fidelity Investments
Fidelity’s mission is to strengthen the financial well-being of our customers and deliver better outcomes for the clients and businesses we serve. With assets under administration of $11.7 trillion, including discretionary assets of $4.5 trillion as of June 30, 2023, we focus on meeting the unique needs of a diverse set of customers. Privately held for over 75 years, Fidelity employs over 70,000 associates who are focused on the long-term success of our customers. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit https://www.fidelity.com/about-fidelity/our-company.
About The Brandon Hall Group™ Excellence Awards
Brandon Hall Group is the only professional development company that offers data, research, insights, and certification to Learning and Talent executives and organizations. For over 30 years, we have empowered, recognized, and certified excellence in organizations worldwide, influencing the development of over 10 million employees and executives. Our Excellence Awards program was the first to recognize organizations for learning and talent and is the gold standard, known as the “Academy Awards of Human Capital Management.”
