Elsevier named Best Company for Diversity

Last year, Stacy Masucci, a Publisher for Elsevier’s Bioscience & Translational Medicine books, wrote about the work Elsevier has done to hire diverse candidates from all over the world and our aims to be an employer of choice for individuals from all backgrounds, including those with disabilities:

When I was an Acquisitions Editor, so much of my position revolved around going to conferences and meeting new people. When I needed an accommodation, I called my manager, and she was wonderful. Her immediate reaction was, ‘What can I do to make this easier for you?’

I consider Elsevier one of the blessings in my life. During that time, I could not fulfill all the functions of my role, but Elsevier allowed me to work full-time from bed with voice-activated software and granted me a one-year travel hiatus. Elsevier had faith in my skills and the value I brought to the company and gave me the opportunity to get back to a healthy place. It was truly amazing.

One of the ways we foster diversity is through our Employee Resource Groups, which build support for employees with shared life experiences or characteristics. Last year, Joslyn Dumas, a leader of Elsevier’s African Ancestry Network ERG, shared her thoughts on Black History Month and talked about the importance of the network:

For me, AAN is also a community where I can let my guard down a bit. Growing up, I was one of the only African American people in school, and then in college and at work. So it’s great having that group of people where you can be yourself; you don't have to always be on your 100% best behavior because you are like the representative of your people in that space.

A decade after college during the COVID-19 lockdown, Shruti Desai learned something that shed light on her challenges and turned her into a passionate advocate for neurodiversity awareness: “I received a diagnosis and treatment for ADHD, which then allowed me to recognize the autism peeking through.”

Shruti, a Global Partnerships Manager for Elsevier in London, grappled with whether to share her diagnosis at work:

My diagnosis was incredibly enlightening as an adult woman,” she said. “I struggled with whether or not to share my diagnosis with my team and the company because of how it might change colleagues' perception of me or impact future career opportunities or my annual reviews. However, I have found my immediate team to be supportive and curious.

Ultimately, she decided to share her experience with other employees on a global neurodiversity panel this year:

Participating in the panel was the single most gratifying and fulfilling thing I have done this year. The amount of people who have reached out to me privately to thank us for being so open with our stories and to share their own stories made me both proud and emotional that we may have played a role in helping others on their journey and helping Elsevier on their journey to being more neurodiverse-inclusive.

Earlier this year, Dr Erin Hill-Parks, Product Manager for Data Diversity in Systems at Elsevier, wrote about Elsevier’s commitment to diversity and how we have embraced gender equity not just within the company but as a mission across academia. She pointed out that Elsevier dedicates resources and thought into ensuring Elsevier leads the way in inclusivity in publishing, academia and technology:

Nurturing, celebrating, and promoting a community of women leaders makes Elsevier a more dynamic, inclusive and creative place to work. When we promote each other, we promote all, and we succeed together.