Not Just Another Company Accelerator, DoorDash's ELEVATE is Working for Women of Color

“We will miss out on innovation and growth if these important perspectives are not incorporated in key business decisions.”

—As Lisa Lee,VP of Global Culture and Belonging

September 2, 2021

The gist:

Fellows in DoorDash’s career accelerator for women of color— called Elevate—should be a case study in DEI best practices.

For example, Members receive the following during the-six programs:

• access to an external executive coach

• an executive sponsor within the company

• meetings with C-suite members and company directors

• a career plan in the Company, that has been worked out with them + their mentors

The Stats:

• Career progression: Within six months of completing the program, 38% of fellows earned promotions, a significant increase compared to their non-Elevate peers.

• Hiring and retention: There’s been a marked increase in managers recommending fellows to others. This is good news for hiring and retaining women of color.

• Career navigation: Fellows learned to position themselves more strategically for new roles and promotions. They also addressed skill gaps that might hinder advancement.

Read the HBR article here for tips on how to launch your own company accelerator.