Overview

Rocket Software develops software solutions that help global organizations run their critical infrastructure and innovate for the future. More than 10 million IT and business professionals at the world’s largest companies rely on Rocket, including many of the Fortune 500 and Forbes Global 2000.

Supernova Award Category

Future of Work: Human Capital Management

The Problem

“For Rocket to succeed and better serve customers, we need to invest in our greatest asset – our employees,” says CHRO Tracey Leahy. “This means encouraging every Rocketeer to show up as their whole self and amplifying diverse voices across the organization to reflect our core values.”

These efforts were put to the test during the COVID-19 pandemic, when women, and especially mothers, were forced to juggle work, childcare, and virtual learning. Millions of working women have left the workforce since the pandemic. According to the recent Women in the Workplace report released by McKinsey & Company and Lean In, one in three women are currently looking to leave or downshift their jobs. “At Rocket, we take this exodus of women very seriously, as we know we are a better company when we have diverse teams solving our customers’ complex problems,” says Leahy.

The Solution

The company’s ongoing Rocket Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (RIDE) initiative focuses on creating a workplace where diversity is celebrated and respected, and each employee can expect to be treated fairly.

As part of RIDE, Rocket leverages technology to engage, energize, and retain high-performing female professionals across the company. For women working in the male-dominated technology sector, making connections, and moving up the ladder can be challenging, limiting their opportunities for advancement and causing companies to miss out on a valuable talent pool.

The results

Rocket is making women part of the next generation of leaders. By strengthening its continuous innovation practice, Rocket sees how the technology helps elevate its culture of high performance and psychological safety. When employees feel safe to show up fully confident in their abilities, they can produce legendary outcomes – from the smallest moments of collaboration to large-scale projects.

Key results include:

• Creating a safe, supportive space for women to share personal stories, challenges, and wins
• Supporting the development of a more diverse workforce — a key Rocket goal
• Elevating Rocket’s culture of high performance and helping women grow professionally
• Preparing women for roles as mentors to the next generation of Rocket employees

Rocket continues to expand its RIDE initiative to provide more education, resources, and support to Rocket employees, customers, and the community. The company is committed to creating a culture where everyone feels like they belong and can contribute their unique perspectives and skill sets to something bigger.

Metrics

Forty percent of Aurora Rocketeers received stretch assignments and /or promotions as a direct byproduct of the Aurora program experience.

Participating in Aurora offered tremendous growth to the women involved and Leahy noted the confidence, resilience, empathy, creativity, and perseverance they gained as a result. “Many of the women spoke about how Aurora represented an investment in themselves that they will carry into the future and pay forward to their team members and organization. Aurora helped them to be a better version of themselves and bring the best out in others.”

“My employee has grown in her leadership and is looking for ways to expand her role and her influence,” says a hiring manager at Rocket. “She’s dealt with employee situations with confidence and care. She has taken on new roles and exemplifies the values of Rocket.”

The Technology

Rocket uses Aurora, a novel talent experience platform, developed by reacHIRE to foster peer connections, build leadership skills, and help female employees thrive and rise on their career journeys. Employees get hands-on support and coaching from executive Aurora guides, increasing engagement, belonging, and retention. Aurora creates a space where participants can learn together with supportive peers, tools and resources.

Disruptive Factor

Developing a true sense of belonging for diverse workers at work is a difficult challenge. Changing the culture of a company to be fully inclusive takes time and in the meantime, diverse workers can feel unsupported and isolated. The Aurora program used a cohort-based approach which built peer relationships and community among the participants. Executive guides from outside the company provided a safe environment to share concerns and receive coaching—program results showed a major increase in attachment to the company among participants.

Shining Moment

Rocket makes belonging matter. Sharra Owens-Schwartz, Rocket’s Vice President of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity said, “For women in tech, the journey can be lonely.” There is something powerful when you know you're in an evnironment of belonging and can bring your whole self to work and succeed.” The Aurora platform helps build these connections among women, allowing them to share experiences and learning.