Innovation and Equity at ESET: A Path Toward Diversity in Technology

In this special interview with ALOIC, we explore ESET Latin America's winning strategy in the "Best Inclusion and Diversity Strategy" category at the LATAM 2023 awards. Carolina Kaplan from ESET shares how their focus on diversity and inclusion press, particularly aimed at women and girls in technology, has set a milestone in the industry. Discover how this strategy not only promotes gender equity but also drives education and training in STEAM disciplines, contributing significantly to structural transformation for greater inclusion in the tech sector.

Could you share with us the basis of the Inclusion and Diversity strategy presented in this case of success?

On this occasion, we decided to present as a success case the Diversity and Inclusion Press strategy. The purpose of this strategy was to make visible the problem of including diversities in technology, with a special focus on girls and women.

Our press area promotes, among other things, awareness of diversity and inclusion issues related to our business.

In 2021, we developed 2 pieces: "Girls in ICT Day. What is it and what is celebrated?" and "ESET is part of the First Regional Alliance of Organizations to enhance Diversity and Inclusion," which had 40 publications in different media throughout the region and represent 22% of all institutional sustainability notes made.

In the article about Girls in ICT Day, we presented a current view on the employment and participation of women in the ICT industry, and we addressed the myths surrounding their involvement in these areas. In the second article, we spread our participation in Entrelatam, an organization that seeks to generate actions with regional impact on diversity and inclusion.

In 2022, we developed two more notes, "What is the current situation of women in the cybersecurity industry?" and "Equity, inclusion, and diversity are key to progress in cybersecurity," which had 145 regional publications and represented 45% of our sustainability notes.

In the note about women in cybersecurity, together with Digipadres, we analyzed why women in science and technology represent only 28% of the total. In the article "Equity, inclusion, and diversity are keys to progress," we used the concept of progress to analyze why these elements are crucial for the cybersecurity industry.

What do you consider to be the main challenges in the industry regarding inclusion and diversity?

The main challenges are achieving greater gender equity in technology, covering not only employability and wage gap but also training and education of women in STEAM disciplines.

Can you share a piece of advice on how to promote inclusion and diversity in the workplace?

I consider it essential to review our procedures, policies, and organizational culture with a gender perspective and co-responsibility. This involves changing structural aspects that are reflected in the company's actions, with a strong emphasis on awareness and visibility of these issues, supported by the organization's top management.

What did it mean for your organization to have won in this category?

It is an important milestone that recognizes the work we have done for years, giving us greater internal and external legitimacy to continue with these topics.

What do you consider to be the value and benefit of participating in this type of event?

The benefits are many, among them, I highlight visibility before other organizations and also knowing what other organizations are working on in terms of Sustainability and general trends.