One of the things we love about the work we do is we get to meet the most passionate leaders in the community. This week, we caught-up with Colleen Smith, Community Engagement Specialist for kCura, which makes the e-discovery platform Relativity and has become a leader in corporate philanthropy in Chicago.
kCura is one of the companies participating in our Techweek Gives campaign. During our catch-up with Colleen, we were able to learn more about what motivates kCura to give back, how they engage their employees and the difference they hope to make in the community. Read on for more from our interview and check out the great video below:
What motivates kCura to give back in the community?
Our giving initiatives spring directly from our core values, which are the heart of who we are at kCura. Using technology to make the world a more equitable place is a key vision for our global Relativity user base and team members alike. Sharing that vision and letting it guide our giving is a win-win for us, our partners and our communities.
How do you engage your employees in giving programs?
We empower our team members to set our giving agenda by telling us what they’re passionate about. They decide where kCura gets involved by nominating organizations for our Geek Grants, helping select schools for our Wired to Learn program, and leading our on- and offsite volunteer efforts. The best way to drive engagement is to make sure team members know the company is following their lead. Any given week, our team members can be found mentoring students, planning coding workshops, organizing a day of service, or participating in a food drive.
What difference do you hope to make by giving back?
We want to level the playing field for kids. It is a core focus of kCura Gives that we ensure the youth in our community — especially those with limited resources — have access to the technology, equipment, and training they need to be successful in today’s work environment.
What responsibility do you think companies have in creating tangible impact in communities?
One of the things that can determine the success or failure of a company is the environment it grows in. We got our start in Chicago and that has become such an important part of who we are. Our community has some very real challenges and we have the capacity to help. It’s not a choice to give back; it’s a duty to our hometown. Now that we have offices around the world, we’re looking for the right ways to contribute in our new communities as well.
Why is supporting STEM education programs here in Chicago such an important focus of the kCura culture?
Every day we use STEM skills to make our software, Relativity, and support our global user community. We love building solutions for complex problems and are always excited to share feedback and learnings with our peers. Extending that excitement and knowledge beyond our four walls and out into the community simply makes sense for us.
Atom 