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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at EF Kids and Teens
About Us
The unjust death of George Floyd, and many others in the US, served as a catalyst for offices around the world to formalize DEIB Teams. As EF Kids and Teens openly condemns racism, we stood in solidarity with the Black community and all communities fighting racial injustice, initially through social media and emails to staff. But there was more work to be done and tangible support was needed for everyone in our organization. We believe the world is better when people try to understand one another. We aim to open the world through education, no matter where you live, who you love, or the color of your skin. As a company, we must ensure the right platforms and resources are in place to drive change and broaden our culture of inclusivity and belonging for all staff.
What does Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging mean at EF Kids and Teens?
Diversity is a fact
Our organization is made up of unique individuals who together contribute to the success of the company.
Equity is a process
We enforce fair practices and policies so that everyone has access to opportunities, regardless of their identity group.
Inclusion is a behavior
We welcome everyone, regardless of where they live, who they love, their spirituality or the color of their skin, to the table so their voices can be heard.
Belonging is about how we feel
Everyone should feel valued, accepted and part of our community when they bring their authentic selves to work.
Our Mission Statement
DEIB Kids and Teens is committed to promoting a workplace that is not only diverse, but equitable, inclusive, healthy and a safe place where our staff feel they belong. Through proactive recruitment and talent retention, training, shared educational resources, and development opportunities, we are creating a company where we can each bring our unique, authentic selves, while working together to create innovative developments.
Our DEIB Commitments
Grow diversity within our teams, at all levels, through proactive recruiting, retention, and development of talent.
Recognize and work to remove inequity through ongoing training, evaluation, and fair policy development.
Strengthen inclusivity in everything we do through continuously auditing our programs, services, language, content and marketing.
Ensure our company culture provides a sense of belonging through fostering safe interactions, experiences, and spaces for our staff, students and parents.
Bring awareness to help prevent racism and discrimination within EF Kids and Teens through the creation and promotion of relevant educational tools, resources, and platforms.
Our Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
EF Kids and Teens is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment regardless of age, ancestry, color, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, parental status, Veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. Discrimination or harassment based upon any of these factors is wholly inconsistent with everything we believe in and will not be tolerated. Furthermore, such discrimination or harassment may violate the laws and regulations in the locations in which we operate.
Meet the DEIB Team
Comprised of a leadership duo and a committee of 9, these individuals hail from different walks of life, both personally and professionally. They represent EF Kids and Teens’ vast network of people and products, working together to improve DEIB related situations across all regions.
Alon Winnie (he/him)
Operations Director, Miami
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI, USA
Previous Experience: Teacher then DoS in China Franchise (Xi'an, Nanjing, Chengdu), Academic Operations Manager then Director of Operations for EF Indonesia
DEIB Committee Goals:
I hope that by being a part of the DEIB Committee, I can contribute to making the EF Kids and Teens community a more inclusive place, where everyone can feel a sense of belonging not only within their team and local organization but as a part of the larger worldwide EF community.
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Previous Experience: Third Grade Science and Social Studies Teacher
DEIB Committee Goals:
I hope to help address the continuing issues with equity and inclusion within EF Kids and Teens to create a work culture that truly values all employees. I also wish to promote an attitude of respectful curiosity towards, and acceptance of, differences based in a desire for mutual understanding.
Anna Pittenger (they/them)
Teacher, Shanghai
Ashley Everage (she/her)
DEIB Program Manager, Shanghai
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas, USA
Previous Experience: Teacher, Director of Studies, Curriculum Development, Content Writer and Copyeditor
DEIB Committee Goals:
It has been my pleasure to be a part of DEIB here at Kids and Teens from its inception. I am proud that our team has been able to influence and impact some positive shifts we are making as a company. Diversity, Equity Inclusion and Belonging are immense terms, and it takes time to grow awareness and affect change. We are moving the needle and are thankful for all the support we have gotten. This is only the beginning and there is a long road ahead, but the DEIB team is definitely up for the challenge.
Hometown: Born in Palembang, South Sumatera, but moved to the Greater Jakarta area at a young age.
Previous Experience: Social media strategy, event management, branding and campaign creation in industries from entertainment to NGOs.
DEIB Committee Goals:
I am excited to be apart of the DEIB Committee with the hope to marry committee ideas, empower my peers, and implement exciting programs across regions. Follow me on Instagram and you will find me sharing content about climate change, gender equality, and diversity.
Cinthya (she/her)
Marketing Manager, Jakarta
Daniella Garcia (she/her)
Academic Manager, Xuzhou
Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela
Previous experience: I have led and been part of several projects that include teacher development and wellness.
DEIB Committee Goals:
As part of the DEIB Committee, I hope to empower and give a platform to people as well as bring about positive change and growth.
Hometown: Born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia. I once was a student at EF Kids and Teens Jakarta!
Previous experience: I was working at startups and local software development agencies for several years before joining EF Kids and Teens Central Office in Jakarta.
DEIB Committee Goals:
By being part of the DEIB Committee, I am committed to contributing to the cultivation and preservation of a safe and diverse environment, by embracing the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as part of EF Kids and Teens' identity and working culture.
Dita Anindhika (she/her)
Business Analyst, Jakarta
Emily James (she/her)
Production Manager, Jakarta
Hometown: Luton, Bedfordshire (Southeast Anglia region of the UK)
Previous experience: Over the last 30 years, I have worked with juvenile reform groups, race relations groups, special educational and mobility needs as well as various community outreach projects and so much more.
DEIB Committee Goals:
It is important that all current and future EF Kids and Teens employees feel valued for the diverse and unique qualities they bring. The discussions and initiatives I have been fortunate enough to be a part of, since joining the committee, have given me a deeper understanding of the need for diversity, the true meaning of equity, helped us all to strive for a wider sense of inclusion and truly made me feel like I belong.
Hometown: Dallas, Texas, USA
Previous experience: Preschool Education, Hospitality
DEIB Committee Goals:
My goal is to use my role in the DEIB Committee to further reflect and voice the needs of our teachers, management and staff. Since joining EF in 2018, I have been amazed by all the progress and growth we've made as a family and cannot wait to see what we can continue to achieve.
Jessica Narvaez (she/her)
Teacher, Beijing
Joanne Vazquez (she/her)
Director DEIB & Teacher Welfare, Shanghai
Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Previous Experience: Teaching, Recruitment, Teacher Welfare (Human Resources)
DEIB Committee Goals:
Being part of the creation and launch of the DEIB Team has been the highlight of my time at EF Kids and Teens. Bringing attention to the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging to our organization and seeing our initiatives grow and develop has been a challenging, rewarding and unforgettable experience. There’s still so much to do but every step we take, big or small, is a step in the right direction towards making our organization more diverse, equitable, inclusive and a place where our community feels that we all belong.
Hometown: Gran Canaria, Spain
Previous experience: Teaching, Management, Hospitality
DEIB Committee Goals:
I´m delighted to be part of the DEIB Committee. My hope would not only be to develop a diversity, equity and inclusion focused business but also to make everyone feel welcome. I’m looking forward to exciting projects and new changes involving different opinions, ideas and skills that can help us to learn from each other.
Lili Joan Giordani (she/her)
Senior Teacher, Shanghai
Tanya Kochkina (she/her)
Head of Customer Experience, Lucerne
Hometown: Saratov, Russia (a student city in the Volga region)
Previous experience: One of EF's veterans - from an English teacher, through school academic and general management to the Director of internal and external customers team in Russia. I was also very lucky to run EF Olympics project for the Sochi 2014 Winter Games.
DEIB Committee Goals:
Within the years of working for EF I have met so many different and interesting people, that I learnt a lot from. By joining the DEIB committee I would like to help and share the experience of one and all, have inclusion, diversity and fairness values be not only in the air but a real part of our working culture.