SVTA Diversity and Inclusion Statement

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The SVTA Diversity and Inclusion Statement Outlines Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Note: we see this statement as fluid, reflecting our ongoing commitment to inclusion, equality, and diversity. As such, it may change in response to global or national movements.

As the United States, and the world at large, begins to reckon with systemic racism and cultural oppression of people of color, industry associations like the Streaming Video Technology Alliance have an important role to play. These associations are often the “voice” for an industry, representing individuals or companies from across the ecosystem and, as such, can do a tremendous amount to foster inclusion and provide opportunities for under-represented groups. The most obvious contexts of diversity include race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, country of origin, culture and diversity of thought. However, in a rapidly changing society, diversity continues to evolve and can include class, socioeconomic status, life experiences, learning and working styles, personality types and intellectual traditions and perspectives, in addition to cultural, political, religious and other beliefs.

The Streaming Video Technology Alliance is strongly in support of increasing the opportunities for historically under-represented or repressed groups within the streaming industry. We stand with Black Lives Matter, the LGBTQ community, and other groups that have been victimized as a result of discrimination and racism. As such, we are committing our organization to helping improve inclusion and diversity within the streaming industry. This commitment may include, and is not limited to, such activities as:

  • Actively seeking out individuals to participate within and lead our projects.
  • Striving for increased diversity within our SEGMENTS conference (scheduled to debut in April, 2021).
  • Improving the percentage of minority- and women-owned small businesses included in our annual grant program.
  • Diversifying our leadership, from our board to the working groups.
  • Seeking panelists from under-represented groups for Streaming Video Technology Alliance webinars, panels moderated by our Executive Director at other industry events, and other educational forums such as mentoring programs.
  • Launching programs to showcase individual voices from under-represented groups.
  • Partnering with minority-focused organizations, such as AfroTech, to support the development and promotion of other voices within the industry.

We recognize that this isn’t a “one and done” approach. Our commitment is not for just this year, or the next. Improving diversity within our industry, and within human society as a whole, will take a concerted, long-term effort by everyone. That includes us, for the duration of our operation.

Only working together can we change our industry, and the world, so that everyone, regardless of race, religious belief, gender or sexual orientation has an equal opportunity to contribute and succeed. 

Read Blogs From The SVTA Diversity Microsite

IWD 2024: How Qwilt is Inspiring Inclusion in Ways You Can Too

IWD 2024: How Qwilt is Inspiring Inclusion in Ways You Can Too

This Friday (March 8th) marks International Women’s Day (IWD), a day when people and organizations worldwide reflect on the progress made towards gender equality and the work that still needs to be done. As a woman who started her career in streaming media in 2004, I had a lot to reflect on, especially with this […]

Learning How To Be A Powerful Woman In Tech

Learning How To Be A Powerful Woman In Tech

An empowered woman starts inside the mind and heart. In my experience, many of the powerful women that I meet don’t know the extent of their gifting and talents. Regardless of your journey or where you are in life, it is the uniqueness of you that ignites the fire to impact the world. And it […]

What Can I Do to Foster Diversity?

What Can I Do to Foster Diversity?

My name is Atika Boulgaz, and I am EVP Global Communication at Viaccess-Orca (VO), managing marketing communication activities as well as corporate and internal communication for the company. I’m working with a skillful team of experts, mainly women. But as we all know, that’s common in marketing, right? Unfortunately, what is also (still) common,  is […]