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Open Letter to Leaders of the European Union: Hold Amit Shah Accountable

Human Rights Transparency Trust

Human Rights Index, a platform dedicated to raising awareness about human rights issues worldwide, has published the following open letter urging a call to action for global democratic leaders with regard to the policies and actions of India’s Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah: “As leaders from around the globe gear up for the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Dehli, attention is drawn to India, a significant force in international politics and the global economy. Central to India's contemporary political scene is Amit Shah, a man whose political ambitions, beliefs, and far-reaching influence demand careful examination and consideration. Amit Shah's rise to power, his control over India's law enforcement agencies, his handling of protests, and his stance on issues such as national security, surveillance, and minority rights paint a picture of a leader with a complex and often controversial legacy. Shah's support for policies that may undermine minority rights, his alleged involvement in personal scandals and abuses, and his influence over law enforcement have led to questions about transparency, accountability, and potential abuse of power. His remarks that Western standards of human rights do not apply to India have alarmed human rights advocates globally. The upcoming G20 summit presents an opportunity for the international community to engage with India on these critical issues. It is a moment to call for reforms, to scrutinize Shah's track record, and to consider the broader implications of his leadership for regional and global security. Consider those who will look to us to defend human rights, in any language, society or culture across the globe. Let this be a call to action for world leaders, human rights organizations, and concerned citizens to take a hard look at India's human rights track record with Shah as a key advisor to Prime Minister Modi. The world must not turn a blind eye to the warning signs. The stakes are high, and the time to act is now. The G20 summit must serve as a platform for constructive dialogue and accountability, ensuring that the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law are upheld. International leaders must call Amit Shah to account for his actions and not let the G20 Summit pass without remaining true to the values that bind us as a global community.” A comprehensive report detailing the influence, impact, and concerns raised by stakeholders around the world regarding the actions and politics of Amit Shah is available for download here. The Human Rights Index is a platform dedicated to raising awareness about the complex crisis faced by refugees in India. Its mission is to bring attention to the history of discrimination and violence faced by religious and ethnic minorities in India. Through research and advocacy, it aims to promote human rights and support those affected by persecution. Contact Details Human Rights Index Press Team +44 7584 421001 comms@hrindex.fund

September 08, 2023 10:12 AM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

Lee Covington to Succeed Frank Nutter as RAA President

SFAA

The Reinsurance Association of America (RAA), the leading trade association of property and casualty reinsurers, today announced that Lee Covington, current President and CEO of The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA), has been named President-elect of the RAA, succeeding Frank Nutter, who will retire effective December 31, 2023, after 32 years as President of the Association. Mr. Covington will assume the role of President on January 1, 2024. Mr. Covington has led the SFAA since 2018. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President, Government Affairs and General Counsel of the Insured Retirement Institute. He has also held positions at Squire Patton Boggs, PWC, Director of the Ohio Department of Insurance, and Deputy Director of the Arkansas Insurance Department. In announcing these developments Justin O’Keefe, Chair of the RAA’s Board of Directors said, “Over the last four decades, Frank has grown the RAA into the leading voice for the reinsurance industry in the United States. Guided by Frank’s leadership, integrity, and vision, the RAA team has addressed some of our industry’s most complex issues at both a federal and state level. On behalf of the RAA Membership, Board of Directors and staff I would like to thank Frank for his unwavering commitment to the RAA and wish him and his family a happy retirement.” Mr. O’Keefe continued, “I am delighted to welcome Lee to the RAA. He is an immensely qualified leader and his deep expertise and extensive career in insurance industry advocacy and regulation will be invaluable to the RAA. The board and I look forward to working with Lee as he continues to advance the RAA’s strategic priorities and advocate on behalf of our members.” The Reinsurance Association of America is the leading trade association of property and casualty reinsurers doing business in the United States. RAA membership is diverse, including reinsurance underwriters and intermediaries licensed in the U.S. and those that conduct business on a cross-border basis. The RAA also has life reinsurance affiliates and insurance-linked securities (ILS) fund managers and market participants that are engaged in the assumption of property/casualty risks. The RAA represents its members before state, federal and international bodies. Contact Details Reinsurance Association of America Barb Carroll +1 202-783-8390 carroll@reinsurance.org Company Website https://www.reinsurance.org/

September 06, 2023 04:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Atomicwork launches with $11m seed round using AI to reimagine employee support

Atomicwork

As workers remain split between working from home and returning to offices, bosses are eager to ensure they have a healthy employee experience. Helping workers feel connected with everyday work needs, employee support startup Atomicwork is today announcing launch from stealth with an $11m seed funding round to boost the employee experience of workers around the world. The funding round was led by Blume Ventures and Matrix Partners with participation from Storm Ventures, Neon Fund, and prominent angel investors. Employee experience is a critical item on the CEO and CIO agenda as employees return to offices. Atomicwork leverages AI to solve this problem while simplifying the number of tools employees interact with every day. Atomicwork sits on top of collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams and uses conversational intelligence to automate support, service delivery, and operations at scale. Atom, Atomicwork's AI assistant, learns from company processes and tribal knowledge to assist employees with their questions and requests without human intervention. The platform features the ability to have different service teams like IT, HR, Finance, and Legal work in their own private spaces while providing a unified experience for employees and efficiency for the enterprise. “All of us have experienced the pain of broken experiences as employees, and we have all wondered why it has to be so frustrating,” said Vijay Rayapati, CEO and Co-Founder of Atomicwork. “Throughout our careers, Kiran, Parsuram and I have been part of fast-growing companies where a lot of time gets lost navigating cumbersome internal systems and processes. After speaking to more than 100 businesses about this, it became evident that this problem was worth solving.” Whilst in stealth, the Atomicwork team surveyed leaders from mid-market businesses and large corporations and found that 8 out of 10 bosses were unsatisfied with the worker experience their companies offered. Indeed, they conceded that it adversely impacted their employees’ morale and productivity. The findings correlate with industry studies from WTW in 2022, which also found that 92% of employers across industries intend to invest in their employee experience stack over the next three years. ”Employees are still far away from being considered internal customers by service teams because of arbitrary boundaries between the back office and the rest of the company. They implement too many point solutions and complex processes, leading to productivity loss and unnecessary friction. Our goal with Atomicwork is to help companies offer a great experience with good efficiency,” commented Vijay Rayapati. “With Atomicwork, we're looking to help companies go from employee support to employee success. We believe every employee can drive growth and impact the business's bottom line. By helping them move faster and accelerating productivity, we help deliver a culture of employee success aligned with business outcomes''. This vision also resonated with Atomicwork's investors from day one, who came on board with a significant seed investment. "Our decision to back Atomicwork was driven by our belief in how Vijay, Kiran, and Parsuram are reimagining the idea of employee success. Blume's relationship with this special group of entrepreneurs began many years ago, thanks to a prior fund. We're very excited to invest in this transformative space and support Atomicwork as they reshape the future of employee experience and success,” said Sanjay Nath, Partner at Blume Ventures. Pranay Desai, Principal at Matrix Partners, echoed this sentiment, “The problem of employee support and experience has been crying out for innovation, and the way Vijay and his team at Atomicwork are approaching the solution, with a completely modern and user-led approach, is thrilling for us. Add to this the fact that this is an experienced team that understands well how to build world-class products; we are delighted to be part of this journey.” Arun Penmetsa, Partner at Storm Ventures, said, “The proliferation of HR and IT solutions in the last 20 years has led to a huge number of tools for employees to interact with, resulting in delays and loss of productivity. Atomicwork provides a single self-service platform for a hybrid workforce that addresses this pain and dramatically improves the employee experience.” Atomicwork was founded in September 2022 by Vijay Rayapati, Kiran Darisi and Parsuram Vijayasankar. Vijay is a SaaS veteran, whose startup Minjar was acquired in 2018 by Nutanix, where he served as VP and GM before leaving to start Atomicwork. Kiran and Parsuram were both part of the founding team of Freshworks and were instrumental in its rise from startup to public company in just over a decade. About Atomicwork Atomicwork is an employee success solution that enables enterprises to deliver fast and scalable employee support workflows. Harnessing AI, Atomicwork seamlessly integrates your employees, processes, and systems for unparalleled efficiency in support, service, and operations. Atomicwork is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Singapore, Bangalore, and Chennai, and is committed to fostering a world where work is meaningful, and employees are empowered to succeed. For more information please visit https://www.atomicwork.com/ Contact Details Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.atomicwork.com/

September 05, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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New Army campaign inspires young Americans to take the first step to “Be All You Can Be”

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/Zr1Os51K6G8 On August 21, the U.S. Army unveiled “First Steps,” a new campaign that shows young Americans how they can start their journey to service. The campaign is built on the premise that American youth don’t need to have everything figured out from the beginning to make an impact. Taking a chance is the first step to achieving your goals. The campaign is a continuation of the “Be All You Can Be” brand refresh, which launched in March 2023. The new campaign offers an up-close, personal, and unfiltered look at Soldiers embarking on some of the most powerful experiences in their early Army journeys, including arriving at basic training, receiving their first patch, and hitting their first target from a battle tank. Maj. Sam Winkler is a shining example of where your first steps can take you in the U.S. Army. After immigrating to the United States from Nepal, she took her own first step: enlisting in the Army at 17 years old. Now, as a Soldier and a mom, she has used her passion for family to help lead a first grassroots effort transforming the way the U.S. Army supports parents in the force. Her efforts, in collaboration with other Army parents, led to the development of the Army’s Directive 2022-06: Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum. Twelve policy changes address key issues like family care planning, fertility treatments, paid parental leave, support in returning to work, and more. On August 30, Maj. Winkler conducted a nationwide media tour discussing the campaign and the limitless opportunities in the Army for youth to find their purpose, explore their passions, build connections, and join a community. Topics Maj. Winkler discussed included: The Army’s new “First Steps” campaign Her path to Army service and the many firsts along the way Her work to improve Army life for parents through the Directive on Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum The limitless possibilities and benefits available to Army Soldiers and their families To learn more, visit: https://www.goarmy.com/ Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

September 04, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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New Report Raises Concerns Around Human Rights Violations of India's Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah

Human Rights Transparency Trust

In anticipation of the upcoming G20 summit scheduled to take place in New Delhi, India on September 9-10, 2023, Human Rights Index has released a new report titled " Amit Shah - India's Invisible Prime Minister." The report offers a in-depth examination of the influence, impact, and concerns raised by stakeholders around the world regarding the actions and politics Amit Anil Chandra Shah, India's Minister of Home Affairs. As the world's largest democracy prepares to take center stage at the G20 summit, the spotlight turns to India's leadership. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi serves as the visible face of the Indian government, the power and influence wielded by Amit Shah, the Minister of Home Affairs, cannot be underestimated. Often referred to as India's Invisible Prime Minister, Shah's track record raises serious concerns that are of utmost importance to global leaders, particularly those in Great Britain, the European Union, and the United States. The Human Rights Index report presents a meticulously researched analysis of Amit Shah's role as a key player in Indian governance and the driving force behind the country’s pivot to far-right nationalism in recent years. His close association with Prime Minister Modi and his authoritative control over a considerable police force underscore the extent of his reach and authority. Shah's political journey has been characterized by allegations of human rights violations, suppression of dissent, and the enactment of divisive policies that have disproportionately affected minority communities, including Muslims, Jews, and LGBTQ+ groups. Of particular concern is his advocacy for Article 14 and the Citizenship Amendment Act, which have sparked widespread protests and attracted international criticism. Amit Shah has also played a central role in politicizing the ongoing refugee crisis in Manipur, India, and has faced widespread criticism refusing to seek holistic solutions to the issue. The Human Rights Index report also delves into Shah's connections to Russia, especially in the context of regional peace, stability, and freedom, are also explored. As India prepares to host the G20 summit, the report underscores the importance of safeguarding democratic values and human rights on a global scale. The complete "Amit Shah - India's Invisible Prime Minister" report is accessible for download here. For media inquiries, please contact: Comms[at]HRIndex.fund The Human Rights Index is a platform dedicated to raising awareness about the complex crisis faced by refugees in India. Its mission is to bring attention to the history of discrimination and violence faced by religious and ethnic minorities in India. Through research and advocacy, it aims to promote human rights and support those affected by persecution. Contact Details Press Team +44 7584 421001 comms@hrindex.fund

September 04, 2023 03:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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ASMC, AUVSI and NCMA Collaborate for Combined Response to Interim Report from Congressional Commission on PPBE Reform

National Contract Management Association

The American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC) Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) Reform Task Force, the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), and the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) today jointly respond to the Congressional Commission on PPBE Reform’s (Commission) Interim Report which was released on August 15, 2023. The PPBE Reform Task operates in parallel with the Commission to define a set of fundamental principles and policy actions to improve the allocation of resources deemed necessary to accomplish the mission of the Department of Defense (DoD). The ASMC PPBE Reform Task Force Chairman Michael Conlin released a statement on behalf of the Task Force stating, “We appreciate the Commission’s decisive leadership in itemizing actions that can be implemented now for immediate benefit, as well as identifying a range of potential changes and requiring congressional and DoD stakeholder input before the Commission makes recommendations in its Final Report.” He added, “The Commission’s recommendations equitably balance the interests of all stakeholders involved in the process.” The Interim Report provides information on the Commission’s research over the past year, specifically seeking feedback on potential recommendations under consideration that require additional stakeholder feedback and assessment to inform the Commission’s Final Report and identifying actions where implementation could begin as soon as feasible. These potential recommendations and actions are designed to improve: • PPBE-related relationships between the DoD and Congress; • PPBE processes to enable innovation and adaptability; • Alignment of budgets to strategy; • PPBE business systems and data analytics; and • Capability of the DoD PPBE programming and budgeting workforce. Michael Robbins, Chief Advocacy Officer at AUVSI, stated: “Our Nation’s ability to quickly adapt and field new technologies to counter our adversaries’ rapidly evolving capabilities hinges on meaningful PPBE Reform. The Interim Report's recommendations set a starting foundation to inject greater speed and agility into DoD’s Budget, Requirement and Procurement processes. Our industry members look for Congress and the Pentagon to consider these recommendations and implement change where appropriate as quickly as possible.” “The ASMC PPBE Reform Task Force applauds the Commission for its diligence over the past year, completing more than 560 interviews to date gaining insight from experts in the PPBE process and related fields that include current and former personnel from Congress, the DoD, industry, academia, and research organizations,” said Conlin. “The Commission has also leveraged research performed both by its own staff and several outside research organizations. We are encouraged by the dialogue we have had between the Commission who heavily relied on the knowledge and experience of its 14 Commissioners and the Commission staff.” The ASMC PPBE Task Force is encouraged by the Commission’s transparency in acknowledging, “that while the current PPBE system has its strengths, significant improvements can be made.” PPBE represents a decision support system that has been the standard process for over 60 years. “We remain committed to elevating the discussion on PPBE reform, advocating for ASMC member interests, and supporting reform recommendations that meet the needs of government and industry to produce military capability for the 21 st Century,” said ASMC President & CEO Rich Brady. “AUVSI and its industry members fully support both the Congressional PPBE Reform Committee and the ASMC PPBE Reform Task Force. It will be their combined recommendations that will position DoD stakeholders and decision-makers with the necessary tools to rapidly advance our warfighter’s technological advantage,” said Robbins. “Our community represents government and industry contracting professionals who are committed to the most efficient and effective business practices to facilitate mission delivery. We applaud the efforts and support findings of the Commission and the ASMC PPBE Reform Task Force to find real solutions that work,” said NCMA CEO Kraig Conrad. About ASMC The American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC) is the non-profit educational and professional organization for persons, military and civilian, involved in the field of defense financial management. It represents over 14,000 professionals in the defense financial management community, 105 chapters, and 70 corporate partners. ASMC promotes the education, training, and certification of its members, and supports the development and advancement of the defense financial management profession. About AUVSI: The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of uncrewed systems and robotics, represents corporations and professionals from more than 60 countries involved in industry, government, and academia. AUVSI members work in the defense, civil, and commercial markets. About NCMA: The National Contract Management Association (NCMA) stands as the premier contract management organization whose mission is to collaborate towards a globally recognized contract management profession that strengthens its nexus with related acquisition communities. Serving approximately 20,000 members in both the public and private sectors, NCMA propels the growth, advancement, and impact of practitioners through a steadfast commitment to serve through the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. ### Since its founding on May 19, 1959, NCMA has grown as a professional society to advance the contract management profession and its nexus with related acquisition communities through engagement, standards, and professional development. Through the years, our mission has remained focused on providing high-quality resources to have a positive impact on our profession and the career goals of our members and customers. Contact Details NCMA Holly DeHesa +1 281-865-3296 holly.dehesa@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org/

August 31, 2023 02:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Velocity Global Expands Leadership to Drive Strategy Execution and Customer Success

Velocity Global

Velocity Global, the world’s expert on work, today announced the appointment of Susan McDonough as Chief Transformation Officer and Frank Lucier as Chief Customer Success Officer, effective August 28th and September 5th, respectively. In her role, Susan will manage and execute on Velocity Global’s long-term strategy and vision, driving key initiatives and leading a cross-functional team to make operational scale a reality. In his role, Frank will drive an even greater focus and emphasis on our customer journey. “As our industry matures and Velocity Global enters its next stage of growth, Susan and Frank will be a critical part of our leadership team. Their impressive and proven track record of transforming companies and creating meaningful customer journeys during crucial stages of development will allow us to achieve a sustainable and scalable growth strategy,” said Frank Calderoni, CEO at Velocity Global. Susan most recently led the Enterprise Transformation Office at global HR leader, Workday. Prior to that, she spent nearly two decades leading growth and driving scale at Cisco in roles spanning Customer Experience, Operations, Corporate Development and Finance. She is widely regarded as a transformation pioneer for her ability to translate strategy into operational execution. She joins Velocity Global at a pivotal point in the company’s trajectory as it scales across customer success, product innovation, and operational excellence. “I am passionate about creating high-performing teams that are driven to collaborate, innovate, and exceed customer expectations,” said Susan McDonough, Chief Transformation Officer at Velocity Global. “Joining a company that is laser-focused on making opportunity borderless for people everywhere caught my interest immediately and I am excited to execute on this important vision. I look forward to driving measurable growth and scale across all functions of the company, with the success of our customers in mind.” Frank has nearly 20 years of leadership experience in customer-centric technology and is an expert in prioritizing the customer journey that is holistic, impactful, and goes beyond metrics. He has previously held leadership roles at SAP Concur, ServiceSource, and iSpot.TV enhancing the customer experience and driving retention and business growth. “Velocity Global has built an impressive business helping companies scale and grow to reach new heights. Joining at this stage in their trajectory is an incredible opportunity and I look forward to ensuring every customer optimizes the value of working with us,” said Frank Lucier, Chief Customer Success Officer at Velocity Global. “My passion is to build teams that focus on helping customers achieve their business goals with measurable results. I’m excited to execute this strategy with the team to bring a world class experience to our customers." Susan and Frank’s announcements come shortly after the appointment of Ann-Christel Graham, who joined the company last month as its Chief Revenue Officer. Ann-Christel and Chief People Officer, Linda Lee, were both brought on by CEO Frank Calderoni, who took on the role in April. The company also recently launched a rebranding effort to more accurately represent its next phase of growth and scale. For more information on how Velocity Global makes opportunity borderless for people everywhere, visit www.velocityglobal.com. About Velocity Global Velocity Global gives you the power to build your team everywhere—combining seamless technology and local expertise in 185+ countries. We make it simple to compliantly hire, pay, and manage talent anywhere. With Velocity Global, the world is yours. Start hiring across borders at VelocityGlobal.com. Contact Details Media Contact press@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

August 29, 2023 08:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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New Survey Reveals Rise of Tethered Nomading: Digital Nomads Answer the Office's Beckoning

MBO Partners

The latest research conducted by MBO Partners® has uncovered a new workforce phenomenon - "Tethered Nomading" - redefining the world of digital nomadism. Contrary to traditional globetrotting norms, more than half (53%) of American digital nomads now plan to embrace their work-travel lifestyle exclusively within the United States; 47% plan on spending at least some time in another country. Only 10% of all digital nomads intend to spend the entire year abroad. As employers call employees back to the office, digital nomads still plan to continue their nomadic lifestyle. However, the data underscores an uptick in "slomading"- visiting fewer locations but spending more time at each stop. The MBO Partners 2023 State of Independence study found that 17.3 million American workers currently describe themselves as digital nomads, increasing 2% from 2022 after increasing a staggering 131% from the pre-pandemic year 2019 to 2022. "As employers enforce back-to-office mandates, a paradigm shift is unfolding, revealing the dynamic evolution of the modern-day nomad," said Miles Everson, CEO of MBO Partners. "While a considerable number of digital nomads are gravitating towards domestic pursuits, this presents an opportune moment for employers to embrace that spirit of exploration while fostering seamless connections to local communities. It calls for innovative policies and practices as employers navigate a world that includes adventure and productivity." This year's study showed five additional key insights about digital nomads, including: The Silver Nomads Are Rising… and Fast. While digital nomads have traditionally skewed young, older cohorts -- Gen Xers (born 1965-1980) and Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) -- increased their share of digital nomads from 36% in 2022 to 42% in 2023. With the decline of the pandemic, older workers are more willing to travel and more interested in becoming digital nomads. Digital Nomads Hit the Road with Their Kids (and Pets). The survey showed that nearly a quarter (24%) of digital nomads travel with their children, and 14% even bring their pets. But traveling with kids is more challenging and complex than traveling alone or even as a couple. The top challenges digital nomads with kids cited are the expenses associated with traveling as a family, safety, and health concerns, the lack of stability and routines, educational challenges, and socialization issues for their children. Geoarbitrage Becomes Hack for Financial Freedom. To help stretch their income, many digital nomads work from places with relatively low living costs, including destinations like Southeast Asia or Portugal, which has established itself as a European hotspot popular with nomads. At the same time, they often serve customers virtually in higher-wage labor markets, or their employers are in higher-wage countries. Combining low-cost living with higher expat income, they can take advantage of income/living cost "geo-arbitrage." This enables lower-income digital nomads to fund their travels and spend less time working to support themselves and more time enjoying their adventures. Nomadic Camouflage Becomes the New Workforce Hue. In this year's survey, 14% of digital nomads with traditional jobs reported that their employer does not know they are nomadic. An additional 18% say their company has no digital nomad policy, but their boss has permitted them to work nomadically. In other words, about one-third of digital nomads with traditional jobs are "hidden nomads," meaning the company does not know where they are working. This means they could break local employment laws and regulations without their employer knowing they are doing so. The Nomad Rush: Countries and Cities Vying Hard for Digital Wanderers. Five years ago, digital nomads were considered an eccentric and fringe group of nomadic workers. But digital nomadism is now mainstream, and this year 17.3 million Americans – a stunning 11% of American workers – are digital nomads. Governments at all levels, both in the U.S. and abroad, realize that digital nomads spend more money than tourists, create jobs for locals - and even start local businesses. Because of this, 58 countries have created special digital nomad visas and other programs, smoothing out red tape and making it easier for digital nomads to locate in their countries. To obtain a copy of the 2023 MBO Partners Digital Nomad research brief, please visit www.mbopartners.com/state-of-independence/digital-nomads. About MBO Partners® MBO Partners is a direct sourcing platform that enables enterprises and independents to work efficiently together. Its unmatched experience and industry leadership enable it to operate on the forefront of the independent economy and consistently advance the next way of working. For more information, visit mbopartners.com. Contact Details Karen Swim +1 586-461-2103 karen@wordsforhirellc.com Company Website https://mbopartners.com

August 29, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Weekday secures $2.2m funding as it tackles critical trust gap in hiring tech teams with its reference focus

Weekday

Sourcing talent has been challenging recently but hiring the correct talent has been painful for a lot longer. A key feature when hiring is the reference check process, which has become a redundant tick box exercise for recruiters and over 95% are not seeking references from their previous colleagues to gain insights into their past work performance and behaviors, and assess their suitability for the role. In addressing this pressing concern, Weekday has today launched from stealth with a $2.2m seed funding round to supercharge the hiring landscape through the power of trusted references. The funding round was led by Venture Highway with participation from several influential angel investors. Weekday is a Y-Combinator backed business. Founded in 2021 by Amit Singh, Anubav Malik and Chetan Dalal, Weekday has been operational in beta mode until today. Its genesis lies in the pain point the founders faced (in a previous startup) which centered on hiring a technology team. Despite the plethora of tools available, it took 3 months to find their first engineer but remained unconvinced. So, they turned to their network to get references which validated the individual and their skill set. This ended up almost doubling their candidate pipeline. Now, the three founders are productising the same approach of hiring with Weekday starting with a focus on tech hires. Weekday invites software engineers to connect their social graph (i.e. LinkedIn and Contacts) and gives them a readymade shortlist to refer talent to various companies. Weekday gamifies the experience and makes this unique data of references available for recruiters. Weekday hosts multiple people’s references and companies can utilize the “Backchannel” feature to get background references (from former colleagues) on every candidate they interact with; making hiring less about resumes and interviews; and more about real-life experiences and capabilities. For companies, Weekday is a sourcing engine on auto-pilot; where they can not only find candidates but also reach out to them automatically while getting reference checks on them in an instant. After 4 days of signing up, they start getting candidates suggestions with ready back channel references on their calendar to interview. Amit Singh, CEO and Co-founder of Weekday commented: “People check and rely on reviews nowadays for everything, be that going to a restaurant or buying anything on Amazon. But, when it comes to making the important decision of hiring someone, they are happy to rely on a self reported resume. We did a survey of more than 200 companies’ hiring process and while a majority did a basic background check on candidates (ie criminal record or whether they actually worked in their previous organization), less than 5% of companies use reference checks from previous colleagues to make their hiring decisions. This often leads to wrong hires. Eventually leading to firing; which ends up being detrimental to both employer as well as the employee. We want to change that. We want to solve the problem of lack of trust in the hiring process. We believe that a recruiting platform with “references” as the cornerstone is the solution that solves all these problems. We are what LinkedIn should have been.” Over 120 companies have used Weekday for their hiring needs. These recruiters are attracted because of the large pool of passive candidates (those who are not actively looking for a new role) who have been recommended by their peers which means the quality of candidates is much superior to any job board based platform. Moreover, with remote hiring on the rise, trust becomes even more important and so having references really matters to recruiters. “While most other company functions like design, product, dev tools, and sales have seen breakthrough products in the last 5-6 years, recruitment still hasn't. LinkedIn is a 20-year-old company that continues to be the de-facto platform for recruitment. We are partnering with Weekday as they try to change that” said Aviral Bhatnagar from Venture Highway Weekday is currently focused on companies hiring remote software engineers. Majority of these companies are headquartered in the US while the majority of the candidates are based in India and Southeast Asia. About Weekday Weekday is a Y Combinator backed startup solving for recruitment via its crowdsourced reference network. Weekday ( http://weekday.works/), helps startups hire engineers who are vouched by other software engineers. They have worked with over 100 companies (specializing in seed and Series A funded startups) and have helped them hire CTOs, Tech Leads, and Senior Software Engineers. They have worked with companies like Coinbase, Clipboard Health, AtoB, Daloopa, Zepto, Round Finance etc. Weekday is a sourcing engine on auto-pilot for these companies, that finds candidates as well as facilitates outreach to them; and sends interested parties to interview with ready references. Contact Details Weekday Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.weekday.works/

August 24, 2023 07:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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