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The Pillars of an Award-Winning Program
Strava was selected as a 2023 Campus Forward Award Winner for their unwavering commitment to seeking out and hiring early career talent, their emphasis on diversity & inclusion, and investments in nurturing and retaining the next generation of talent. Please see below for the highlights of their approach to early career recruitment.
Demonstrated Investment in Early Career Hiring
Strava is committed to becoming an anti-racist company, and anti-racism is its first value. During the recruitment process, Strava ensures that it speaks to a variety of people, including people from identity groups that are currently underrepresented within the company. By developing and enhancing its early career programs, Strava can find emerging talent in more creative ways, and create opportunities for all backgrounds to thrive in the technology space. Early Career Talent programs involve partnering with organizations and schools, training & supporting current employees, and attending events throughout the world to attract, retain, and support talent.
Innovative and Multi-Faceted Approach to University Recruitment
The Strava Talent Team connects with students through a variety of tools and events. They creatively executed several virtual information sessions called "Ask Me Anythings" with HBCUs and numerous virtual career fairs. They attended in-person events at universities all over the country, even making reels to summarize their trips! They have a dedicated team to help answer questions, provide a booklet of information about the programs, and accept intern resumes throughout the year. They have had speakers at top events like “Lesbians Who Tech”, and attend conferences to meet early career talent.
Overarching Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Strava partners with HBCUs and other programs to recruit and retain diverse talent. Some of these programs include engineering bootcamps, fellowship programs like Code2040, and a veteran program, Hiring Our Heroes. By creating opportunities within university recruiting and other non-traditional programs, Strava opens the door for more possibilities to expand the type of programs and internships it can offer. In addition, Strava supports employee resource groups, early career talent cohorts, mentorship programs, and training for new employees.
Impactful Internship Program
Strava's internship programs give interns a full experience by giving them projects where they will see their work in the product. Many interns have written blog posts about their time at Strava and were able to concretely show the impact they made during their 12-week summer internship. They are embedded within a real vertical team at Strava, and work with a manager, mentor, and other team members to ensure their success and growth. Interns have the opportunity to present at tech talks and all-company, all-hands meetings. Strava also hosts virtual events and camaraderie-building sessions to promote belonging and connection.
Growth and Development of the Next Generation of Talent
Strava has an Early Career Technical Talent cohort, as well as a mentorship program for entry-level positions. Strava assigns each new member a Strava Buddy (someone outside of their team) to guide them through anything they need as they navigate their new role. Employee resource groups, managers, teams, and the People team all contribute to their success.