Integral Launches Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative

At Integral Consulting Inc., we are deeply committed to making diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) central elements of our company culture.  We believe that every person has unique creativity and intelligence, and we are committed to building an organization with diverse skill sets from a wide array of backgrounds.

Integral’s DEI committee aims to create an intentionally inclusive work environment that will lead to a more diverse and equitable work culture for all.  In light of recent events related to racial injustice and recognizing the need to raise awareness about systemic racism and inequities, DEI initiatives will focus on creating cultural changes within Integral through unconscious bias training and conversations about race and the need for social change.  Senior consultant Mala Pattanayek is leading Integral’s internal DEI initiative.

“Diversity is generally lacking in the environmental field, and statistics show that people of color are highly underrepresented making up less than 16 percent in an organization and less than 12 percent in leadership positions.” said Ms. Pattanayek. “Recognizing this presents an unprecedented opportunity to help change the inequities that disproportionately hinder the success of minority communities.”

Many Integral staff actively participate in Women in the Environment (WIE).

Integral is committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting a diverse workforce through our internship and scholarship programs, engaging in professional STEM programs focused on promoting diversity, and recruiting from colleges, universities, and other institutions that serve racial and ethnic groups that are historically underrepresented in our field.

Our Values

Integral has valued fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace since the firm’s beginning in 2002.  Integral founders included several women, and women currently make up about 50 percent of Integral’s leadership, science, and engineering positions.  Despite this relative gender parity, there is much more to be done to address unconscious bias and to attract, retain, and advance a diverse workforce of traditionally underrepresented communities.

Who We Are

Ms. Pattanayek is extensively involved in Women in the Environment (WIE), both chairing the networking committee for the Bay Area chapter and serving on the board of directors. She also created and led a very successful mentoring program for young professional women in the Bay Area through the WIE organization.

In addition to Ms. Pattanayek, committee members include scientists Bernadette Wright, L.G., Carolyn Huynh, Blair Paulik, Ph.D., and Sam Blakesley and human resources director Joseph Drew.

Dr. Paulik volunteers with the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry serving as the vice chair of the Inclusive Diversity Committee and a member of the Science and Risk Communication Interest Group Steering Committee. Dr. Paulik and Ms. Wright also lead an internal effort at Integral to increase awareness, interest, comprehension, and appreciation for science and risk communication. Mr. Drew has actively participated in the Seattle-based Institute for Sustainable Diversity and Inclusion. As women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ community, the DEI committee members are passionate about shaping a company culture that is welcoming and inclusive for everyone.

Integral believes in fair and equitable treatment of all people, including the imperative to treat everyone with the utmost respect.  We aim to create a corporate culture that provides everyone equal footing for success.

DEI mission statement:

At Integral, we believe diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) play a central role in our mission to help our staff and clients move forward in an evolving world. Every person has unique creativity and intelligence, and we are committed to building an organization with diverse skill sets from a wide array of backgrounds to provide our clients with the most innovative and creative solutions to their dynamic environmental concerns. We recognize the systemic inequities that disproportionately hinder the success of black and brown staff and intersect with discrimination based on age, class, gender, national origin, religion, and sexual orientation, among others. Integral is committed to recognizing these systemic inequities. Integral’s DEI committee aims to create an intentionally inclusive work environment that will lead to a more diverse and equitable workplace for all.

Interested in a career at Integral? Explore our open positions.