Students in the Inclusive Business Leaders (IBL) program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business consulted with Firespring to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application last spring. Tasked with generating innovative ideas to promote diversity and allyship, they identified practical, actionable strategies to enhance the workplace.

"Students learned about the intricacies of implementing diversity strategies in a corporate setting and the importance of fostering an inclusive workplace culture. Their recommendations have significantly contributed to our ongoing efforts and one of their first suggestions was implemented in May. We created a Slack channel as a platform for all Firespring team members to share resources, engage in meaningful discussions, and celebrate diverse backgrounds and perspectives," said Kasey Sendgraff, director of talent at Firespring.

IBL is a cohort-based program of first-year business students who demonstrate a commitment to making Nebraska Business and the field of business a more inclusive environment for all. Students receive IBL Scholarships provided by donors and are supported by mentors and college staff as they meet weekly to engage in thoughtful discussion on a wide variety of diversity and inclusion topics that impact business.

The IBL students working with Firespring conducted comprehensive research on the integrated marketing company in Lincoln before holding three official meetings with six hours of direct consultation. The six-week project concluded with a presentation of their outcomes to the company's executives in May.

"I learned a lot about what I should expect out of a company in terms of support, coworker relationships, and informational and personal growth resources. I feel I am making an impact by spreading an expectation of inclusion in the business space and, hopefully, beyond," said Caroline Smith, a business administration major from Omaha, Nebraska. "Firespring is a company that commits itself to community service and providing a space for community programs to meet. Working with them to better their inclusion practices will only further their involvement with the Lincoln community."

IBL mentor Jackson Sisneros, a marketing major from Omaha, explained how the project provided the opportunity for positive collaboration.

"The consultant project benefited our IBL group by allowing us to use our knowledge to solve a real-world problem and gain real experience in this particular area of business. Firespring was also able to benefit from our perspective of an outside party looking in that was able to help the company to further grow and stay true to its values," said Sisneros. "I also learned the importance of collaboration and taking the time to assess a situation from multiple angles to come up with the most ideal solution with the most significant positive impact. It allowed me to see the consequences of our efforts and gave me a newfound appreciation for the consulting aspect of business."  

Sengraff said the IBL group performed exceptionally well throughout the project and provided other contacts for the company to work with in the future.

"I found their fresh, external viewpoints invaluable," Sendgraff said "Their suggestions were customized to fit Firespring's specific context, demonstrating their deep engagement with the project. Additionally, they connected us with other programs and groups at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, opening avenues for further collaboration and community involvement."