Up the ranks: James Dyson to lead global DEI in talent acquisition at Boomi

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In this new role, Dyson will play a pivotal role in supporting the company's growth and continuing to build its culture.

Boomi, an intelligent connectivity and automation platform, has called on James Dyson as Head of Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Talent Acquisition, effective May 2022. 

In this new role, Dyson will leverage his deep expertise and extensive international network to support the company's growth and continue to build its culture. 

Based in the US, Dyson brings with him over 20 years of experience leading and managing talent acquisition at global companies, including Accenture, CoStar Group, and most recently, Redhorse Corporation. 

Following his appointment, Human Resources Online reached out to Dyson to find out more about his top priorities in his first year in the role, what he most looks forward to, and more:

Q What are your top priorities in your first year in this role, and what are you most looking forward to?

I’m really pleased to join Boomi at this time. As a fast-growing, global organisation and category-leading SaaS company, Boomi has a tremendous opportunity to make a positive impact from a DEI perspective. My first priority in this role is to conduct a DEI assessment, to see where we are as a company. This is an important step for anyone newly joining an organisation, or anytime an organisation is standing up a DEI programme for the first time. I like to begin by conducting a SWAT analysis to understand what gaps we may have and how we can work to fill those gaps. A large portion of this first year will involve looking inward as an organisation, to see who we are and how we can get better, setting mid-term and long-term performance goals so we can achieve long-term standards. I aim to bring continuity around Boomi’s current DEI initiatives. There are a lot of great DEI activities happening in silos around the company, so I want to bring all of that together and channel resources into a more organized structure to build programmes that will have a positive impact over the long term.

Q What would you say is the #1 DEI trend impacting talent acquisition today?

Up until very recently, I would have said that the biggest trend impacting DEI talent acquisition is the widespread shift to remote and hybrid work, and the challenges around keeping employees engaged and feeling included in a remote environment. However, after the recent Supreme Court ruling in the US that overturned abortion rights, the biggest trend has changed significantly. Even though that ruling was specific to US law, it has global implications. It shines a light on women’s rights everywhere around the world and the ongoing need to protect them.

In many regions, women remain a minority in business environments and particularly in leadership roles. They lack access to the support systems needed to empower their voices and fuel their career growth. Women who are double minorities, such as women of color, face even greater barriers in the workforce. The recent ruling in the US has caused organisations around the world to take a closer look at their DEI programmes for supporting women, enabling them to have a place at the table, and ensuring pay equity.

These are the two biggest trends impacting DEI talent acquisition today: ensuring equity and support for women, and building the infrastructure needed to ensure all employees feel connected, included, and engaged even when working remotely. Organisations that focus on these will be able to build a more diverse, equitable, and rewarding workforce, which ultimately leads to a more prosperous business.

Along with Dyson's appointment, Boomi announced the following appointments effective June 2022:

• Madeline Ling as Chief Financial Officer
• Marcy Campbell as Chief Revenue Officer
• Fran Wilson as Chief Marketing Officer
• Christa Delcamp to lead Public Relations and Media Strategy

As the company continues to grow, it also noted plans to hire "several hundred new team members this year to accelerate all functions of the business."

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