
Today’s sports leaders increasingly recognise that workplace diversity & inclusion (D&I) efforts are an organisation-wide responsibility. A lack of diversity and employee equity can have far-reaching effects on a business, including its ability to attract and retain top talent. Conversely, research proves that diverse organisations are more innovative, have better business outcomes and are more profitable.
In this hyper-connected age, technology plays a pivotal role in every area of a sports organisation, including D&I. Businesses are turning to digital solutions in an effort to remove bias, drive consistency, and deliver insights into D&I initiatives. Such a robust market for D&I tech has given rise to a plethora of tools that help with:
- Talent acquisition. There is a range of digital TA solutions on the market specifically designed to attract a diverse workforce, reduce unconscious bias and facilitate effective candidate selection. Common features include:
- Text evaluation to remove bias from job postings
- Outreach tools to connect with recognised networks for diverse talent
- Automation capabilities that remove names or other identifying information
- AI profiling, testing and assessments that remove bias early in the process
- Video-based AI that identifies potential bias in candidate interviews through speech and body movements.
- Text evaluation to remove bias from job postings
- Outreach tools to connect with recognised networks for diverse talent
- Automation capabilities that remove names or other identifying information
- AI profiling, testing and assessments that remove bias early in the process
- Video-based AI that identifies potential bias in candidate interviews through speech and body movements.
- Learning and development. Tools include virtual reality awareness training to help employees better understand different perspectives in workplace situations, micro-training programmes, personalised career pathing and targeted skills development for diverse employees.
- Employee engagement. Listening and engagement software is growing in popularity and enables organisations to tailor employee survey questions and identify themes in the feedback. Other tech platforms help evaluate company culture and highlight times when teams are not acting inclusively. Additionally, there are tools specifically for management personnel that measure the differences in how they communicate across all workplace platforms to gauge whether they are speaking and acting inclusively.
Working with a specialist partner
Engaging with a D&I talent acquisition expert enables organisations to tap into the latest market-leading technology. level= uses world-class AI tech to ensure our solutions source the best individuals to meet the leadership, management, technical and professional needs of sporting organisations worldwide.
Our robust technology-led approach guarantees fairness, equality and inclusivity; unconscious and conscious bias is removed in favour of positive metrics and proven processes. This ensures the right talent is sourced and placed within the right organisations.
Technology in practice
level= partnered with a well-known international sporting association to help them move from a traditional paper-led CV and interview process to one that was more technology-led and consciously inclusive. Our team provided:
- An assessment framework based on skill and ability, not CV data
- Access to leading digital tools to ensure inclusive language in all communications
- Connections with more diverse talent networks that extended beyond sports businesses
- A system that enables anonymous application and interviewing to remove unconscious bias.
The new technology-led platform and process delivered:
- Increased applications from candidates from non-sport backgrounds and more diverse communities
- 80% of roles filled by female applicants
- 60% of positions filled by ethnic minority candidates.
level= The best tech, the best talent
At level=, it’s our mission to help every sports organisation, regardless of size or scope, bring diversity and inclusion to their leadership and broader teams. Whether you’re building greater equity within your organisation or looking to take the next step in your career in sport, our team provides the skills, services and access to a globally diverse and level field of possibility.
Connect with us on 020 8392 9959 or email hello@levelequals.com.

