Bringing together an array of life experiences and perspectives is how we achieve our Purpose: to build equitable, resilient, and sustainable communities. By living our Shared Values—across all our partnerships and projects—we support diversity of ideas, equity in work practices, and inclusion of perspectives into all we do at Harris.
From supporting programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to upholding equitable workplace policies, we nurture a culture where everyone has opportunities to reach their highest potential.
Creating a workplace where people feel valued and supported remains a strategic priority. It reflects both our identity and our aspirations. At Harris, we…
Embrace Differences
It’s our diversity of ideas, viewpoints, and backgrounds that leads to innovative solutions for our clients and enriching experiences for our employee owners.
“You get to work with individuals who have fresh perspectives from different lenses. It just reaffirms and makes me proud that Harris is 'walking the talk' to commit to a better Harris and therefore a better community.”
— Char Hamilton, Senior Construction Management Administrative Assistant
Promote Equal Access and Opportunity
Ensuring equity in career advancement, professional development, and access to opportunities enables our employee owners to do their best work and thrive.
“Harris is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that empowers everyone to reach their highest potential.”
— Maya Strawick, Vice President / Talent Management & Human Resources
Create a Sense of Belonging
Inclusion of each person’s perspectives and all voices is vital to our success. Together, we aim to cultivate a workplace where each individual knows that their authentic self is welcome, celebrated, and encouraged, as we need everyone to enthusiastically bring their best ideas to work.
“Our Shared Values ingrain DEI principles into all that Harris does. We seek to elicit, understand, and include diverse perspectives to achieve our goals. This approach enables us to deliver the best results and the most comprehensive solutions for our clients and for the communities we serve.”
— Michelle White, Chief Executive Officer / President
“By practicing DEI principles, we can be better trusted advisors for our clients. The future depends on more holistic and sustainable solutions to our clients’ challenges and the only way to create those better solutions is to create an environment where we can readily share different perspectives, ideas, and approaches. DEI is a mindset shift and is being embedded into the fabric of the firm versus an ephemeral initiative. We have a ways to go here at Harris, the industry, and society overall, but change starts at home. I am proud of our commitment to these principles in our Shared Values and see them in action each and every day.”
— Lisa Larrabee, Chair of the Board of Directors
Lead with Empathy
Respectful listening is a big part of our collective approach. Through focus groups, surveys, and interactive educational forums, we seek to better to understand one another—and turn insight into action.
“It’s one thing to talk about diversity in our workplaces, but the fact that we’re taking action and putting resources toward accomplishing DEI principles for Harris and for our communities at large makes me proud.”
— Ryan Binns, Vice President / Environmental Planning + Compliance
Continuously Improve
Recognizing there is always more to achieve, we remain committed to continuous learning and improvement. Each day we make progress, but we’re not there yet. We’ll keep asking hard questions, seek to understand, and make bold choices in our ongoing journey.
“As a technical editor, I look forward to learning and helping educate others about how the way we communicate on an everyday basis may be potentially (and unintentionally) harmful and the proven effectiveness of using inclusive, bias-free language instead.”
— Lindsey Messner, Technical Editor / Environmental Planning + Compliance
Facilitate Communication, Collaboration, and Engagement
Providing a space for all our employees to connect, share information, and participate in discussions related to work, projects, and common interests plays a big part in the success of our company culture. Our Employee Community Networks (ECNs) connect employees by enhancing communication, collaboration, and awareness by creating a safe space to support growth and allyship reinforcing our inclusive workplace culture and staying true to our Shared Values.
Women's Community Network (WCN)
Open to all employees, the WCN highlights and addresses issues affecting women in the workplace while fostering camaraderie, leadership, and equity through collaboration, mentorship, and advocacy.
People of Color Community Network (POC ECN)
Open to all employees, the POC ECN is focused on exploring the various interests and challenges of POC employees in our industry. By fostering an inclusive community, we strive to enhance cultural awareness, advocate for equitable opportunities, and contribute to the organization's success through diverse perspectives and talents.
