We worked with The Accidental Ally team on our summer intern program. It was one of the best decisions that the team made. Why? Because not only did we get two interns who were super committed to delivering value for our business, helping drive a Web Accessibility program and helping optimize our marketing nurtures. But, it also helped our broader team appreciate and understand the value of embracing diverse team members, helping us each learn how we need to adjust our communication styles and keep our unconscious bias in check. Rojene and Rohan brought a thoughtful, dedicated approach to their time at Five9 and Gayatri, Accidental Ally’s CEO was there to support them and us every step of the way to ensure maximum success. That level of personal commitment makes the difference.

We have made strides in DEI but data shows overwhelmingly that DEI is still focused on gender, color, race etc. When it comes to disability, that is still not part of the mainstream DEI story. Most companies still use software to tell them what works and what doesn’t for person with accessibility issues. People with disabilities are not usually in the picture. This is why I loved what Gayatri is doing with the Accidental Ally’s mission to ensure people with disability have a position in the world, in the workplace. We all should dream of a world where people with different abilities can work together and help businesses accomplish their goals

I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I hoped we’d be able to provide an enriching environment and an opportunity for learning and growth for the interns, while at the same time leveraging their experience to support accessibility initiatives at Five9. At the end of the day it was critical to me that we provide a consistent experience for all interns, that’s what I was expecting. The contributions the interns made well exceeded our expectations. Our program highlights the contributions interns make to Five9 during their internship through our Intern Showcases and Rohan’s and Rojene’s presentations blew everyone’s mind. It was the first opportunity we had to really see the work they had been doing and I knew then we had met our goal – the work they had done was impactful and real. One of the greatest impacts they had on the program, however, went well beyond the work they did. Their participation in the intern events, the relationships they forged with the other interns, the way they integrated and worked with their teams, that is out of my control and the impact they had on everyone they met and worked with was beyond what I could have ever hoped for or imagined.