Servant leadership is a vital trait that companies seek in leaders and their team members. It involves fostering a culture of trust, diversity of thought, and an unselfish mindset, while prioritizing the success of others. Similarly, these are successful elements for people in sport Competitive sports offer the chance to build and strengthen these leadership attributes
Through competition, athletes learn self-discipline, the need to adapt to opportunities, and continued teamwork. Athletes are equipped with winning attitudes and a learning mindset - all critical traits for success in the business world. At Equinix, we recognize the value of these attributes and have initiated a pilot program to support professional athletes as they transition from competitive sports into various career paths at our company, including sales, support, and human resources.
By fostering a diverse and inclusive environment and valuing the strengths of our team members, we strive to create a culture of trust and mutual respect. Through our commitment to servant leadership, we aim to empower our employees to achieve their full potential and succeed as individuals and as a team. With that in mind, Equinix is dedicated to creating and upholding a culture that, at all levels, represents a wide range of perspectives, expertise, cultures, and backgrounds. This implies integrating Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) into every aspect of our corporate operations, with a particular emphasis on the hiring and talent-development procedures they use for all people, including retired Olympic athletes. Changing careers can be challenging, but due to the athletes’ years of training, coaching and self-discipline, organizations that give these exceptionally talented people resources or opportunities often gain from their unique blend of qualities. This initiative was a huge success, and Equinix decided to expand its efforts in hiring former athletes across the globe.
Marilyn Okoro, Robert Wojcik and Danielle Brown joined Equinix after transitioning from their sports careers. Their previous careers as athletes helped them develop critical skills for success, which they have been able to put to use in the corporate side of life. Sports taught them about drive, dedication and perseverance, and it taught them how to work with a team and the importance of communication.
When asked about her experience working at Equinix, Marylin Okoro said, “I am proud of the difference we are making under the DIB space, because this is making a huge impact and changing generations of patterns for many of our young talent joining the workforce. I am also proud to be advocating for athletes and to have been able to support the recruitment of three fellow athletes since I joined.”
When asked about sports and their impact on his corporate life, Robert Wojcik said, “Teamwork, communication, confidence, self-discipline, work ethic, mental toughness and thriving in a high-performance setting. These are just a couple of the skills that helped me and will continue to help me as I progress and continue at Equinix that I had learned as an athlete. I have also been driven by my competitiveness my whole life, and I certainly don’t see that changing now!”
“The role looks challenging and interesting, and I can’t wait to get started. What excites me the most, though, are the people. Through the interview process and doing research, I’ve heard such wonderful things about the culture of Equinix and how important its values are. If you’re in an environment that helps you grow and focuses on winning as a team, I truly believe that you can achieve some incredible things,” said Danielle Brown when asked about her excitement about joining Equinix.
At Equinix, we continue to identify new channels to connect underrepresented communities to meaningful opportunities. We aim to offer the opportunity to reskill talent, helping them to develop new capabilities, engage them back into the workplace, and take on new jobs in the technology industry.
Athletes may sometimes face obstacles while transitioning from their sports career to a corporate one. We believe that with the right guidance and support, anyone can reach their full potential. To help new hires have the best start, we have a comprehensive and robust onboarding program that ensures a smooth transition. Talent is everywhere, and everyone deserves an opportunity to reach their maximum potential. So if you’re ready for that opportunity you’ve been waiting for, check out our Pathways Programs and explore the open roles available.