Grassroots research driving workplace inclusion.

Our primary goal with our Phase 2 study is to understand how a person's socioeconomic background impacts their professional career mobility.

Research Background

As of 2022, most diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the workplace primarily focus on race and gender. While notable strides have been made in DE&I, socioeconomic class has largely been left out of the conversation.

First-Gen Talent founder, Bernice Maldonado, wants to bridge this gap. In 2019, she led a groundbreaking study on first-generation professionals (FGPs). As a woman of color and FGP herself, she ideated, funded, and directed this research as a grassroots project.

While our 2019 study investigated the broader FGP workplace experience, our second phase of research will focus on the career mobility of FGPs and non-FGPs.

2022 Study

• Workplace Culture: How do organizational practices impact the upward mobility of professionals from differing socioeconomic backgrounds?
• Race Intersection: How, if at all, does FGP career mobility differ based on race or ethnicity?
• Class-Inclusive Practices: How can workplace customs become more inclusive to class diversity?

Method

We’ll conduct a 10-15 minute anonymous online survey with U.S.-based individual professionals. Participants can opt-in to a confidential phone interview if they want to share more of their insights. We welcome both FGPs and non-FGPs to participate so that we can generate and analyze comparative data.