Closing the gender gap in tech isn’t just about numbers—it’s about opening doors. At Vinted, we believe in driving systemic change by showing the next generation that a career in technology is within their reach. Our ‘Girls in Tech’ shadowing program is our first step in inspiring high school students to explore what’s possible. For these young women, the experience is about more than just code; it’s about demystifying the industry and building the confidence to lead.

<h3 style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:12pt;" dir="ltr">A Glimpse into Life at Vinted&nbsp;</h3>Working in tech can feel like a mystery from the outside. That’s why we partnered with <a href="https://www.lja.lt" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lithuanian Junior Achievement</a> to host 57 high school girls at our Vilnius HQ. The two-day event was a mix of hands-on learning and one-on-one mentorship. From testing their knowledge in a quick-fire quiz to exploring every corner of our office, the goal was to make tech feel tangible.The heart of the program was the mentor-mentee matching. Our participants spent individual shadowing sessions with 31 of our female leaders—Engineering Directors, Engineers, Data Scientists, and more. They didn’t just watch; they saw how we collaborate, solve complex problems,&nbsp;sat in on real conversations, learning how decisions get made, and asking all the questions you don’t get to ask in a classroom.&nbsp;They experienced first-hand how to turn big ideas into a simple app used by millions.We closed with a panel discussion about confidence—not the glossy version, but the everyday kind. Our mentors spoke openly about learning as they went, getting things wrong, being underestimated, pushing through discomfort, and choosing to show up anyway. By discussing self-doubt and ambition, they showed that confidence is a choice, not something you either “have” or “don’t have.” It’s something you build—through practice, support, and time.&nbsp;<h3 style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:12pt;" dir="ltr">Biggest takeaways</h3>The clearest theme in the feedback: seeing real roles up close changed how students think about tech.&nbsp;For some, it confirmed they’re on the right track. For others, it opened doors they didn’t know existed—like QA, Data Science, or Product and Engineering leadership. Many also said it helped them understand what an office environment is really like, and how much teamwork sits behind an app that feels simple on the surface.

<h3 style="background-color:#ffffff;line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-bottom:15pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr">“What stuck with me most was the time with my mentor. I understood much better what work in the tech field looks like. We had interesting conversations, and I felt very good throughout the whole shadowing.”</h3>

By the end, almost everyone said they would consider a tech career. Highlights included the honesty of mentor conversations, the panel on confidence, and the sheer variety of paths within IT. One of the biggest surprises? How much complex thinking, collaboration, and iteration happens behind the scenes—long before anything reaches users.A single day can’t solve a systemic challenge of enabling more girls to enter the tech field. But it can shift someone’s sense of what’s possible—and that matters.

<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>Why our leaders show up as mentors</h3>Many of our senior women leaders joined as mentors for reasons that were both personal and professional: they wanted to share the real story behind their careers (rarely linear), widen students’ view of what “tech” can mean, and make leadership feel more reachable.For Vinted, the impact is also internal. Mentorship strengthens how we lead—through listening, clarity, and real care for people’s growth. It creates visibility for role models across levels, connects day-to-day work to a bigger purpose, and reminds us that investing in future talent starts long before someone applies for a job.

<h3 style="background-color:#ffffff;line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-bottom:15pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr">“It really gives me a sense of achievement to hear young people's stories, learn about their fears for the future, and offer inspiring advice that makes their eyes light up.”</h3>

This is also why many Vinted people choose to mentor in other programs—through our internal learning initiatives and external partnerships. When you’ve learned something the hard way, sharing it can be one of the most meaningful ways to pay it forward.

<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>This is how we work at Vinted</h3><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(17, 17, 17);font-family:V-Inter, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:12pt 0px;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">This project reflects what we try to practice every day: build things that are useful, invite different perspectives in early, and keep it real—especially about what growth actually looks like. We believe that being open about our challenges is the best way to build a community, and that we all have a responsibility to pull the next person up the ladder. We’re proud of the mentors who made time to lead by example, the students who showed up curious and brave, and the partners who helped us see the bigger picture.&nbsp;<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(17, 17, 17);font-family:V-Inter, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:12pt 0px;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">If you’re someone who wants your work to mean something beyond your own inbox, you’ll find a lot of people here who feel the same.

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Inside a Girls in Tech Shadowing Day at Vinted

At Vinted, building the best platform for buying and selling second-hand starts with creating a great place to work. For us, that means fostering a space where you – no matter who you are, where you're from, or what makes you unique – can feel you belong. Our&nbsp;Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) progress report for 2024&nbsp;highlights areas where we're making progress and where we can still go further. Here's a look at a few things shaping up daily life at Vinted, and what we're focusing on as we keep learning, growing, and celebrating our differences together through 2025.&nbsp;<h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:6pt;margin-top:18pt;" dir="ltr">One team, hundreds of stories</h3>Vinted brings together a truly global team – over 78 nationalities are represented, with colleagues from both EU and non-EU backgrounds. While 68% of colleagues are from our home base of Lithuania, nearly a third have roots in countries across the world, making Vinted a place where diverse cultures and experiences meet every day.

<h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:6pt;margin-top:18pt;" dir="ltr">Making progress together</h3>Our people see diversity, equity, and inclusion as ongoing goals – not just a box to tick. We're making changes that show up in our policies, hiring, and day-to-day work. In 2024, nearly half of our organisation self-identified as women, and championing gender diversity remains a key focus for us. We're proud of the progress we've made across the organisation and within our leadership, and we're committed to building on that foundation to create even more opportunities for everyone at Vinted. Find out more on our&nbsp;<a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://careers.vinted.com/deib" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Inclusion page</a>&nbsp;<h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:6pt;margin-top:18pt;" dir="ltr">Communities that connect and support</h3>Life at Vinted isn't just about work – it's also about connection. In 2024, over a fifth of our organisation was part of an employee-led community, spaces where you can find support, be yourself, and meet new friends. You'll find employee-led groups across Vinted for LGBTQ+ colleagues, people of colour, neurodivergent, international team members living in Lithuania, and more.Feedback from our communities has led to positive changes in the company, like introducing quiet spaces at events, adding gender-neutral bathrooms, and making policies more flexible to help everyone fit work around life’s needs.

<h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:6pt;margin-top:18pt;" dir="ltr">Room to grow</h3>We want everyone to feel comfortable, heard, and valued. Over 80% of our teammates said their leaders support them well, and 85% feel they can be themselves at work (according to our Annual Belonging Survey, 2024).&nbsp;Our leadership toolkit, new learning opportunities, and regular DEI training programmes are designed to help everyone develop their skills and reach their goals. With that said, we know not everyone experiences inclusion or opportunity in the same way, and we’re always looking for new ways to improve. &nbsp;

<h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:6pt;margin-top:18pt;" dir="ltr">A commitment that's here to stay</h3>In today's context, while some companies might be stepping back from their DEI goals, we're stepping forward. Our focus isn't on trends – it's about our values and the kind of workplace we’d like Vinted to be. We want everyone to thrive here: to find community, to feel understood, and to have the opportunity to achieve their ambitions. &nbsp;If you'd like to work in a place where you're welcome from day one and your ideas can&nbsp;shape our way of working, come and join us. Help us build a more inclusive future, one where you can do your best work and feel part of something bigger. We'd love to meet you.&nbsp;&nbsp;Explore our <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/jobs?gh_src=4dae07a2teu&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">open roles</a> and find your place at Vinted.&nbsp;

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Belonging at Vinted: Insights from our 2024 DEI Report

Thomas Plantenga, CEO of Vinted GroupExactly a year ago, I&nbsp;<a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://www.delfi.lt/verslas/nuomones/thomas-plantenga-noredama-buti-konkurencinga-pasaulyje-lietuva-turi-buti-atvira-ivairiems-zmonems-90545071" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">wrote</a> a piece in Delfi (a Lithuanian news website) calling for&nbsp; businesses, society, and the state to do more for the LGTBQ+ community in Lithuania. At the time, passions were running high over the same-sex Partnership Bill. Lithuania does not currently legally recognise same-sex unions, and after multiple attempts to pass the bill, it failed to make it through to parliament. A year later, we’re debating it again, but this time it’s a stripped-down version, the civil union law, which passed the first vote, and will go to parliament for a second vote later in 2023. By contrast, Estonia has passed a new law, making same-sex marriage legal. Progress? Depends who we’re asking. But on a more positive note, at least some Lithuanian businesses have started to make meaningful changes towards&nbsp; creating more LGBTQ+ friendly organisations.&nbsp;Members of the LGBTQ+ community have spent another year waiting for the law to recognise, at least with reservations, both themselves and their fundamental rights. Another year where two people who live together, and love each other, are still unable to have the same rights as others, simply because their family doesn’t look like or conform to the outdated married with 2.4 children family structure.All of this affects not only the lives of people who identify as LGBTQ+, but also Lithuania’s economy and competitiveness. There’s a limited supply of skilled workers in the local market, which is why we and other companies in the country are working hard to attract workers from other countries. By not recognising the fundamental rights of a part of its population, Lithuania is a red flag in this area, and just like last year, it’s much harder for us to attract foreign talent to Vilnius and Kaunas than it is to attract them to Vinted's offices in Amsterdam or Berlin.&nbsp;Foreign investors, or companies who are impressed by Lithuania's talent and ambition are also noticing the red flag warning signs of intolerance. Not everyone wants to build a global business in a country where the well-being of some of its workers will not be guaranteed.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On the other hand, I’m pleased to see progress in the country's business community over the past year. In the public sphere, organisations have increasingly discussed LGBTQ+ rights in the business context, and we have read reports from companies about equalising conditions - days off, monetary, and other issues - for all employees, regardless of their family dynamic.&nbsp;At least within organisations, all these efforts create an environment where the LGBTQ+ community can feel safe and more confident to speak out about the difficulties they are facing. I see this within Vinted too.&nbsp;Over the last year, we’ve made progress in this area. We agreed on a strategic approach for LGBTQ+ and other diversity and inclusion related questions, and we’ve conducted our first comprehensive study on our employee demographics. The latter revealed that Vinted's internal LGBTQ+ community is close to global averages, which, according to an&nbsp;<a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2021-06/LGBT%20Pride%202021%20Global%20Survey%20Report_3.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ipsos survey</a>, is around 10% of the population.Internally, a community of LGBTQ+ employees called ‘Queerted’ has come to the fore. Last year, we celebrated our first internal Pride Month together, and this year we’ve harmonised our parental benefits policy in all countries where we have offices. We will pay all families, including same-sex families, their full salary for a certain period of time, or make up the difference between that and state support where it is due. When state support is not granted, we pay the entire difference.Within our organisation, we want to create a safe environment for all employees, through actions like these. And it works. This year, for example, members of our Queerted community have been much more active in raising questions and suggesting ideas. For example, they released an internal LGBTQ+ glossary to explain terms from the community, hosted awareness sessions with external speakers, and created a safe internal space for all LGBTQ+ members and allies within Vinted to exchange. A safe environment allows for open conversations and nothing to hide.&nbsp;While equality is not being solved as a legal issue at a national level, our actions prove that we can all make a difference - at work, at home, or among friends. We, and Lithuania as a whole, still have a long way to go towards equality. I’m pleased that, little by little, there are more and more people on this journey. Let's break down the barriers of inequality, talk openly about this issue, share our experiences and make everyone feel safe.&nbsp;I believe that the more of us there are, the sooner all the necessary changes will happen at national level, and the sooner the red flag of intolerance will be lowered, and no longer be able to fly.

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Thomas Plantenga on Finding Joy in the Business Community during Pride Month

Here at Vinted, we support a number of voluntary, employee-led communities that bring together individuals with shared identities, characteristics, or experiences. All of these groups have&nbsp; the common goal of promoting awareness, and fostering representation and inclusion. As an organisation aiming to become a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion, this is something which is very close to our hearts.Today, we’re introducing Queerted: a community made up of members from our different locations, who have created an exclusive space for Vinted employees who identify as LGBTQ+. This is a private space for members to openly share news and updates with each other. Vinted employees are always welcome to join and to contribute to this growing community, who held their first Queerted in-person social event in July 2023. The group meets every 2 weeks to catch up and work together on their collective mission, which is two-fold:1. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;To build a vibrant and inclusive&nbsp;community for LGBTQ+ members within Vinted, where everyone feels safe, supported, and celebrated2. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;To&nbsp;raise awareness of LGBTQ+ topics and create a culture of acceptance and empathy within Vinted and beyond.

Behind every mission, is a vision. The Queerted community, supported by Vinted, aims to create an environment where every employee at Vinted who identifies as LGBTQ+ can bring their full and authentic self to work. Where all employees (including those who do not identify with the LGBTQ+ community) know about the community and its mission, and act as Allies.&nbsp;Halfway through 2023, the community has already achieved a great deal of progress towards their vision. Within ‘Inside’, Vinted's intranet, is a space where employees identifying as LGBTQ+ and Allies can connect, collaborate and learn from each other. It includes resources on LGBTQ+ history, and an LGBTQ+ glossary to help people understand key LGBTQ+ words, phrases and acronyms. There are also resources to help Allies understand how they can help make Vinted a more welcoming place for LGBTQ+ people, as well as several practical FAQs which include questions like “I’m straight and/or cisgender. Is it really ok to speak up for a group that I am not a part of?”Also within ‘Inside’, to raise awareness, the community has been working on a 2023 calendar of LGBTQ+ notable dates – whether they be small local initiatives, a shoutout post on our internal news portal, or work with the Communities team on wider projects. By having an up-to-date calendar with regular events, employees have a consistent feed of LGBTQ+ content for employees to keep track of all year round – and not just during Pride Month.

Last but by no means least, Queerted posts a monthly newsletter containing updates, upcoming events, achievements, resources and information. The aim is that this newsletter will offer other members the opportunity to share their voice, and represent other branches within the Queerted community.We want all new joiners at Vinted to be aware of the different employee communities we have to offer. The group has been liaising with the DEI and Onboarding Teams to make sure that new joiners know about and feel welcome to join the community when starting.&nbsp;Hopefully this gives you an insight into Queerted, what it stands for, and their work and missions within Vinted.&nbsp;We're proud to showcase how Queerted is making a difference, amplifying LGBTQ+ voices, and setting the standard for Employee Resource Groups (Groups of employees who join in their workplace based on shared characteristics or life experiences).&nbsp;Stay tuned for more exciting updates from the Queerted community at Vinted!

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Come and Meet our Queerted Community!

The technology company Vinted has updated and synced its parental allowance policy in all countries where it has offices. The move also addresses the issue of support for same-sex families. Vinted will provide them financial support that exceeds statutory limits. The company will pay the primary carers their full salary, or make up the difference between their salary and any income support received for the first 20 weeks, and secondary carers will receive the same level of compensation for 10 weeks.&nbsp;

“Until the rights of same-sex families are equal and legally recognised in Lithuania and elsewhere, private companies are taking the matter into their own hands. Vinted already gives the same benefits (days off, allowances, etc) &nbsp;to all families, whether they are a married man and a woman, two women who have exchanged vows abroad, or two men living together without official family status. As we’re expanding rapidly, we’ve taken this step to improve and standardise the parental benefits across all Vinted offices," says Monika Kalinauskaitė, Vinted Strategic Initiatives manager. From now on, Vinted will compensate primary caregivers, such as birth mothers &nbsp;or adoptive fathers, for the first 20 weeks with the difference between their salary and Sodra payment. Secondary caregivers will be reimbursed the difference for 10 weeks, regardless of their family’s legal status: “Depending on the family model, we will encounter situations where the state does not provide financial support to one parent. In this case, we will pay the employee’s full salary for the period of time provided”.&nbsp; According to Ms. Kalinauskaite, this model is particularly important for same-sex families in Lithuania: "If, for example, a two-woman family conceives or adopts a child, only the birth or adoptive mother receives official parental benefits from the state, with the second mother not being legally recognised by the state. This not only limits the amount of financial support for this family, as by law it only applies to the "legal" mother, but it also takes away the right to choose who will look after the child. After all, the birth or adoptive mother may want to continue working, while the mother who is not legally recognised by the state takes care of the child. However, the latter would not receive any state maternity benefits. With our benefits policy, we aim to create this opportunity of choice.”&nbsp;Assess the needs of allAs Ms. Kalinauskaitė points out, when organisations think about working parents, they need to adopt a holistic approach and think about all the different family models and &nbsp;stages of child rearing. For example, a <a href="https://diversity.lt/kas-trecias-darbuotojas-renkasi-tarp-seimos-ir-karjeros/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recent study</a> published by the Lithuanian Diversity Charter found that one third of Lithuanians changed jobs after parental leave, mainly due to employer inflexibility. One in two employers did not ask returning employees about their changed needs, and a similar number did not offer flexible working hours. "This shows that there are problems in Lithuanian society, not only in terms of financial support for same-sex families, but also in employer-parent relations. It’s important to maintain a relationship with employees on parental leave. For example - at Vinted, we invite, but do not require participation in our various internal events. It’s also important to understand that the needs of working parents change, which is why we offer flexible working options and children's playrooms in our offices,"says Monika Kalinauskaitė.Evaluates the employer's position on human rights issuesAs Rugilė Trumpytė - head of the Lithuanian Diversity Charter - notes, employees themselves have recently come to expect a clear stance on various human rights issues from their current or future employers.&nbsp; "More and more people are choosing where to work carefully. In recent years, I have noticed a growing interest in social responsibility among employees. People are enquiring about their employer's stance on human rights issues and expecting them to be proactive. Businesses can create change without waiting for the law, and they have a lot of leverage. So I am glad that Vinted is showing leadership and making decisions not only for the well-being of heterosexuals, but also for the LGBT+ community," says Trumpytė.

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Vinted Extends Same-Sex Parental Benefits Beyond Statutory Limits

Meet Priya, a Senior Program Manager at Vinted’s Shipping department. She told us about her origins, career path, sustainability practices, and why diversity is so important in a workplace.

What’s your name and job at Vinted?My name is Priya Dubey, and I work as a Senior Program Manager in the Shipping department here at Vinted.&nbsp;When and how did you join? Why? (Be honest!)After working for 3 years as a Software Consultant I was looking for a change, so I decided to pursue an MBA in France and change my industry, job function, and location. Then I saw a job ad on Linkedin for the Program Manager position at Vinted. I had heard about the company before, but didn’t know a great deal about it. After doing some research, I found it extremely interesting and very close to what I was looking for. To be honest, I didn't think there was much hope in me getting a response, as I had no background in this field. But I did! And I joined Vinted in December 2020.&nbsp;How is Vinted’s mission important for you?&nbsp;In India, my home country, there are a lot of stereotypes attached to the concept of second-hand clothing. It’s usually thought that people go for second-hand because they cannot afford “new” clothes. So I wasn’t against it as a concept, but never really thought about it as a viable business option. When I saw that people in Europe had come a long way concerning fashion, I was amazed. People here value sustainability tremendously. Vinted caters to this very need, and that’s what makes it special.&nbsp;Tell us about your typical workday. Do you have a morning ritual?My mornings start with a cup of hot tea and checking some of the entertaining company Slack channels (#readthis is an amazing one), followed by emails. I usually have quite a few meetings, given the nature of my job, so when I have to get down to work I try to avoid all distractions and block a few hours to do just that. I also make sure I talk to all my team members at least once a day, to see how they are doing. And then I end the day with my cup of tea, as an Indian should.&nbsp;What makes you excited to wake up and go to work each morning?My teammates – we really support and empower each other. For me, this is the most important aspect of a workplace.&nbsp;What do you find meaningful in your job?&nbsp;In the past I’ve struggled, because I couldn’t see how my day-to-day tasks added value, and it took me away from realising how 8 hours of my day could result in a tangible output. That has changed at Vinted. Here it’s easy for me to visualise how my tasks contribute to the success of the company and the platform’s experience as a whole, and that keeps me going.&nbsp;Vinted is becoming more and more international and diverse. How does it benefit you, in your life?I was the first or second non-European to join Vinted in Vilnius. But in just a few months, I have observed a big change. Now my team is probably the most diverse. We are mostly women, all from different countries, including Switzerland, Canada, Italy, India, and Columbia. It is fascinating to me how different yet similar we all are – it’s a beautiful thing to realise.&nbsp;Why do you think this is important?It’s about the fact that one-third of our lives is spent at the workplace. The nature of our work and the people we work with shape not just our professional accomplishments, but a large part of our personalities. Most of us want to be a part of something that works towards the betterment of communities, and making workplaces inclusive leads to making communities inclusive. It leads to us becoming better people. I believe this is what makes it so important.&nbsp;How do you like Vilnius? Have you found a new favorite spot?I like the quietness of Vilnius. The Old Town is breathtaking. My favorite spot is the Cathedral Square, I like the life around that place.&nbsp;How is Vinted different from the last places you’ve worked at?Vinted has a very decentralised structure – and not just theoretically. It took me a while at first to adjust to this new way of working. You have freedom to take the initiative, and most decisions are made from the bottom up. It's extremely different from my other work experiences.&nbsp;What are the key things you learned so far during your time at Vinted?People skills are extremely important, something which also means being an empathetic listener and having a positive attitude. My work involves talking to many people, and I am slowly learning to be more cognisant of others' needs before approaching them. I believe this can be a tremendous help with the relationships you build.&nbsp;Tell us more about yourself. Where do you come from, and where have you lived?I was born in a small town in Northeast India, very close to Nepal. It’s a village-like place that is still somewhat untouched by the hustle and bustle of modern life. However, my favorite place in India is Bangalore, which, despite being a more developed city, is surrounded by lots of nature. I moved there after finishing my bachelor’s degree. Later, in 2018, I moved to Paris, France, for further studies. I have also lived in Nice and Berlin for short periods.&nbsp;How do you seek improvement for yourself?Primarily through feedback. I actively ask for feedback from people, and try to see if there is a pattern. Secondly, through retrospection – I ask myself what could I have done better in a certain scenario. However, I usually throw myself into the field, trudge through, and learn through practice.&nbsp;What extra efforts do you make to live sustainably in your life outside of work?I believe in conscious consumerism – you’d find my wardrobe very modest. I try to buy things I can use for a long time, and after using them, I usually donate them. Moreover, I believe that a little effort goes a long way. I often hear people talking about how oil companies, retail fashion, and other industries pollute our environment, and how our efforts are futile. I humbly disagree with such a statement. As a believer in the theory of social contract, I think we also must do our part.&nbsp;One fun fact about you?I love dancing, especially to Bollywood music. I also write poetry, and dream about publishing a book someday. You can read my poems <a href="https://allpoetry.com/Priya_Dubey">here</a>.&nbsp;Pick one piece of media to recommend: a movie, a tv show, a podcast, a YouTube channel, a band… Why do you think it deserves someone’s attention, and what role does it play in your life?Movie: The Pursuit of Happyness. Any time I’m feeling extremely unmotivated in life, I watch this movie. It gives me a new perspective.

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Priya Dubey: Inclusive Workplaces Create Inclusive Communities

We’re happy to introduce Alice Hu: Vinted’s Compensation &amp; Benefits Lead, who’s changed not just countries but industry, and who now helps make Vinted a better place to work at. In this interview, Alice tells us why Vinted’s mission is so relatable to her, and what the benefits of transparency and diversity within the company are.

Hi Alice! What is your role at Vinted?&nbsp;Hello! I’m responsible for the compensation and benefits program at Vinted, where I look into the complete rewards experience for people working here.&nbsp;How did you become part of Vinted, and what helped you decide to join?&nbsp;I joined Vinted back in November 2020. I’ve always been interested in sustainability. My background was in financial services, but the banking industry was hard to relate to because it’s not something I’m passionate about. Vinted is something that you can easily connect to. Seeing Vinted being very active on the sustainability front and having a very relatable product were the main drivers for me making the switch from financial services to a consumer-facing e-commerce business.&nbsp;So you’ve combined your expertise with something you care about.&nbsp;Yeah, and now my role is very easy to relate to. For example, when I’d tell people that I was working as a manager in the banking sector, they’d say, “You make rich people richer”. Whereas now I tell people “Look, our company is trying to make second-hand items more easily available to everyone”. It’s obvious, and it instantly has such a positive impact. Everyone knows that we should have a more sustainable approach and use more second-hand items, so it’s a very nice change for me.&nbsp;&nbsp;You mentioned Vinted’s mission as very familiar to everyone. How is it important to you personally?It has become more important since I moved to Berlin. I’m from the US originally, where people buy big new items, and in Berlin – I don’t know if it’s Germany or Berlin – there is this culture of reusing things. It got me into seeing things in a very different light and appreciating what Vinted does, like how it can give things a second life while benefiting both sides – the seller and the buyer.&nbsp;What about your job? What makes you excited to go to work?&nbsp;&nbsp;I’m passionate about the employee experience and figuring out the balance between employer and employee responsibilities on topics of wellbeing, diversity, equity and inclusion. You often see a company claiming to have values, but in reality they are not delivered to its employees, nor do they really translate. I’m excited about helping Vinted communicate its values well, and helping its employees to feel that we care about them. In general, Vinted is such a great company doing many good things, but we don’t always communicate it well internally. I’m motivated by figuring out how we can make Vinted an even better place for people to work at.&nbsp;Do these things give meaning to your job, too?I like my work because I enjoy solving challenging problems. It’s even better when you have a group of smart, talented people to co-create with. We work hard, but we have fun along the way.&nbsp;&nbsp;Do you have any rituals that help you get in the zone for work? &nbsp; &nbsp;I have two young boys, so my morning includes making breakfast. It’s always quite chaotic, depending on how happy they are about going to school that day. Work is where I can calm down, but it is nice to have a lovely, bubbly family environment, before saying ‘bye’ to them and then just focusing.&nbsp;Vinted is becoming more international and diverse. It initially started in Lithuania, grew bigger, and continues to grow. How do you benefit from Vinted’s growth?&nbsp;Because Vinted is becoming more international, we’ve decided to open a tech hub in Berlin. I’m based in Berlin, so I think I directly benefit from it. It’s my first time working with so many Lithuanians, and it’s quite nice. Everybody is transparent, direct and very egalitarian. There is a big community spirit around everything that we do. I haven’t figured out yet if it’s specific to Lithuania or Vinted, but I haven’t been in a workplace where I’ve felt that people genuinely care before.&nbsp;&nbsp;It’s in Vinted’s DNA as an employer to be open and accessible to all. Do you feel that this statement is true?At Vinted, everything is very transparent. We walk people through what they’re doing, and share every piece of information on our Intranet with all our employees. It’s where we show everything that we’re doing: our OKRs are transparent, and everybody can read through them. We celebrate our successes, document our failures and share what we’ve learned.&nbsp;As someone who has newly joined, it’s interesting to see all of this history readily available online. For example, what happened seven years ago is properly documented. It’s great to see that some of these people from seven years ago are still here – this isn’t always the case with startups and scaleups.&nbsp;&nbsp;Do you feel transparency is important in your work life? &nbsp;I think it’s a crucial aspect of Vinted’s culture, of co-creating and having ownership. We allow people to participate in all aspects of the journey if they want to. It’s the reason why Vinted can be open and accessible. I haven’t seen that level of transparency or involvement in other businesses I’ve worked for.&nbsp;How does working with many people from diverse backgrounds help you learn and grow and solve daily challenges?It’s all about listening to the opinions of others – which can be a blessing and a curse at the same time. When I’m putting together proposals, different views help me have a more balanced and inclusive proposal. I’m collecting feedback from everyone, and when we have a final product, we have more buy-in from everyone. But I cannot ignore the challenges of having so many different voices – which one do you go with, and which one should lead? It takes time. And sometimes we don’t have that much time because we’re growing so fast. It’s like striking the right balance between gathering input and knowing when to stop.&nbsp;&nbsp;And when it comes to different nationalities, do they help you? It’s said that Lithuanians are pretty direct and transparent.&nbsp;Lithuanians, Germans and the Dutch are direct, and that helps. They are very low context people – they tell you exactly what they’re thinking, versus like British people who’re hedging what they’re saying. Because we’re so open and transparent, we welcome all sorts of views. It’s part of the company’s process of figuring things out, but we could still do more to have stronger employee voices around. For example, I’m passionate about the topic of gender equality, empowering women, etc. These topics are welcomed and supported by our people, but we could do more to support a stronger stand publicly.&nbsp;&nbsp;Do you use the Vinted app?&nbsp;Yes. As employees, we’re offered Vinted credit every month. It’s funny, because at the beginning of the month my older son and I sit and check Vinted for what we want to buy. He loves looking through the toys section.&nbsp;What’s your favorite place in the world?&nbsp;My favorite place online is Netflix. I watch all sorts of things. I recently got hooked on Korean dramas – they’re super unrealistic and overly dramatic, but they help me destress and take my mind off of reality. My favourite ‘real’ place is Taiwan. I’m Taiwanese American, and my family still lives in Taichung, a city in the middle of the island. It’s such a different place from Germany, where it’s primarily cold. In Taiwan, it’s scorching hot all the time.&nbsp;Could you recommend something – a movie, a TV show, a podcast, or a Youtube channel – for those who’ve read this interview?&nbsp;For HR folks, I’d recommend Digital HR Leaders, a podcast by David Green. He focuses on the latest HR trends, and invites data-driven People leaders to discuss their learnings. And for the foodies out there, a must-listen is the David Chang podcast. He’s very popular in NY and talks about everything, but mainly about what he eats, and he has multiple restaurants and discusses the latest food trends. By the way, everyone at Vinted seems to be a massive foodie.

Alice Hu.jpg

Alice Hu: Transparency Allows Us to Act on Our Values

Inclusion

Vinted Group

57 Students 31 Mentors 4 Speakers

Girls in Tech who joined the event.

Student Satisfaction Score - 9.5/10 Mentors' NPS - 100 Event NPS - 100