by Carmel Ulbrick

November 27, 2024

Originally published on PagerDuty blog

PagerDuty recently hosted our second annual Arraychella conference in Atlanta. The multi-day professional development event empowered participants to focus on career growth, skill development, and connection-building while aligning with key company objectives and addressing important themes from our recent employee engagement survey. 

The event was crafted to offer space for networking and strategic conversations about how Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) support PagerDuty’s business objectives around global engagement, fostering belonging, and for reflection on both personal and professional journeys, reaffirming our commitment to supporting PagerDuty’s underrepresented communities. 

“Arraychella was more than a conference, it was a celebration of our shared strength, resilience, and vision. Together, we amplified our voices, connected with purpose, and empowered each other to break barriers and create a future where we all thrive.” – Dani Lindsey and Stevenson Jean-Pierre, RiSE ERG Co-Chairs

Highlights from the conference
Arraychella focused on topics that resonate deeply with our ERG community, fostering interactive discussions that aligned with our business outcomes and company values. Key sessions included “Managing Up,” “V2MOM”, “Global Inclusion & Belonging,” and “Holistic Wellness,” equipping attendees with strategies to enhance their impact and engagement in their roles.

Another highly anticipated session was a candid Q&A with members of our executive team. Leaders shared insights on navigating career challenges, fostering inclusive teams, and leveraging their influence to advocate for broader organizational change. This open exchange created a platform for authentic dialogue, strengthening trust and transparency across the company.

Participants also engaged in hands-on workshops on self-advocacy, career development, and aligning personal contributions with organizational goals, reinforcing our belief that developing diverse talent is critical to reaching business imperatives around innovation, engagement, and retention. Attendee feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with 90.9% expressing that they felt “more prepared” to take on new challenges.

To reinforce our themes of connection to community, holistic wellness, and individuals driving impact, we wrapped the conference by volunteering to beautify an urban greenspace in Atlanta with the Wylde Center, a local environmental nonprofit, and provided the organization with a PagerDuty.org Community Grant to further support their mission with funding.

Success metrics and impact
The turnout and engagement exceeded expectations. With a 105.7% increase in attendance over last year, our survey results showed high satisfaction scores, with 86.4% of attendees reporting that they felt more connected to PagerDuty’s mission and their career growth. Post-event data also indicated a positive influence on attendees’ sense of belonging, with a measurable increase in retention intent among participants.

Building a culture of global belonging and opportunity at PagerDuty
Arraychella reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered to succeed. Our ERG communities, allies, and leadership are essential to shaping this culture, and events like these create valuable opportunities for growth and collaboration.

As we look ahead, we remain committed to supporting our diverse community through continued professional development, listening to feedback, and taking meaningful action. For prospective candidates and customers interested in learning more about our approach to Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, we invite you to explore our Impact Hub. Let’s connect and discuss how PagerDuty’s commitment to inclusivity, along with our suite of products, help support growth, culture, and long-term success.