ERG in Focus: BEAT! Sweden

BEAT! (short for ‘Black EA Team’) was founded just over four years ago and is one of seven Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that Electronic Arts has across the globe, with multiple local chapters for each. 

We recently announced BEAT! Sweden, which now sits alongside Women’s Ultimate Team as a local chapter. 

So we have spoken to founders and members Mark Kyobe (Manager at SEED, and leader for BEAT! Sweden for the first year) and Pawit Pawar (People Practices Partner) about what is planned for the group, as well as how ERGs help strengthen our studios and build more inclusive games.

“The vision for BEAT! is still the same as it was when it was founded, to create a world where black talent and leadership is no longer underrepresented - by equipping them with knowhow, direction, and a network” said Mark when asked about the work that BEAT! does globally at Electronic Arts.

“Often you will hear across Sweden that the issues highlighted with the Black Lives Matter movement are an issue in the US.” said Pawit when talking about the creation of BEAT! Sweden, “But if you look around our offices here in Sweden, how much representation do you see?”.

“We want to increase representation of visible color both within our company, but also across Sweden” added Pawit talking about the creation of BEAT! Sweden, “We want to make people feel safe, feel empowered, and provide them with a platform where they feel they can make a change”.

“Often you will hear across Sweden that the issues highlighted with the Black Lives Matter movement are an issue in the US. But if you look around our offices here in Sweden, how much representation do you see?”

Electronic Arts has made commitments to promoting inclusion in our games through ERGs and Pawit agrees that these platforms internally can only help build healthy communities, “We can make a huge impact as employees if we are allies, if we are talking to each other, if we are championing each other’s causes and giving back to society”.

“Because even if we are increasing representation at DICE, that will grow the talent pool in the industry itself. It’s definitely something that is different in Sweden, and needed in Sweden”.

So what is the focus for BEAT! Sweden?

“We have three main goals,” said Mark, “Focusing on leveling up black talent, by promoting within the company. Increasing the proportion of underrepresented talent and retaining those that we have. Finally, partnering with other organizations, universities and schools to hire diverse talent”.

“Change does take time though” added Pawit, “It’s a slow and gradual process. In the short term we are looking to create awareness. Have people read up and understand what the situation in Sweden looks like, and not just what it is in the US”. 

“We want to build allies. Have people understand that they can use their voice to support the cause, and work with us to drive the change.”

“We want to build allies. Have people understand that they can use their voice to support the cause, and work with us to drive the change.”

On the back of the launch of BEAT! Sweden, Mark was excited to receive so much support and enthusiasm for it, “I had people that I have never met or spoken to reach out to me on Slack to say how awesome it was and that they were supportive and thankful for us doing it. This is something I’m already really proud of.”

“It also hasn’t just been our local leadership, but we also have support from our European and Global leadership over at Redwood Shores.”

Speaking about what’s coming up for BEAT! Sweden, there was the talk from comedian Kodjo Akolor earlier this week, then looking ahead to our upcoming Community Conversations, starting with us talking with Psychologist Hanna Wallensteen about Minority Stress in Sweden is just the beginning, “I am also really looking forward to us becoming a part of the big global BEAT! family and feeling that even us, a small country up in the north of Scandinavia, - is part of the BEAT! family.” said Mark.

Finally, both Mark and Pawit both agree that the opportunity to launch BEAT! Sweden with the theme this month of “It’s easy being black in Sweden” is one that’s allowed for multiple interpretations and dialogue about what it is like to be black in Sweden, and the struggle to be included in the country, “It’s a big statement that opens up such a big dialogue for all of us to have. To know more. And be curious about”.

This “ERG in Focus: BEAT! Sweden” article is the first one in a series where we explore the different employee resource groups we have at DICE - and how we work together to build better games and create more opportunities for inclusion within our studio.