Featured Podcast
SERVICES
TALK
Creating Meaningful and Objective Employee Performance Reviews with Shirin Nikaein of Upful.ai
In this episode, Envision RISE’s Global Director of Equity & Inclusion, Staci Hegarty speaks with Shirin Nikaein, Co-Founder and CEO of Upful.ai about how a negative experience with biased employer feedback led her to create a product that helps companies produce more meaningful and objective employee performance reviews. Staci and Shirin talk about how Upful uses behavioral science research to address common issues with employee reviews as well as what it’s like to be in a start-up, and advice for those thinking of starting their own companies. Hear Staci and Shirin discuss:
- How Upful detects vague, subjective, speculative, or potentially biased language and provides real-time coaching to remind managers of best practices when writing an employee performance evaluation
- The importance of reducing different types of cognitive biases to make evaluation feedback more objective and representative of an employee’s performance
- The punishment gap and the expectation for women to be 100% likable, 100% of the time
- The significance of performance ratings and the impact on an employee’s career trajectory and earning potential
- Why representation in upper management matters for improving employee retention and creating products and services that serve more people equally
To learn how Upful uses behavioral science to coach people as they write employee performance feedback visit: https://get.upful.ai/
To connect with us to learn more about how our RISE platform helps companies make a commitment to promote diversity, inclusion, equity and create an environment where your people are empowered to drive change and innovation: https://bit.ly/EnvisionRISE.
Connect with us

With RISE companies realize the importance of a diverse workforce powered with voices of people from different backgrounds, personalities and thinking styles across the global workplace.
RISE creates an environment where all people are encouraged to draw upon their unique experiences, perspectives and backgrounds to advance business goals.
Join us for as we explore all things in #Diversity, #Equity, and #Inclusion.
MISSION
Envision RISE
To evolve into an environment where all people are encouraged to draw upon and voice their unique experiences, perspectives and backgrounds.
Success today and in the future requires equipping and developing leaders to navigate issues and challenges resulting from an ever-increasing global and diverse work environment.
Effective sustainability strategies must also be aligned with local cultures. Leaders at all levels must understand the expectations and be held accountable to help create and sustain a culture of equality where all individuals can advance and thrive.


Business transformation can be disruptive, but the True North DE&I Actualization Model offers a proven pragmatic methodology which guides decision making, minimizes disruption, and lowers risk.
This is achieved through inclusive interaction with all stakeholders at all levels. This philosophy requires direct, transparent, and sometimes challenging discussions, which also builds trust between EnvisionRISE experts and client staff – a true partnership.
We will align the tangible and intangible elements of the organizational ecosystem.
- Tangible – people, processes, infrastructure
- Intangible – motivations, relationships and culture
TRUE NORTH
DE&I
ACTUALIZATION

Survey Definition
STEP 1
Define Maturity Matrix
STEP 2
Break Down Levels of Maturity
STEP 3
Define Questions to Establish Baseline
STEP 4
Validate Sufficient Data Capture
Develop Swimlane Categories to Define Levels of Maturity
Break down the swim lanes into survey goals & objectives
Drive clear evidence to conclusively define organizational goals & objectives
Review anticipated outcomes and ensure alignment with client needs
Survey Definition
STEP 1
Define Maturity Matrix
Develop Swimlane Categories to Define Levels of Maturity
STEP 2
Break Down Levels of Maturity
Break down the swim lanes into survey goals & objectives
STEP 3
Define Questions to Establish Baseline
Drive clear evidence to conclusively define organizational goals & objectives
STEP 4
Validate Sufficient Data Capture
Review anticipated outcomes and ensure alignment with client needs

Focus Groups
Focus groups provide greater context to survey results. Employees are provided an opportunity to share their experiences and connect with one another.
LGBTQ+
Women
Indifferent
Age
Disability
BIPOC
Elusive