John Lullen

When John Lullen joined TEKsystems 11 years ago, he never thought DE&I would be a core component of his work. However, joining the multicultural ERG was a turning point. When Lullen later learned that TEKsystems had created a new marketplace diversity solutions team, he knew this was an area where he could have a profound social impact.

Today, as manager of Marketplace Diversity Solutions, his focus is on attraction, retention and inclusion for the consultant population and “making sure DE&I shows up at the core of our solutions.” By all accounts, he is succeeding. In 2023 alone, his team grew weekly profit by 189%. In addition to having 30-plus ambassadors inside the company, Lullen has built two training programs to help people access jobs: one for non-degreed talent and another for data centers to help women.

One of his proudest accomplishments is standing up a consultant resource group after noticing that consultants or temporary workers were not, in most cases, allowed to attend internal employee resource groups. Now, he conducts quarterly networking events focused on leadership and career advancement with 12 multinational technology companies. “Inclusion is a core value at TEKsystems, and we realized we have to extend that to all employees, regardless of how they are badged,” he says.

When you are making products that benefit all people, your products need to be reflective of the communities you serve. DE&I makes organizations more productive.

Lullen urges businesses to “prioritize diverse candidate slates and diverse hiring panels.” He also advocates following instructor-led learning sessions with assessments. “Find out how these teaching points are actually living and breathing on your team,” he urges.

Lullen, who played football through college, continues to tackle challenges and prioritize teamwork. One goal is to continue building events that help historically marginalized people gain access to leadership. Another is helping companies in the tech industry understand that diversity is a strength that positively impacts their bottom line. “This is an industry that builds and makes products,” he explains. “When you are making products that benefit all people, your products need to be reflective of the communities you serve. DE&I makes organizations more productive.”

In 2023, Lullen was asked to join the boards of Per Scholas New York and Blacks In Technology New York.