iilo’s culture of inclusion benefits all

Lisa and I wanted iilo to provide well-paying work to women and underrepresented people in the creative services industry ever since we first discussed the idea of this business. To realize that vision, a culture of inclusion became the foundation of our operations.

Over three years into our journey, our data shows we’re on the right path! Our latest benefit report revealed that 58% of our collaborators identify as a racialized person, an immigrant, or a member of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community. And 100% of collaborators reported that working with iilo allowed them to have a healthy life/work balance.

We’re proud that our team truly enjoys working together. (Hear directly from our team.)

It’s also been validating to receive external recognition. In 2024, we were nominated for the Untapped Workplace Inclusion Awards in the Inclusive Culture Champion – Small Business category. This category celebrates small businesses in BC that go above and beyond to foster diversity, accessibility, and inclusion in the workplace. We were honoured to have been nominated alongside some of our accessibility heroes — congrats to our B Corp peer, Fairware, for taking home the prize!

How iilo fosters a culture of inclusion

To foster a culture of inclusion, we’ve embedded accessibility into our ethos, influencing how we set up processes, make decisions, and engage with each other. Everyone wins when we improve accessibility.

Taking leaves to accommodate life

iilo’s collaboration model allows each collaborator to determine their capacity and, should they choose to, take a leave. There’s always the option to accept new work, even after a collaborator takes an extended break that we have planned into together. This has been especially helpful for collaborators who have needed time away to adjust to new parenthood and changing family needs.

“I felt fully supported both leading up to and after my maternity leave. Prior to my due date, the timeline of my iilo project was extended. Lisa stepped in to cover my design role so that I could have enough buffer time to prepare for my time off. And when I was ready to return from my leave, Lisa and Madelen were really open to seeing what types of projects I was up for. Since I was easing back into work, I appreciated that I could take on smaller projects to transition back to work as a new mom.” — Cheryl Loh, graphic designer & illustrator

Flexible work schedules to suit different rhythms

As a virtual-forever company, our internal processes encourage collaborators to curate schedules that work for them. We trust each other’s workflows and we communicate transparently about our needs. While it takes some coordination, we know it’s worth it.

“As a person with dyslexia, ADHD, and lived experience of anxiety, fitting into a ‘9 to 5’ corporate schedule has been a constant struggle. My attention and energy levels can fluctuate depending on factors outside my control. I’ve learned that I need to listen to my body and my brain, and to let them guide my workload. I appreciate that the collaborative way iilo manages projects gives me the flexibility to do that.” — Hannah McCormick, social media & email marketing strategist

Our clients benefit from this work flexibility too. We track deadlines carefully, use tools to monitor progress, and have dedicated project managers and quality assurance leads to ensure our clients receive high-quality work on time and on budget. Since individuals are empowered to work to their strengths, our team delivers the best collective work to our clients.

Growth opportunities for all career stages

Lifelong learning is important to us. From expert-led workshops on accessibility design and rituals for self-care, to collaborator-led lunch and learns about money mindsets and laughter yoga, we support both professional and personal development — because we understand it’s all connected.

The iilo team welcomes collaborators at various stages of their careers, including new grads, career changers, and seasoned pros. We love seeing everyone grow in confidence as they take on new projects, just as our graphic design intern, Cate, (now an iilo employee!) did over the course of two years.

Growth happens at all stages and we’re delighted to also provide opportunities for mid-career professionals to pursue their passions.

“While I had taken part in communications projects in the tech, education, health care, and non-profit fields, I’ve never held the ‘writer’ title until collaborating with iilo. I was nervous about this transition, but thanks to the mentorship of experienced editors on the iilo team, I’ve officially launched my freelance writing career!” — Crystal Lee, writer

Meaningful check-ins that improve the collaboration process

As a process-oriented team (and self-identifying detail nerds), we’ve applied 20+ years of experience to refine our collaboration process. This includes annual check-ins with each team member to celebrate wins and discuss ways to enhance the collaboration experience (we go through a similar process with clients!)

iilo’s culture of inclusion provides psychological safety to have honest conversations, supporting meaningful growth for everyone involved.

“Like any good relationship, taking time to check in is crucial for the growth and evolution of a team and the individuals that make up that team. The space that iilo makes for these conversations has been key to the success of our long standing collaboration — this October marks 8 years of collaboration!” — Keiko Lee-Hem, graphic designer & illustrator

Self/life/work balance (in that order)

We operate with a mindset that prioritizes self-care and what’s happening in our lives, because we believe those two things must come first before we can contribute to work with full energy. If a collaborator needs to pick up their child or take a mental health break before diving back into work, for example, we fully support that and work around their availability.

Time off is something we take seriously. We work together to ensure folks can truly take a break when they’re on vacation, while the rest of the team keeps the work rolling. As iilo’s co-owners, it’s a challenge for Lisa and I to truly unplug from the business. But, we’ve made this a priority.

“With a lot of pre-planning, both Madelen and I managed to take extended vacations this past summer. I took a long-anticipated family vacation to France, and while I was expecting to hear from the team while I was gone, all I received were “Safe travels” and “Welcome back!” messages — I was so grateful to have the space to be present on my trip. And I did the same to cover for Madelen when she took her vacation break to celebrate a major life milestone this year! It’s very easy to put life off in favour of doing more awesome work, but we know we need to stop sometimes to be able to come back with a clear commitment to lead in alignment with our values.” — Lisa Hemingway, iilo co-owner

Ultimately, we want every member of our team to feel valued and to live their best lives — and that includes being able to earn a living doing the work they love.

Building an inclusive community of collaborators

If iilo’s culture of inclusion resonates with you, let’s work together!

• Fill out this form to learn more about joining iilo’s team of collaborators. 
• We’re also open to new business. Tell us your vision for increasing accessibility and inclusion in your communication design projects and we’ll help you get started.