COMMUNITY CODE OF CONDUCT

Activate exists to discover, fund, champion, and propel entrepreneurial scientists and engineers from around the world who have a technology vision that could benefit society and who are committed to bringing it to the world as a new product or business.

Every year, we work with our partners to select a cohort of fellows who are supported with funding, mentorship, education, and connections with a network of scientists, industry and technology leaders, investors, and philanthropists.

Our goal is simple: empower fellows to mature their ideas from concept to first product, while positioning them to align with the most suitable commercial path to bring their technology to scale. As a member of the Activate community, your contributions to this effort are critical to our success.

Activate is committed to providing a safe, productive, and professional environment for all participants within the Activate community. We expect all participants of the Activate community to help foster a positive culture consistent with our organizational values. To that end, we provide the following set of guidelines for managing behaviors when participating in Activate events.

All attendees, fellows, candidates, speakers, sponsors, advisors (including technical advisors and experts), scientists, volunteers, vendors, consultants, contractors, donors, Leadership Technology Council members, partners, Board members, and other non-employees (collectively, the “Activate Community”) should abide by this code of conduct (the “Community Code of Conduct”) at all Activate events and conferences, in all interactions with each other, and in all interactions among community members posting, commenting, or otherwise engaging with our social media channels (collectively, “Activate Events”). (Staff and employees of Activate are governed by a similar code of conduct contained in Activate’s Employee Handbook.) Your cooperation is essential to help ensure a safe, productive, and professional environment for all individuals in the Activate Community.

Activate has developed guiding behavioral principles for the Activate Community, with a view to facilitating community cohesion, enabling productive conversation, encouraging individual growth, and helping create the inclusive environment to which we aspire. These guidelines constitute minimum standards of relational behavior, and a framework for productive discussion and feedback. The examples given below are not exhaustive and are provided for purposes of illustration. As in any professional environment, we expect all members of the Activate Community to use good judgment and treat everyone with dignity and respect. By participating as part of the Activate Community in or with an Activate Event, you are expected to adhere to these principles and accept constructive feedback regarding behavior that falls outside these norms.

Treat others with courtesy and respect — Practice empathy, show compassion, and offer help when you can. Acknowledge others’ contributions, accomplishments, and good ideas with compliments, shout-outs, and congratulations. Be mindful of your communication style with others. Although you may have a different point of view or disagreements with others, keep your Activate communications calm and respectful. When conflicts arise, see what you can learn from another’s point of view. And, of course, Activate will not tolerate any form of harassing, discriminating, bullying, or derogatory conduct.

Act with integrity — Be honest and stay true to your words and commitments. Keep your meetings and respect others’ time by coming prepared and ready to engage.

Be open-minded, inclusive and respectful — Strive to be open in sharing ideas, insights, and feedback with others, as well as in sharing your own questions, challenges, and accomplishments. Keep an open mind to the ideas, feedback, and perspectives shared by others in the group. While doing so, understand that the Active Community involves people from many different walks of life. Recognize that someone else’s frame of reference is likely different from your own. We respect every person and, as a community, we seek to prioritize personal development in ourselves and others. Look for opportunities to invite people with perspectives different from your own into discussions and group interactions. Promote the voices of others.

Practice active listening, allowing people to finish their sentences, and noticing when you might be interrupting, talking over, or otherwise discouraging another point of view. Respectful behavior includes:

 - Listening before speaking and expressing differences of opinion in a constructive and respectful manner;

  - Respecting others as they seek to build meaningful connections and entering into the private meetings or conversations of others, only when invited or after asking permission;

  - Listening when someone requests to end a conversation or communication with you;

  - Listening to directives, not interrupting programming, following the program as designed, and sharing only constructive, solution-driven feedback; and

  - Communicate with language inclusive of all groups, including but not limited to race, gender, and sexual-orientation.

Respect boundaries — Everyone brings their own level of comfort with interpersonal interaction into the Activate Community, including when it comes to personal space and physical touch. Don’t make assumptions about what might be comfortable for someone else. If you’re unsure, ask. Pay attention to your own boundaries as well. If you are uncertain about someone’s intention, you can ask for clarification. We hope that you will feel safe and empowered to stand up for yourself if you feel that you have been treated unfairly, but if not, we are available to help. Please contact Activate’s Human Resources Executive or reach out to us at upstander@activate.org.

Upstander Intervention — Activate strives to create a community of Upstanders. Do not be a passive bystander where you observe or become aware of conduct that violates our Community Code of Conduct. Please contact Activate’s Human Resources Executive or reach out to us at upstander@activate.org for more information.

Be present — Groups feed off of the energy of each individual. While in larger groups, if you need to take a call or spend more than a moment sending a message or checking your email, step out of the room. While in smaller groups (i.c., less than four people) or during one-on-one meetings, be considerate and avoid taking calls, sending messages or checking email, to the extent possible.

EXPECTATIONS

Your attendance at, or participation in or with, any Activate Event means you agree to abide by this Community Code of Conduct. We expect Activate Community members to be part of the solution in creating a safe, productive, and professional space for everyone in the Activate Community. If you believe this Community Code of Conduct has been violated, or have any other concerns, we encourage that you first consider speaking respectfully and professionally with the offending person. When such a direct conversation is not possible or comfortable, please report concerns immediately to Activate’s Human Resources Executive.

If a member of the Activate Community engages in inappropriate behavior or otherwise violates our Community Code of Conduct, Activate may take any action it deems appropriate, including but not limited to, warning or expelling the offender from the event with no refund. Violations on social media may be subject to immediate removal or access being blocked by moderators.

If you have any questions about the Activate Community Code of Conduct or suggestions on how we might improve, please contact Activate’s Human Resources Executive.