Belonging at Akamai: My Journey of Inclusion, Growth, and Connection

• Akamai cultivates a culture of belonging and inclusion that encourages employees to bring their full selves to work.
• From day one, employees are welcomed for their unique perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas — not just their skills.
• Employee resource groups, wellness programs, and other initiatives provide opportunities for growth and mentorship while ensuring that employees feel supported and valued as whole individuals.
• Programs like the Akamai Technical Academy open doors for nontraditional talent, building future-ready skills and career pathways.
• Collaboration, innovation, and problem-solving thrive at Akamai, thanks to a focus on tapping complementary strengths to tackle challenges.
• Akamai welcomes passionate individuals who want to join an inclusive global workplace where belonging and innovation go hand in hand.

When I first joined Akamai, I knew I was stepping into a company recognized globally for its innovation in areas like cloud computing and content delivery. What I didn’t realize was how deeply the culture here would shape my experience — not just as an employee, but as a person.

Today, as I reflect on my time at Akamai so far, what stands out the most isn’t the code, the platforms, or the scale of the internet we help run. It’s the people — and the way Akamai empowers each of us to bring our best selves to work.

From day one, I knew that Akamai didn’t just value me for my skills. It welcomed all of me — my ideas, my background, my strengths, and even the quirks that make me unique.

That sense of belonging isn’t accidental. It’s intentional. Akamai’s culture is designed to ensure that whether you’re collaborating with a colleague in Kraków, brainstorming with a team in Bengaluru, or sharing ideas with peers in Cambridge, Massachusetts, you feel like a part of something bigger. 

Programs like employee resource groups reinforce that sense of community by bringing people together around shared experiences and identities — creating invaluable opportunities for mentorship, leadership, and growth. 

It’s this intentional focus on people that sets Akamai apart. Together, an inspiring culture and impactful initiatives create a workplace where everyone feels seen, supported, and appreciated for who they are.

Akamai’s commitment to inclusion extends beyond our own teams, reaching into the wider industry to help broaden access and opportunity for all. 

Initiatives like the Akamai Technical Academy open doors for nontraditional talent and help build future-ready skills. Combined with strong community partnerships, these programs create pathways for those who may not have followed a conventional tech journey, helping them gain the experience and confidence they need to embark on a career in the industry.

Ultimately, inclusion at Akamai isn’t a single initiative. It’s reflected in everyday practices and supported by wellness programs that prioritize both physical and mental health, ensuring that employees feel balanced, supported, and valued.

One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned at Akamai is that when people feel safe enough to show up as themselves, they do their best work.

I’ve been in meetings in which someone offered a perspective shaped by their culture or background — and that perspective completely reframed the problem we were solving. Those moments remind me: Innovation comes from diversity, and diversity thrives in environments of inclusion. 

I’ve also seen colleagues who are caregivers at home feel empowered to share their challenges, and Akamai’s flexibility ensures that they can thrive at work while managing their responsibilities at home. Programs like the Women’s Forum amplify female voices across the company, foster mentorship and leadership opportunities, and strengthen allyship — all contributing to a culture of belonging.

Inclusion at Akamai also extends to how we respect human rights, safeguard employee data, and prioritize mental health. These commitments ensure that everyone feels safe and supported, so they can bring their full selves to work, share their perspectives, and contribute to solutions that benefit the whole company.

Here, I never feel the need to “edit” myself before contributing. Our Akamai culture inspires fearlessness — we’re encouraged to show up fully, and in turn, we strive to deliver fully.

It’s easy to think of culture only in terms of performance. But at Akamai, I’ve also discovered the joy of connection.

From virtual team celebrations to cross-cultural festivals and even light-hearted Webex channels,  human moments matter. They break down silos, connect people across time zones, and remind us that we’re more than our job titles.

I’ve laughed with teammates I’ve never met in person. I’ve celebrated traditions that were new to me but meaningful to colleagues. And every time, I’ve felt more connected to the global fabric of Akamai.

Even in casual conversations, we sometimes joke about “the bots we battle by day” while celebrating our shared humanity after hours. It’s a reminder that our technical mission connects directly with our cultural one — protecting the internet while protecting one another.

Another aspect of Akamai’s culture that has shaped me is the focus on personal strengths, not just on the tasks we perform.

Here, I’m not boxed into a role description. I’m encouraged to explore what energizes me, to take on challenges that align with my strengths, and to contribute beyond the obvious. And when colleagues do the same, the result is effective teams built not on sameness, but on complementary skills.

Even in high-stakes fields like cybersecurity, where delivering a secure internet experience is core to Akamai’s mission, I’ve seen how diverse teams contribute unique perspectives that make our defenses stronger.

What makes this environment even more special is how different systems and people come together so seamlessly. Whether it’s tech integrations that power secure experiences or cross-functional collaboration that empowers people, Akamai encourages us to look beyond silos and work as one.

That’s what makes us resilient. It’s also what makes coming to work feel exciting instead of routine.

Working at Akamai means tackling some of the toughest challenges in tech: securing billions of people online, protecting mission-critical infrastructure, and accelerating the world’s digital experiences.

What inspires me is not just what we do, but how we do it: together.

Whether it’s problem-solving in cybersecurity or applying advanced bot management strategies to protect applications, the mindset is the same — collaboration, inclusion, and courage in action.

Akamai’s ability to attract diverse talent means that every problem is looked at through multiple lenses — technical, cultural, and human.

Across teams and geographies, I see colleagues who are determined, collaborative, and deeply devoted to solving problems. That devotion is amplified by inclusion because when every voice is heard, we move faster, smarter, and stronger.

I’ve experienced firsthand how a culture of belonging makes people bolder in their problem-solving.

For me, working at Akamai is more than a career milestone. It’s a lived experience of:

• Feeling safe to contribute ideas without hesitation
• Learning from colleagues whose perspectives challenge my own
• Celebrating differences that make us stronger together
• Solving difficult problems in an environment where being human is just as valuable as being brilliant

Inclusion here isn’t just about headcount diversity or policies; it’s about creating an environment where we can all bring our best selves to work and, in doing so, bring out the best in one another.

As I celebrate my journey at Akamai, I want to extend an invitation to anyone reading this: if you’re seeking a place where culture isn’t just an HR slogan but a daily reality, where diversity is a strength versus a checkbox, and where your whole self is not only welcomed but celebrated, you’ll find it here.

The proof is in our people. If you scroll through LinkedIn, you’ll often see Akamai colleagues sharing stories of inclusion, mentorship, and career development — real examples of our culture in action. At Akamai, collaboration and inspiration stretch across borders and time zones. Together, we form a collective built on connection, trust, and shared purpose.

Because the truth is that at the end of the day, Akamai is building more than technology. We’re building a workplace where belonging fuels courage, personal strengths drive performance, and humanity powers innovation. From cloud computing to content delivery and from initiatives that nurture careers to global partnerships that expand opportunities, we’re shaping the future together.

I’m proud to be part of that story.

Are you a problem-solver with a passion for innovation and tech who’s looking to join a supportive global team? Explore opportunities at Akamai.