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A Student Perspective: Diversity in the Tech Industry
Bauer Undergraduate Shares Perspective from Recent Fireside Chat with Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Published on April 16, 2021
In March, the C. T. Bauer College of Business Leadership & Engagement program hosted its first Fireside Chat with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) on Diversity in Tech.
Six HPE employees, Ale Ruteledge, Eduardo Moreno Sol, Jackie Garcie, Jordan Chapel, Tatyana Harrison and Justin Anderson, spoke to students, focusing on working in big tech, and standing out in the field as a Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) in the tech industry.
Supply Chain Management senior Amanda Ganis attended the event. Below, she provides insight into the discussion, and how the conversation on diversity and inclusion is shaping the future of business students at Bauer.
Diversity in the workplace is an important consideration for companies. As the world becomes more global, companies need to adapt to a changing customer base by recruiting talent that is reflective of those demographics.
The tech industry has a history of slower growth in diversity than other fields, but that doesn’t mean the face of the industry is not changing. Tech companies are starting initiatives to attract more diverse talent, and a larger percentage of new hires in the industry come from populations that have been historically underrepresented in tech than ever before.
I attended the Diversity in Tech Panel, where we got to hear from representatives from Juntos and Black Employee Network, two Employee Resource Groups at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). At the event, we talked about diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and how employers can promote a diverse workforce.
It was exciting to hear about all the initiatives that HPE has started to support diversity in its workforce. In addition to offering a variety of Employee Resource Groups, where employees can network with others and access professional development, HPE also recognizes events of cultural significance. The company designated Juneteenth as a company holiday in 2020 and has also hosted events for Chinese New Year and Black History Month, among others, to allow its employees to learn more about other cultures.
Diversity and inclusion are important in every workplace. A diverse workforce brings a different perspective to the team, creating opportunities for innovation that could be missed otherwise. Inclusion boosts diversity by making sure everyone’s views are heard and respected. Without inclusion, it is much more difficult to achieve a diverse perspective.
Having conversations about diversity in different industries while students are in college helps create future business leaders who have the necessary skills to work with others with different backgrounds, maximizing the benefits that diverse workplaces have to offer. The business world is only getting more diverse, so it is more important than ever that new graduates have these skills when they enter the workforce. Hosting these conversations is one of the many ways Bauer is setting students up for success in their future careers.
