DIVERSITY IN STEM
DEBBIE DIAL AT&T SVP & CONTROLLER
OPENING A PIPELINE TO FUTURE TECHNOLOGY LEADERS NEED FOR MORE DIVERSE CANDIDATES IN STEM ROLES AT&T’s Debbie Dial says technology companies have a critical need for more diverse candidates in STEM roles and there’s a demand for heightened efforts in retaining millennials in the workforce. Dial is Senior Vice President and Controller at AT&T, a communications leader with 230,000 employees and a century-long history of innovation. In a dialogue with Diversity Journal, Dial shares several of the challenges posed for tech companies and a need for talented diverse candidates: What do you consider the greatest challenge in D&I in the STEM sector? Establishing a suitable pipeline of talented diverse candidates to be future leaders. Our education system is not producing an adequate supply of STEM talent, particularly diverse candidates. This poses a significant challenge for tech companies who are dependent upon these skills and have a corporate commitment to diversity. MAXIMIZING CORPORATE VALUE Why does diversity matter in STEM? A diverse employee base in STEM produces more well-rounded
and holistic ideas, ultimately creating maximum value for a company. Diversity is essential to our culture and success. How does enhancing diversity impact long-term economic growth and global competitiveness? Our commitment to diversity and inclusion aligns with our business goals and leadership priorities in several areas: t (JWJOH VT B DPNQFUJUJWF advantage in the workplace to be a company that attracts the best talent. t 1PTJUJPOJOH VT BT B QJPOFFS BOE true leader in supplier diversity. t &OBCMJOH VT UP NFFU PVS EJWFSTF customer needs through multicultural marketing. t 3FĘFDUJOH PVS QIJMBOUISPQJD efforts in the communities we serve around the world. What’s AT&T doing unique in its D&I program? AT&T actively and aggressively recruits talent at top colleges across the country. We also regularly participate in job fairs across the country. We place a special
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emphasis on diversity and inclusion in our recruiting efforts. For example, we are increasing our recruiting at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Each year, we recruit on-site at HBCUs – searching for strong STEM students, graduates and others for internships and employment. COL BORATIVE, INNOVATIVE WORK CULTURE What are the D&I trends AT&T is seeing? Retention of top young talent is a challenge for any company. Two years ago, a study by Millennial Branding and Beyond.com showed 30 percent of companies lost 15 percent or more of their millennial workers within a year of their hiring. One of the most important qualities millennials look for in a prospective company is a collaborative work culture. That makes AT&T a perfect fit for millennials because this company thrives on employee collaboration and innovation. What’s the most important lesson you have learned in the course of your career? The importance of being open…As I reflect back on my