The groups include Asian Pacific Americans (APA), Black Employee Network (BEN), MyAbilities Network for employees with disabilities, OUT Network for LGBT employees, Unidos for Hispanic employees, Veterans Network (VetNet), Women’s Network, and the Young Professionals Network (YPN). “One of our great success stories came from input from an employee,” Cohen said. “A tv guide was developed internally that is designed for those with visual impairments who watch tv with speakers. It was developed by our accessibility group. It is a fantastic feature that offers them the opportunity to hear the programming menu. “The Vice President of Accessibility, who is blind came up with the concept. Having those diverse perspectives helps. We empower them to innovate and to be involved in bringing new products to market.” Prior to joining Comcast, Cohen was a Partner and Chairman of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll law firm. From 1992 to 1997, Cohen served as Chief of Staff to the Honorable Edward G. Rendell, the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, where he played a critical coordinating role in significant budgetary and financial issues, economic development activities, collective bargaining negotiations, and in a wide variety of other policy and operational issues relating to the city. A native of New York, Cohen received a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College in 1977 and a juris doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1981. He is married with two sons. His personal commitment to diversity and inclusion is more than a work strategy, but something that carries over into his personal life. When he isn’t home relaxing and enjoying leisurely reading, he is attending meetings and conferences supporting diverse organizations.
His drive comes from watching his parents who had strong commitments to community. “I love my work. I’ve got this fantastic job in corporate America. (Chairman and CEO) Brian Roberts lets me participate with organizations that are doing outstanding work. I count all those activities partially as hobbies.” Cohen is also passionate about bridging the gap in the digital divide and has written on the topic. For more than a decade, there has been a national debate about how to close the digital divide: the gap between those who are connected to high-speed Internet at home and those who are not. Because of the digital divide, millions of low-income Americans lack basic digital literacy skills that make them unqualified to fill higher-paying, 21st Century jobs. In August 2011, Comcast launched Internet Essentials, which was designed to address all three causes of the digital divide. Offered to low-income families with at least one child eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program, it offers low-cost, highspeed Internet service for $9.95 a month (with no installation or equipment rental fees), the option to purchase a heavily subsidized computer for less than $150, and digital literacy training in print, online, and in person. By the end of June 2015, more than 500,000 families signed up for the program, benefitting more than 2 million low-income Americans. “I want my legacy to show that you can mix good business and solid bottom line financial performance with real commitment to community while addressing important issues like diversity and inclusion. Great companies can have financial success, but need to be embedded in the community.” DD && B BMM AA GG AA Z IZNI N E ES PS R P IRNI N G GI SI SS U SU E E2 02 10 81 8| |WW WW WW .M .M CCC AA . C. C OO MM
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