Reduced Inequalities

From education to employment, healthcare to housing, transgender Americans fight daily for rights many take for granted. “Authentic Lives,” a new documentary from WQED, Pittsburgh’s PBS affiliate, highlights PNC as a company working toward equity and inclusion for the LGBTQ population.

Recently I watched the movie “Hidden Figures” for the second time, and was again impressed by the achievements of the extraordinary African- American women featured in the film. Through a combination of brilliance and determination, these women overcame seemingly insurmountable odds and enabled the success of the NASA space program. Being reminded about the contributions of these women, I wondered about the many other unrecognized men and women who might have also faced difficult circumstances and yet forged ahead, making lasting contributions in different spheres of life.

Whether as a small store in lower Manhattan or as an international company with more than 4,000 employees, Goya Foods has always kept family values at heart. In fact, the Unanue family refers to their employees, surrounding communities, customers, suppliers, and business partners as “la gran familia Goya,” or “the great Goya family,” said Bob Unanue, the company’s president and CEO.

Today Citi announced it has signed on to the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion (CEO Action), joining more than 350 CEOs and presidents committed to driving policy changes and practices in their companies that help advance equitable workplaces. This move demonstrates Citi’s commitment to increasing diversity and encouraging an open environment that enables employees to thrive and deliver the best possible results for their clients and communities.

Since the first day that I started working in corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the late 1980’s – under the wise tutelage of Reynold Levy, then president of the AT&T Foundation – I both learned and asserted that the purpose of any good corporate philanthropy or CSR program was to find the intersection between societal needs and the business interests of the company and to create real impact for both -- paying attention to a company’s various stakeholders and conducting your business in a responsible manner with an eye on the long-term value for business and society.

HP states that diversity is imperative for good business. “We invest in improving representation by minorities and women within our supply chain and encourage diversity in suppliers’ own workforces,” it said. “Just like our employees, diverse suppliers bring unique experiences and perspectives that strengthen our business, support innovation in our supply chain, and enhance local economies.”

The series brought together industry leaders, community partners, and expert panels to spark discussion of everything from equal pay and maternity leave for women in the hospitality and spirits industries to financial wellness and self-defense tactics.

Spanish coffee company Supracafé integrates women farmers into its value chain, training them in effective cultivation techniques to build their skills and increase economic independence.

I didn’t know Bloomberg wrote about that.” I often hear this response when I tell people what I cover as a reporter on Bloomberg News’ diversity and management team. This beat looks at the intersection of race, class and gender in the workplace – one that has become increasingly relevant in our political and social climate.

VMware was recently recognized in Forbes’ inaugural list of America’s Best Employers for Diversity. VMware placed #109 on the list that ranked 250 employers across all industries in the United States, based on thousands of employee surveys, employer diversity policies, and diversity in executive suites and on boards.