Ducks in a Row: Intel, $300M And Diversity
by Miki Saxon
Dozens of ugly stories in 2014 threw a spotlight on the lack of gender and color diversity and the prevalence of bigoted and frat house/misogynistic cultures in tech.
Individuals and companies are speaking out vowing to change things — talking, talking, talking.
Intel, however, isn’t talking; it’s putting its money where its mouth is.
Intel said it has established a $300 million fund to be used in the next three years to improve the diversity of the company’s work force [goal of 14%], attract more women and minorities to the technology field and make the industry more hospitable to them once they get there.
The big difference between what Intel is doing and the rest of tech is not just focusing on STEM training and recruitment, but on changing the workplace so that those who join tech will stay in tech instead of being driven out by the current culture.
Changing culture is difficult within a company, let alone within an entire industry.
Google is already working on it, while most companies are suggesting/funding issues that are external, such as education.
Hopefully, the clout and funds that Intel is bringing to the table will makes a difference.
Image credit: Intel Free Press
