VMware Diversity Event
14th November 2014
Early on Tuesday morning the 11th of November, VMware Cork’s Training and Development Centre was buzzing with activity as more than 200 people attended their topical event on “What is Diversity?” in association with it@Cork.
VMware strives to be a diverse employer. In 2014, VMware launched VMwomen, a company-wide initiative to increase the representation of women within the workplace. VMware CEO, Pat Gelsinger and business leaders from sites around the globe are committed to the hiring, promotion, and retention of female talent within the organization. These strategic actions build on research that shows how greater diversity results increase innovation, which in turn leads to better business outcomes.
The event was filled with a plethora of interesting presentations, a panel discussion and ended with an informative and thought provoking unconscious bias training session. Denis Collins, Chairman of the European Tech Cluster opened the event and spoke of the close ties between VMware and it@Cork and also about the importance of gender diversity in the workplace and what it means to him also in his personal life.
Mary Sullivan, VMware’s Director of EMEA Business Operations welcomed the audience on behalf of VMware with the VMware stretch which consisted of everyone getting to their feet and stretching in the shape of a V and M and a W which gave everyone a good boost and a giggle for so early in the morning. Mary also spoke of the impact that VMware has on the community with employees being given 40 hours service learning hours a year to work with charity’s that are close to their hearts in the local or wider communities. Employees in recent months have worked with several organisations such as Coderdojo, Age Action, Cork Simon and Barnardo’s to name but a few.
First presenter on the topic of diversity was David Parry Jones, VP, UK and Ireland Region at VMware. David spoke about diversity in the workplace stating, “It is about valuing variety and individual differences and creating a culture, environment and practice which respect and value differences for the benefit of society, organisations and individuals”. He also spoke of VMware’s action items for the EMEA management team and their efforts to make the company a more diverse workplace. These include proactively considering women from the current VMware talent pool for open senior roles, including at least one woman as an interviewer in the hiring process for all open roles and including at least one female candidate in the shortlist for all open positions reporting directly to a member of the EMEA management team.
Joe Hendry, VMware Senior Staffing Manager spoke on the initiatives that VMware are working on locally to achieve a more diverse workplace including the use and influence of social media. Mairéad Ní Mhurchú the principal of Scoil Mhuire in Ballincollig spoke of the development of the children who have taken part in VMware’s Coderdojo program which is now in its second term and teaches young girls the value and fun in coding and making their very own websites. 3 of the students, who have taken part in the VMware Coderdojo programme for all girls were also in attendance.
Then we moved on to a lively and thought provoking panel discussion that included Ruth Buckley from it@Cork, Micheal Loftus, CIT, Sarah Abbott, EMC and David Parry Jones VMware. The panellists spoke of what diversity means to them personally and about about successful initiatives their organisations have been involved in at primary school, secondary school or 3rd level education to encourage females into the technology sector. They also discussed talent attraction, retention and development concerning diversity in the workplace. Sarah Abbott from EMC summed it up perfectly by stating, “You can’t have collaboration without inclusion”
Closing the event was a training session on Talent, success and your unconscious mind - How unlocking the way your brain works can reduce gender bias by Angela Peacock of People Development. Angela identified how, “We should all be aware of unconscious bias in the workplace and strive to create an environment where everyone can be fantastic.”
VMware continue to strive to ensure their workplace is the most varied, dynamic and diverse place it can be for the good of their employees and their business strategy. Collaboration is key when it comes to topics such as diversity and this event held by VMware addressed some thought provoking issues, questions and ideas. Attendees left the event more impassioned and knowledgeable about the topic of diversity so we can all continue to make an active change.
Pictured: David Parry Jones, Vmware, Olivia Dunne, VMware, Sarah Abbott, EMC, Ruth Buckley, it@Cork, Michael Loftus, CIT
Return to the Archive News section