THE INTERVIEW
The Human Side
of Transformation
PHOTO BY BUFF STRICKLAND
Brian Reaves, chief diversity and inclusion
officer at Dell, in conversation
with Realize, shares his thoughts on
how organizations need to rethink
their approach to diversity and inclusion, and
how technology can play a role.
You began your career in engineering.
What was your path from engineer
to Dell’s chief diversity and inclusion
officer?
The common thread is me as a human being—I
was born a diverse person. I grew up
in South Central Los Angeles in tremendously
humble beginnings; the love of my family and
education were key.
I always had a passion for math and made my
career developing software, leading teams, and
working with startups. But every step along the
way, I always looked back and said, ‘If this can
happen for me and this has changed not only
my life, my career, but also the lives of those
around me, why not others? Does it not make
sense for someone like me to authentically tell a
story about what can happen if you stay on the
right path?’ So, the concept of being inclusive
has always been important.
Then about three years ago, when I was
leading development teams at SAP and running
some diversity and inclusion programs
on the side as the head of the Black Employee
Network, I got the chance to do it more
formally for the entire company. That put
me on the radar for Dell, and the opportunity
to do this work for Michael Dell—whose
name is on the building—was just too good
to pass up.
But I still think of myself as an engineer.
I still have the same mindset of analytical
problem-solving rooted in business value to
BY ANNA-LEE MUCK
27