EXPERT SPEAK
Beyond our own internal workforce , we are aiming to ensure that within the next decade , 50 % of the beneficiaries of our philanthropic programme are women , girls or those who identify as being female and underrepresented groups .
STEM skills
Encouraging women and minorities to take part in science , technology , engineering and mathematics ( STEM ) subjects to prepare them for STEM careers paves the way to a career in the technology industry . When it comes to delivering digital skills for the future workforce , Dell Technologies is rising to the challenge . Since 2014 , we have donated more than US $ 70 million to non-profits working to inspire individuals to learn , gain real skills and pursue careers in STEM .
Our Solar-Powered Learning Labs are modular classrooms made from shipping containers , fully equipped with photovoltaic panels and energy efficient workspaces – and they have brought technology education to more than 17,000 students in underserved areas in South Africa , Nigeria , Morocco , Kenya , Mexico and Colombia .
Entering the workforce without bias or exclusion
Once women have completed their STEM education , they should be able to enter
the workforce without bias or exclusion and this needs to be ensured through equitable recruitment . As women and minorities continue to enter the workforce , they are facing several barriers driven by unconscious bias . Businesses that hire for ‘ team fit ’, for instance , may think they are building a cohesive company culture , but in fact they are only making themselves less
Natasha Reuben , Head , Transformation , Dell Technologies South Africa innovative and more homogenous . From exclusionary language in job postings to culturally prescribed notions of what ‘ male ’ and ‘ female ’ positions entail , unconscious bias works in subtle ways – and it carries a heavy price tag . The Kapor Centre calculated that turnover due to unfair and unequal treatment costs businesses US $ 16 billion per year in employee replacement costs .
Once women have entered into the workforce in the technology field they should be empowered to apply their skills and grow , this can be done through mentorship and internal development programmes . Dell technologies opens doors through initiatives like Dell Career Re-Start and our Diversity Leadership Accelerator Programme that ensure women at every stage in their careers can build their tech and business acumen .
Women in leadership
Empowered women need to give back and at Dell Technologies we encourage or female leaders to mentor up-and-coming women to show them that a future in the technology industry is , indeed , possible . This brings the process full circle where those who have succeeded can help others to succeed and so it goes .
The Dell Technologies Releasing Female Potential Programme is an internal development programme designed to enhance and support the career advancement of females within the organisation . The in-house programme is tailor-made to address any specific gaps that females may have across the business . It involves mentoring , shadowing and training .
At Dell Technologies , we have a strong vision and mission to use our technology , competencies and global networks to progress toward gender equality . There is a lot of work still left to do to reach equality and we hope to be an example to all businesses to set and track similar goals . •
INTELLIGENT TECH CHANNELS
INTELLIGENT TECH CHANNELS Issue 38
55