Diversity In Action

ITT Corp promotes technical diversity around the world

Value center champions based in the Americas, Europe and Asia help ITT implement its inclusion and diversity strategy throughout the enterprise

ITT Corp specializes in high-tech engineering and manufacturing, in major areas of water and fluids management, global defense and security, and motion and flow control. Its worldwide diversity efforts are managed through value-center champions.

“This network is responsible for coordinating inclusion and diversity strategy throughout the enterprise,” explains Robert L. Ellis, chief inclusion and diversity officer. “We have champions based in the Americas, Europe and Asia.”

Within a global corporation, says Ellis, diversity issues go beyond gender and ethnicity. When ITT considers diversity it includes life experience, educational background, and the part of the world the individual is from. The value-center champions located worldwide help ITT to better implement its inclusion strategy globally.

In the inclusion and diversity function, Ellis notes, “Our focus is on empowering inclusive and diverse leaders, and providing leadership and talent management throughout the enterprise.”

ITT looks for input on diversity strategies from everyone. All employees are asked for their opinions on diversity-related topics, and execs are asked to come up with ideas on how to bring diverse talent into management positions. But Ellis realizes that specific countries will have their own diversity issues to address.

“Concerns specific to the U.S., for example, include issues of representation for women at senior levels, and for people of color with respect to where they are in the organization and what it takes to get to senior-level opportunities,” Ellis says. In Asia, on the other hand, the company is seeing issues involving religion and generational differences.

“If you think beyond salary, what can an organization offer diverse talent that will not only bring it to the company but keep it here?” Ellis asks. The answer, he says, is opportunity. “This is why ITT has really focused on living its values with our value-based leadership development program. The program facilitates the growth and promotion of qualified talented employees around the company.”

Other programs are available, too, including opportunities for educational advancement and technical certification. “We have something for everyone here,” Ellis says.

ITT also offers flexible work arrangements, encouraging employees to work in virtual teams and use technology to its full extent.

To recruit new U.S. talent for the company, ITT goes to major career fairs targeting women and minorities: NSBE, SWE, SHPE and the like. Some 20 percent of each year’s new hires come directly from college, the rest are experienced techies. Right now the company is actively hiring MEs, EEs and metallurgical engineers.

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