Diversity In Action

Hewlett Packard keeps on evolving new diversity initiatives

The company goes out of its way to make talent reviews, pipeline slots and development experiences available to its diverse employees

Hewlett Packard (HP) has a long history of commitment
to diversity, and the company continues to evolve new diversity-related initiatives.

“One thing that’s different and exciting is our focus in
the last year on integrating diversity directly in our core
talent,” says Debbie McIsaac, HP’s global diversity and inclusion director.

“Talent management is certainly one of the new strategic imperatives for companies,” she says. “I don’t think diversity was as integrated in the past as it needed to be, and in the last year we’ve made really significant progress.”

That includes annual talent reviews, succession planning, and identifying key talent to be offered development experiences. “Over the past year we’ve made very sure that our diverse talent is looked at directly in each of those processes,” she says.

Stepping up its diversity initiatives also helps HP bring in the best new talent. Patricia Flores,
a member of HP’s HR global ops group, thinks that “Any company that’s putting effort and time into diversity now is going to see a huge payoff.”

Diversity hiring on a global level, and bringing in more women in all the focus areas, are significant goals for HP. The company regularly hosts women’s leadership summits around the world. “The first was in India,” says McIsaac. “Then we did one in Costa Rica and this year it was Bulgaria.”

HP has also hosted an African American leadership summit, and plans an Hispanic summit next year. “We see these as top talent management models,” says McIsaac. “What do you build a pipeline of talent for, but to prepare the folks for larger roles?”

In terms of actual hiring, HP is currently looking for new techies including engineers, especially MEs, and IT people, says Flores. “We are looking for technical people who have some business background.” There’s also a need for software programmers and developers for HP’s growing software business.

“Another need is emerging in the supply chain area,” says McIsaac. “It’s for people who know about design and technology, and can figure out the best and most optimized supply chain.”

To encourage young people to consider technical careers, HP partners with NACME, the National Academy Foundation and Project Lead the Way to identify potential talent in high schools. “In the last five to seven years I’ve seen a lot of collaborations like these, and that really helps an employer such as HP,” says McIsaac.

D/C