True diversity and inclusion is hard, especially in high tech. That’s why a number of companies, despite making a commitment to do better in this area, find their numbers aren’t moving. It’s one thing to promise to do better; it’s another thing for a company to set specific, measurable goals and publicly commit to them so they can be held accountable. Dell Technologies chose to do the latter. As part of their Progress Made Real campaign, they set an ambitious goal that by 2030, 50% of their global workforce and 40% of their global people leaders, will be those who identify as women. Beyond that, in order to help provide equal opportunities to women outside of the company, each year through 2030, 50% of the people empowered by Dell’s social and education initiatives will be girls, women or underrepresented groups.
Dell believes that access to technology can help people reach their full potential. Through their social and education initiatives, they seek to empower those who identify as women and underrepresented minorities, as well as socioeconomically disadvantaged people. So, it is worth looking at the programs they’ve put in place to deliver on this specific goal.
The Dell Technologies ReStart Program empowers those returning to the workplace
Dell is committed to helping experienced talent rejoin the workforce with their ReStart program. The fact is that women leave the technology industry at a 45 percent higher rate than men. Through the Dell Career ReStart program, they offer professionals a smooth transition to working at Dell Technologies after they’ve left the workforce for a year or more. Dell understands that regardless of why women leave the workforce, it is often hard for them to return.
ReStart breaks down the barriers these women face by bringing them into a supportive, structured program that is designed to accelerate their transition back into the workforce.
For example, ReStart helps women identify the transferable skills they’ve developed while away. Managing the demands of raising children takes patience, project management and teamwork. It connects women with mentors who help them leverage these transferrable skills so they can better navigate the return to the corporate world. To date, the program has seen primarily female applicants, however it is open to anyone who has left the workforce for an extended period.
The Align Program: Helping non-IT professionals make the switch
Dell’s Align program focuses on serving women and underrepresented minorities from non-IT fields who are pursuing master’s degrees in computer science. Additionally, it exposes students to technology early on with hope that they’ll choose a career in tech. The Align program also helps non-techies make the switch through a re-skilling program in partnership with Northeastern University. Career changes are common in today’s dynamic workplace and Dell is motivated to help more professionals pivot their careers to tech.
The program also offers bridge classes and intensive coursework, so that those with any undergraduate degree can earn a master’s degree in computer science in two years. What Dell is most proud of with Align, is that it empowers people to pivot to in-demand careers. More than that, it brings all the participating companies (like Dell) the diverse talent they’re seeking. Dell Technologies, Facebook and Wayfair are just a few of the partners already part of this program.
Project Immersion is making a difference for underrepresented groups
Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino employees are still vastly underrepresented in tech jobs. Through Project Immersion, Dell aspires to change the narrative of diversity in tech by equipping diverse students with the technical and professional skills needed to succeed in the digital future.
Project Immersion, an initiative from Dell Technologies' Office of Diversity & Inclusion, seeks to deepen academic corporate partnerships with minority-serving institutions (MSIs), including historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs). This program exposes underrepresented students to emerging technologies and other important topics of interest to empower diverse talent with the STEM skills and knowledge to succeed in the future.
It has become increasingly clear to Dell Technologies that a broad array of diverse voices at the table is the best way to accelerate digital technology advancement. And they believe that true innovation is built by an all-inclusive workforce.
Learn more about the ReStart program and the other programs that Dell is providing to assist women, underrepresented minorities, and the socioeconomically disadvantaged in making a difference.
