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Intel chose CES 2015 (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas to announce that the company is ready to invest around $300 million by 2020 to have a “full representation” of underrepresented minorities (Hispanics, blacks and other minority groups) and women within the company.
Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said in a speech at CES that “It’s not good enough to say we value diversity and then underrepresent women and minorities,” “Intel wants to lead by example.” The diversity of the company’s workforce includes more balanced representation in senior leadership positions. The plan of using the $300 million investment is about funding programs that support diversity within the larger gaming industries and technology, attracting more minorities and women for computer science and engineering positions and not only actively support, but retain the new employees. The partners Intel plans to involve to create and support the new programs regarding this initiative include the CyberSmile Foundation, the Feminist Frequency, the E-Sports League, the National Center for Women in Technology, Rainbow PUSH and the International Game Developers Association.
The manufacturer of computer chip’s ideas are about supporting more actively the domain of primary education through programs that focus on areas served inappropriately, expanding its collaborations with engineering programs and college computer science. Asian and white men are the main workforce in technology industry. Tech giant wants to get a larger workforce compiled of minority population up to 14 percent.
This can be a reaction to the criticism giant technology companies such as Google or Apple were subjected to by leaders for civil rights in the last year relating to workforce’s low diversity. Now concrete steps are to be made to support this bold statement by Intel.
There is certain recognition of available talented underrepresented groups of minorities and of talented women in the United States in the industry. Game developers and feminist critics faced serious pressure in the last months over this topic. As a result the company stated that the games business is an important one and it would provide support for bringing more women into it. Within three years Intel wants to spend its $300 million fund for improving work force diversity.
The reports released by major technology companies show 7 to 3 ratio men to women and 2 to 7 percent of blacks work in these companies. An industry that is more hospitable for underrepresented minorities and women is an ambitious goal. If the others follow Intel’s lead, it might be an achievable one.
Image Source: Time
