Diversity at IBM: Many Examples Show that Information Technology is the Place to Climb

• Published in: U.S. Black engineer and information technology 1996-12, Vol.20 (4), p.22
• Format: Magazinearticle
• Language: English
• Subjects: Childs, J.T., Jr; Employees; Employment; Workforce
• ISSN: 1088-3444

As the report, "We the People @IBM" puts it, in America, "diversity is still a political issue." That's shown in the just-concluded national election, which featured a debate over affirmative action, and in the courtroom attacks on such compensatory opportunity programs. But IBM, like other industrial giants, is concerned about its own access to technical talent. With heavy competition in every area of information technology -- hardware, software and marketing techniques -- it is increasingly apparent that companies bound by outdated ideas of who can perform soon will find themselves outdated. More nimble competitors, from the Pacific Rim, Europe, even dose to home in Latin America, are striking market gold with efficient manufacturing of products designed by technical work forces which didn't even exist two decades ago. The report also includes a galaxy of stars from IBM's staff. First up was RODNEY ADKINS, 1996 Black Engineer of the Year Award winner for Professional Achievement in Industry and general manager of commercial desktop systems for IBM's Personal Systems Group. Also cited was HAROLD BAILEY, a 25-year IBM veteran who now is vice president, Lotus marketing integration. A holder of a B.S. degree in applied mathematics and an honorary Ph.D. in humane letters from Brown University, Bailey is an emeritus trustee at his alma mater, a director of Boston's Dimmock Community Center and is active in 100 Black Men of Stamford, Ct. Other stars include DIANA BING, director, resource development, personal systems group. A B.A. from SUNY-Brockport and holder of master's degrees in education and arts from Columbia University, she also chairs the business advisory council at St. Augustine's College and is a member of the board of directors of the Atlanta University Center. EARLENE COX, director of federal income tax operations, corporate headquarters, has a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Interested in "competitive tennis," she's a member of the Tax Executive Institute and a director of Union Daycare. "What I like best about business and tennis," she says, "is how both require you to be an intelligent, aggressive risk taker."