Isn’t it nice when others recognize that AT&T is one the best places to work?  And when it is a prestigious publication like Fortune , you really have to pause to take it in. That’s right, Fortune named AT&T one of its “2016 Best Workplace for Diversity” and “Best Workplaces for African Americans” in a first-of-its-kind edition. 

Take one look at how we do business here at AT&T, and it’s easy to see why.

We are committed to creating a truly inclusive environment at AT&T. That commitment starts at the very top. Our Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson has led our executive team as we’ve established meaningful diversity and inclusion programs. That’s how we ensure that our workforce reflects the kind of diversity that spurs innovation.

We deploy strategic recruitment initiatives at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other multi-cultural college campuses to build a pipeline of diverse talent. Our efforts help us guide fresh talent from that first internship, to an entry-level position, and who knows? Maybe even to the CEO’s office one day.

Our human resources staff undergoes unconscious bias training so that cultural assumptions or miscommunications don’t affect their ability to secure top talent. These efforts have helped result in a workforce that boasts over 11,000 employee veterans, over 18,000 women working in STEM careers, and over 35% of management being people of color.

We welcome people of all ages, ethnicities and cultures, physical and cognitive abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and more. Why? Because not only is it the right thing to do, it’s just plain good for business.

Our commitment to diversity puts us in a unique position to address the needs of our customers no matter who they are or where they’re from.  For example, we service over 160 different languages thanks to the many languages spoken by AT&T employees, companywide. This provides a powerful way for AT&T to connect with our customers no matter their native language. 

We further support our diverse workforce through our 12 employee resource groups (ERGs). Our ERGs have 115,000 memberships. But these groups provide a unique space for employees of similar demographics and their allies to come together. They’re a place for members to discover new ways to empower themselves, the company, and their communities. And we focus on diversity of thought and workstyles. We seek ideas, opinions, and perspectives of employees of all backgrounds. That leads to incredible exercises in innovation that not only move AT&T, but the entire industry forward. Here, every voice has the power to affect the direction of our organization. That’s why we say at AT&T, Every Voice Matters™.

For more information on AT&T’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, visit www.about.att.com/sites/diversity or read our 2015 Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report

Cynt Marshall, Retired, SVP of human resources and chief diversity officer

Cynt Marshall
Cynt Marshall Retired, SVP of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer