At Xerox, our most important asset is our people. By having a diverse workforce, we gain the benefit of different ways of looking at our business, leading to innovative breakthroughs for our customers and more engaging work for our people.
For more than 100 years, Xerox has continually redefined the workplace experience. Harnessing our leadership position in office and production print technology, we’ve expanded into software and services to sustainably power today’s workforce. From the office to industrial environments, our differentiated business solutions and financial services are designed to make every day work better for clients — no matter where that work is being done. Today, Xerox scientists and engineers are continuing our legacy of innovation with disruptive technologies in digital transformation, augmented reality, robotic process automation, additive manufacturing, Industrial Internet of Things and cleantech.
Long before it became a buzzword, promoting diversity, inclusion and belonging (DIB) in our ranks started a long time ago through the leadership of one man, our very first CEO and a true champion of equal opportunity-Joseph C. Wilson. Thanks to his vision, the Wilson Rule was established to increase the representation of women and ethnic minorities within management and professional roles.
Since then, two of our former CEOs have been women—Anne Mulcahy and Ursula Burns. 2009 saw Ursula Burns become the first Black female CEO of a Fortune 500 company. It ultimately shattered the glass ceiling and gave Black women worldwide a new voice, alongside an added inspiration to excel in corporate spaces.
Our Employee Resource Groups, more commonly known as ‘ERG’s’, play a critical role in helping Xerox advance our diversity efforts by reinforcing a company-wide culture of belonging. One of which started as early as 1989. 13 Xerox women created the Black Women’s Leadership Council to help remove barriers for Black women in the workplace. The BWLC helps facilitate the hiring, retention, promotion and development of Black women while fulfilling Xerox’s business needs in the communities where we do business. Additionally, the BWLC also hosts networking events with senior management, presents webinars and training sessions on career development, financial literacy, wellness and self-care. Today, the company has nine ERGs aligned with an executive sponsor to drive business impact and raise the profile of each group within the broader organisation.
While we have made progress, we recognise more needs to be done to improve the representation of women and the Black community as a whole. To help guide our way, we have established a new diversity, inclusion and belonging roadmap to focus on the areas where we can make the most significant impact. Building a more diverse and inclusive workforce starts with a diverse candidate pipeline. Attracting early career talent from different racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds increases our chances of filling roles at all levels, with creative and revolutionary ideas for years to come.
As we continue our DIB journey, we are committed to creating an environment where our people achieve their goals and make our clients more successful through teamwork, professionalism, respect and inclusiveness. As of January 2021, Xerox has been a proud partner of BYP Network. Through this partnership, we intend to build a diverse pipeline further and improve the representation of Black professionals within Xerox spaces and beyond.
We believe in BYP’s mission to create and uplift black leaders in the world of work, business and community. By taking steps to challenge old protocols and dismantle homogeneous systems, we too can contribute to the changing of the Black narrative and genuinely demonstrate our allyship towards the Black community.
Learn more about Xerox and the additional motivating steps they are taking to further diversity and see how you can be a part of their exciting journey here.
