Google hires Intel’s former VP of Diversity as reports reveal overwhelmingly 'white and male' workforce

Google hires Intel’s VP with aim to increase employee diversity

 

US tech giant Google's endeavour to have a diversifed work force in all respects by making investments and initiating new projects has reaped hugh dividends but its latest diversity report shows that it still must make more efforts. While female staff now comprise 31 percent of its total employees, they comprise only 20 percent of the company's technical workforce. Furthermore, only one percent of its tech roles comprise of African American Googlers, who make up only five percent of the company's total number of employees. Although, the number of women in tech and the number of Hispanic Googlers have increased by one percent from last year's, but it's obvious that the company is still significantly white and male.

Mountain View is at least aware it must make more efforts in this domain, and that may be the reason it has employed Danielle Brown recently as its new VP of Diversity. Brown used to be Intel's VP and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer and will supervise Google's diversity and inclusion strategy. Intel isn't more diverse than the big G -- according to its 2016 report, 25.8 percent of its employees only are women and Black employees are even less (3.73 percent of population). However, Brown will provide fresh eyes, which maybe is what is required by Google to attain better results.

 

To emphasize why diversity is essential Eileen Naughton, Google's VP of operations, related the story of how Pixel's creative chief was inspired by Mexico City to design the "Really Blue" edition:

 

"For all of our communities of color, we're working to make sure our culture is rewarding and welcoming through events, town halls, employee resource groups, and ensuring fairness in the promotion process. We know this is critical to making it safe for everyone to bring their best and most innovative ideas to the table. For example, the idea for our Really Blue Pixel came from Alberto Villarreal, the phone's creative lead and industrial design manager, who derived the color from the Mexico City of his youth. The phone was released in October and sold out within minutes. Alberto is part of a vibrant community of Hispanic Googlers, whose contributions are essential to our ability to reflect the world around us, especially here at our California HQ."