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Helping Nonprofits Have a Greater Impact on Their Mission

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2022 DEI Annual Report

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<a id="_msocom_1"></a>Corporate social responsibility as a nice-to-have is a relic of yesterday—whereas today, driving innovation through Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) can be a crucial competitive advantage for companies around the globe. This is especially true as we navigate complex, interconnected and global issues such as climate change, inequity and cybersecurity.

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VMware is proud to have had a positive environmental impact over the years through the inherent energy efficiency of our products and solutions. We recognized that we could amplify our impact even further by baking ESG into our organization and culture. That’s why we created a framework that clearly outlines our ESG strategy and goals with progress that we can measure. We call this our 2030 Agenda. 

We know that we have a long way to go to realize VMware’s vision to build a more sustainable, equitable and secure digital future for all. However, the last year showed that we are well positioned to accelerate this critical work in the coming years.  Our latest <a href="https://www.vmware.com/content/dam/digitalmarketing/vmware/en/pdf/docs/vmware-esg-report-2022.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESG Report</a> shares customer stories and actions taken on our 30 cross-functional goals embedded within the 2030 Agenda.

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Here are a few of the highlights from the past year demonstrating our progress:   

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We invite you to learn more about our <a href="http://www.vmware.com/company/esg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2030 Agenda</a> and join us as we accelerate from strategy to action to drive outcomes of sustainability, equity and trust.

We’ll also be talking about ESG and sustainable product innovations next month at <a href="https://www.vmware.com/explore/us.html?src=so_6261c4a372891&cid=7012H000001KawBQAS" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VMware Explore</a>. Learn more and <a href="https://event.vmware.com/flow/vmware/explore2022us/reg/form/contactInfo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">register</a> today.

Our 2022 ESG Report shows how VMware is accelerating into action by integrating sustainability, equity and trust into the core of our business. 

Our new ESG Report tells the story of how we’re integrating sustainability, equity and trust into the core of our business.

VMware’s 2022 ESG Report: How We’re Accelerating into Action

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VMware’s 2022 ESG Report 

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VMware’s 2022 ESG Report: How We’re Accelerating into Action  

Nicola Acutt

We're excited to announce our 2022 #ESG Report, highlighting our commitment toward creating a sustainable, equitable and secure future for all—and how we’re helping customers achieve those same goals. #VMware2030

July 26 marks the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ― an important civil rights law that works to ensure all people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. At VMware, we believe that technology plays a critical role in building a digital future that is equitable, accessible and inclusive.

For putting this commitment into action, VMware received a top score on the 2022 Disability Equality Index® (DEI) and has been recognized as a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” by Disability:IN. Of 415 participants, 335 companies scored 80 or above, with VMware earning a score of 100.

The Disability Equality Index® (DEI) is the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool for the Fortune 1000 and Am Law 200 to measure disability workplace inclusion against competitors. Now in its eighth year, the DEI exists to help businesses make a positive impact on the unemployment and underemployment of people with disabilities.

“We’re proud to be recognized for VMware’s commitment in action to create a welcoming, inclusive workplace for employees of all abilities,” said Rachel Hodgson, Global POD Leader of the Disability@VMware Power of Difference (POD) community. “We also realize that we’re still a long way from true representation, and we’re continuing to do more work to make VMware a great place to work for all, including those with disabilities. We understand creating a more inclusive workplace – and encouraging others to do the same – requires sustained effort and greater integration of accessibility into our products, services and culture.”

“Disability inclusion is a rapidly expanding aspect of corporate culture, and it’s gratifying to partner with 415 companies on the 2022 Disability Equality Index,” said Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN. “These top-scoring companies not only excel in disability inclusion, but many are also adopting emerging trends and pioneering measures that can move the disability agenda from accommodation to inclusion and ultimately, genuine belonging."

The DEI is a joint initiative between Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and is acknowledged today as the most robust disability-inclusion assessment tool in business. It measures Culture & Leadership; Enterprise-Wide Access; Employment Practices (Benefits, Recruitment, Employment, Education, Retention & Advancement, Accommodations); Community Engagement; Supplier Diversity; Non-U.S. Operations (Non-Weighted).

VMware is striving to create a welcoming and inclusive workplace for employees of all abilities. Our goal is to foster a culture where everyone feels empowered by their unique talents and to work towards advancing VMware’s dialogue and progress on disability inclusion, accommodation strategies as well as physical and technological accessibility.

VMware believes that technology will play a critical role in building an equitable, accessible, and inclusive digital future for all. Our CEO, Raghu Raghuram, has committed to building disability inclusion into VMware’s leadership agenda as we join the <a></a><a href="https://www.thevaluable500.com/member/vmware">Valuable 500</a>. We are now part of a global business collective that is igniting systemic change and unlocking the business, social and economic value of more than 1 billion people with disabilities around the world.

Through our 2030 Agenda, VMware is building a more sustainable, equitable and secure future for all by embedding Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) into everything we do, throughout our technology strategy, business model and culture.  As part of this agenda, we are redefining the workplace of the future through initiatives that include our DEI efforts. Learn more about <a href="https://www.vmware.com/company/diversity.html">DEI</a> and <a href="https://www.vmware.com/company/esg.html">ESG</a> at VMware.

This article may contain hyperlinks to non-VMware websites that are created and maintained by third parties who are solely responsible for the content on such websites.

VMware received a top score on the 2022 Disability Equality Index and has been recognized as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion.

We're proud to be named a Disability Equality Index Best Place To Work for Disability Inclusion.

VMware Earns Top Score on Disability:IN’s 2022 Disability Equality Index

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VMware Earns Top Score on 2022 DEI - VMware News and Stories

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#ThanksToTheADA for advocating people with disabilities have the same rights & opportunities as everyone else. Committed to #DisabilityInclusion, VMware is honored to receive a top score on @DisabilityIN @AAPD’s Disability Equality Index. #VMware2030

VMware announced that Vijay Pendakur has joined the company as their Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

“We’re continuing to take action toward building and maintaining an inclusive culture where every employee at our company has an opportunity to thrive,” VMware Chief People Officer Betsy Sutter said. “Vijay is an exceptional talent, and we’re very excited that he has joined VMware. With Vijay at the helm, I’m excited to accelerate progress on our culture transformation journey, while building DEI into the operating rhythm and DNA of our business.”

"I am thrilled to join the team at VMware," said Pendakur. "Working with collaborators across VMware, including the company's energized Employee Resource Groups, known as the Power of Difference (POD) community, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to scale DEI efforts globally."

Pendakur joins VMware from Zynga, where he served as their first Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. Prior to Zynga, he held several roles in the academic world, including campus-wide diversity efforts at Cornell University as the Robert W. and Elizabeth Staley Dean of Students and Presidential Advisor on Diversity and Equity. He has served in leadership roles at universities across the United States, with a consistent focus on diversity efforts and equity design strategy.

VMware is redefining the workplace of the future through initiatives that include diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As part of the company’s 2030 Agenda, VMware is committed to hiring 50 / 50 women and gender non-binary / men, and to achieving the goal of 50-percent of our managers identifying as a woman, gender non-binary, and/or from an underrepresented community by 2030.

VMware is building a more sustainable, equitable and secure future by integrating ESG goals across the company and aligning them with its core business strategy. These goals are reflected in the company’s 2030 Agenda, a decade-long ESG commitment and call to action to build a world in which its technology will make a positive impact on all its stakeholders.

Learn more about <a href="https://www.vmware.com/company/diversity.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DEI</a> and <a href="https://www.vmware.com/company/esg.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESG</a> at VMware.

We're excited to welcome our new Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Vijay Pendakur.

Please join us in welcoming Vijay Pendakur, who has joined VMware as our Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion!

Introducing VMware’s Global Head of DEI Vijay Pendakur

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Introducing VMware’s Global Head of DEI - VMware News and Stories

Please join us in welcoming Vijay Pendakur, who has joined @VMware as our Global Head of #DEI! #VMware2030

Today, every organization needs technology to manage operations and deliver services. However, due to resource constraints and systemic inequities, many social-sector organizations have not yet fully recognized (or cannot afford to embrace) the benefits of technology or the importance of <a href="https://octo.vmware.com/the-imperative-of-nonprofit-digital-transformation/">digital transformation</a>.

That’s why VMware created <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TZ86HEakg0">Good Gigs Projects</a> — an OCTO program that encourages co-innovation amongst VMware people and with the nonprofits of their choice. The program strengthens nonprofit tech capacity through what VMware calls “Tech Pro Bono Service Learning” (or just “Tech Pro Bono”). With this support, the Malala Fund team created more efficiencies around day-to-day operations, and they’re able to spend more time working toward their mission – a world where all girls can access 12 years of free, safe, quality education.

Nearly 130 million girls were out of school before the pandemic — and 20 million more may be out of school by the time this crisis is truly over. In addition to the pandemic, girls’ access to education continues to be disproportionately impacted by issues like conflict, racial discrimination or devastation from climate change and natural disasters. It doesn’t take much to expose the fragility of our support systems and the depths of global inequality. But <a href="https://malala.org/">Malala Fund</a> prefers to focus on the strength of girls around the world and their determination to learn, whatever obstacles life throws their way.

The international nonprofit team invests in local education activists ​​and advocates who are working to help girls across nine countries go to school. They also amplify the voices of young women fighting for chance and advocate for the policies and resources needed to help all girls learn. A quality education provides girls with the skills they need to thrive, more job opportunities and greater independence. Meanwhile, communities and workplaces benefit from greater diversity and fresh perspectives.

“We believe all girls are entitled to 12 years of free, safe, high-quality education,” explained Amanda Cosby, chief operating officer at Malala Fund. “Being able to react quickly is fundamental to dealing with the challenges these girls are facing, and technology is a driving force that makes that happen.”

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Malala Fund met the Good Gigs team and VMware principal partner, Insight, in 2018. They formed an alliance that demonstrates just how much impact the right technology and a little expert guidance can have.

In a sector where time is the most valuable resource, the team worked together to give every employee more time from the moment they start work. They began by helping Malala Fund better control corporate-owned-personally-enabled (COPE) devices.

“Onboarding, offboarding and device management were slow and manual. Now we can empower staff to hit the ground running with a personalized digital workspace, single sign-on and higher levels of security from day one,” added Cosby.

The fight for equality is a battle against age-old prejudices that have no place in the modern world. But not everyone is happy about it. Keeping data secure doesn’t just protect sensitive personal details; it’s vital to protect the safety of Malala Fund staff, partners and recipients and to make sure nothing derails its mission.

As for giving back more time, it’s not just Cosby banking more minutes for the operations team. Staff can pick from a catalog of 20 relevant apps without having to remember 20 unique logins every day — a headache we can all relate to.

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The Right Tools at the Right Time

With global operations, field staff in remote areas, and a turbulent global stage, agility is also a priority for Malala Fund.

“VMware Workspace ONE gives us a central console to manage devices anywhere in the world,” explained Cosby. “If a laptop is stolen, I can wipe it in seconds. And when the pandemic hit, we could make emergency funds available to scale up digital programs while classrooms were closed.”

This level of visibility wouldn’t be possible without centralized data and strong collaboration between staff and partners who run the programs. Luckily, the team already had the necessary tools to take meetings online when flights were grounded and could continue working with no downtime.

“We ask our team to be contactable at all times. Other than that, where, when and how they work is up to them. With hassle-free technology, they’re free to focus completely on what matters most: getting more girls back in the classroom,” concluded Cosby.

Nonprofit digital transformation is made possible with programs like Good Gigs. Learn how it changed Malala Fund.

With the support of Good Gigs Projects, the Malala Fund team created more efficiencies around day-to-day operations, and they’re able to spend more time working toward their mission – a world where all girls can access 12 years of free, safe, quality education.

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Nonprofit Digital Transformation: Malala Fund | VMware News & Stories

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aspeagle@vmware.com

Over the past year, VMware’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) journey has been marked by renewed purpose and real progress. We have implemented strategies that are embedded into the rhythm of the business in order to accelerate achieving our DEI goals more consistently.

Our just-releasesd <a href="https://www.vmware.com/content/dam/digitalmarketing/vmware/en/pdf/company/vmw-annual-report-2022.pdf">2022 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Report</a> details these strategies and demonstrates that at VMware, we affect progress in the world by creating it together.

I encourage you to read the full report to understand the important work that is underway at VMware to ensure DEI doesn’t remain limited to well-meaning intentions but show up as actions that each of us take to drive meaningful outcomes for communities both within and beyond VMware.

As a preview, I’m sharing some of the highlights from the report:

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The acronym, GO stands for Guided by Outcomes, and GO Hire is focused on bringing greater equity to the hiring process. Rather than hiring from a limited list of qualifications, VMware’s GO Hiring model broadens the search to include people from all walks of life whose unique talents, experiences, and skills are valued. Our interview model assesses past performance in an approach that includes <a href="https://news.vmware.com/company/vmwares-culture-built-epic2-values">EPIC2</a> strengths, expertise and motivation.

With this inclusive hiring method, VMware has not only gained 80% more applicants, but we have also doubled the number of applicants that are women and people who identify as part of an underrepresented community.

Going forward, we are expanding the GO Hiring model for all new job requisitions globally. Additionally, we’re creating a consistent job description format for a more inclusive applicant pool as well as a consistent interview format to eliminate bias and create a more positive candidate experience.  These changes are important, strategic steps to enhance our culture and strengthen our future.

Our Commitment to a Global, Distributed, and Diverse Workforce

The global pandemic dramatically changed the way we all work. Keeping the health and safety of VMware people in focus, nearly all of our employees worked remotely for the most part of 2020 and 2021.  

We recognized the virtue of this necessity: a global increase in the representation of women and people who identify as an underrepresented minority in VMware’s workforce. VMware’s population of remote employees doubled since early 2020 and now make up 1/3 of our workforce. 33% of all remote hires in Fiscal Year 2022 were women and 16% from underrepresented minorities (URM). Remote and distributed work made it easier to build gender, educational, and generational diversity.

By sourcing talent from around the world, we support our goal of building a diverse talent pool with different perspectives and experiences to shape our future. And by giving people the flexibility to choose where they work means we don’t have to grow our real-estate portfolio to match our increasing employee population. At VMware, our mindful, new ways of working are designed to have a positive impact on both our people and our planet.

A great working relationship is like a conversation where ideas and experiences are honestly exchanged. At VMware, we’re now capturing these ideas and thoughts from employees in two-way dialogues through reverse mentorship.  These valuable listening sessions for leaders occur in a 6-month program designed to develop DEI-minded leaders, create an understanding of differences and engage, retain, and grow diverse talent.

Our program is proving to be a win-win scenario.  Mentors have gained valuable access to, and insight into leadership while our mentee-leaders increased their awareness and empathy of the challenges faced by a diverse group of employees.

As our CEO, Raghu Raghuram, eloquently states in the report, “Each person is on a journey and their journeys are our story.” <a></a><a href="https://www.vmware.com/company/diversity.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Please visit our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion webpage to learn more</a>. This year, we look forward to a new chapter in our VMware story that all 38,000+ employees will create together yet also one to which each of us will uniquely contribute.

Over the past year, VMware’s DEI journey has been marked by renewed purpose and real progress. Read our DEI Report about the work underway.

Today, we are proud to share @VMware’s 2022 DEI Report, highlighting our commitments in action over the past year to equitably engage and grow our workforce to be even more representative of our customers, partners, and the communities where our people live and work. Dive into the full report.

VMware 2022 DEI Report

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Creating Meaningful Change Together - VMware News and Stories

Creating Meaningful Change Together

Rich Lang

Just released! @VMware’s 2022 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report details the critical work underway at our company to drive meaningful outcomes for communities both within and beyond VMware. Our #VMware2030 and #DEI journey is well-underway!

Every day, hundreds of women around the world lead VMware’s engagement with tens of thousands of partners. We are therefore pleased to announce that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has included 49 VMware leaders to the <a href="https://www.crn.com/rankings-and-lists/wotc2022.htm?st1=2&st2=VMware#searchresults" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2022 Women of the Channel list</a>. In addition, VMware leaders Sandy Hogan, Jeanne Newberry, and Tracy-Ann Palmer appear on the prominent Power 100 list, which honors some of the most powerful women of the channel, chosen by the CRN editorial team based on their contributions, expertise, and channel advocacy.

VMware is redefining the workplace of the future through initiatives that include diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As part of the company’s 2030 Agenda, VMware is committed to hiring 50 / 50 women and gender non-binary / men, and 50-percent of our managers identify as a woman, gender non-binary, and/or from an underrepresented community by 2030.

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The Women of the Channel list honors the accomplishments of women leaders in the IT channel. Those named on this annual list come from all corners of the IT channel — including vendors, distributors, and solution providers — whose vision, expertise and contributions make an impact on the industry every day.

“We are proud to once again recognize the remarkable leaders on this year’s Women of the Channel list. Their influence, confidence, and diligence continue to accelerate channel success significantly,” said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. “Their accomplishments will inspire others, and we look forward to witnessing their future contributions to the channel.”

The VMware leaders recognized on the 2022 Women of the Channel list are:

Learn more about <a href="https://www.vmware.com/company/esg.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESG</a> and <a href="https://www.vmware.com/company/diversity.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DEI</a> at VMware.

VMware has been recognized by Forbes in its list of America’s Best Employers for Diversity in 2022, ranking number 2 on the overall list.

We are pleased to announce that CRN has included 49 VMware leaders to the 2022 Women of the Channel list. Additionally, VMware's Sandy Hogan, Jeanne Newberry, and Tracy-Ann Palmer are part of the Power 100 list honoring some of the most powerful women of the channel, chosen by the CRN editorial team based on their contributions, expertise, and channel advocacy.

Celebrating 49 VMware @CRN Women of the Channel for 2022

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VMware on Best Employers for Diversity List - VMware News and Stories

VMware Celebrates 49 Employees Recognized on CRN’s Women of the Channel for 2022

We are pleased to announce that @CRN has included 49 VMware leaders on the 2022 Women of the Channel list.

VMware has been recognized by Forbes in its list of <a href="https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-employers-diversity/?sh=2e7ee9c56468">America’s Best Employers for Diversity</a> in 2022 for the fourth consecutive year, ranking number 2 on the overall list and was also the top ranked technology company. VMware ranked number 11 on Forbes’ list in <a href="https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-employers-diversity/?sh=5cd594386468">2021</a>.

“We’re proud to be recognized for our sustained commitment to an inclusive culture where all VMware people can belong and thrive,” said Rich Lang, senior vice president, Human Resources, and acting global head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at VMware. “Our people are the core of who we are as a company, and our EPIC2 culture is vital to our long-term success. We are keeping ourselves honest and accountable by continuing to actively seek out, listen to and incorporate the viewpoints of women employees and employees from underrepresented groups, and also integrating inclusive and equitable practices into all aspects of the VMware career journey.”

Forbes partnered with market research company Statista to survey 60,000 people working for businesses with at least 1,000 employees to determine the companies they identified as most dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion. More than 10,000 companies were reviewed, and the final list ranks the 500 employers that not only received the most recommendations, but also boast the most diverse boards and executive ranks and the most proactive diversity and inclusion initiatives.

VMware’s top ranking on this list was a result of survey participants rating their own organizations on criteria such as age, gender, ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation equality, as well as that of general diversity. Respondents belonging to underrepresented groups were also asked to nominate organizations other than their own to compile this list.

As part of this agenda, VMware is redefining the workplace of the future through initiatives that include its DEI efforts. As part of its DEI representation goals by 2030, VMware has committed to hiring 50/50 women and gender non-binary/men by 2030; and that 50-percent of its managers identify as a woman, gender non-binary, and/or from an underrepresented community.

Learn more about <a href="https://www.vmware.com/company/esg.html">ESG</a> and <a href="https://www.vmware.com/company/diversity.html">DEI</a> at VMware.

We're honored to be #2 on Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity list for our sustained commitment to an inclusive culture.

VMware Ranked Number 2 on Forbes’ List of Best Employers for Diversity 2022

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We're honored to be named #2 on @Forbes’ 2022 Best Employers for Diversity list. We're proud to be recognized for our sustained commitment to an inclusive culture where all @VMware people can belong and thrive. #VMware2030

Rose Judge, an open source developer at VMware, talks about her journey and work in the open source community at GitHub. <a href="https://via.vmw.com/RoseJudgeGitHub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read the full story here</a>.

Rose Judge, an open source developer at VMware, talks about her journey and work in the open source community at GitHub.

Rose Judge, an open source developer at VMware, talks about her journey and work in the open source community at GitHub. Read the full story here.

Challenging the Expectations of Open Source | GitHub via VMware News & Stories

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GitHub | Challenging the Expectations of Open Source - VMware News and Stories

Welcome to VMware! You have more than 27 years of experience in the telecommunications industry across mobile, wireless, fixed, satellite and cable technologies. What brought you to VMware?

I gained much of my experience while working on the operator side. I saw what it takes to run a network and understand what operators will need to deploy future networks. I want to focus the next part of my career on creating solutions for these future needs.

VMware sits at the crossroads of many emerging technologies that will shape the future of telecommunications. Multi-cloud, disaggregation, open interfaces, and automation, to name a few. We have an opportunity to create solutions that will evolve the way we build and operate networks, as well as evolve and grow how we communicate.

The telecommunications industry has not historically been known for its pace of innovation. Do you think this is changing?

It must change and it must change quickly as more agile competitors are moving in on new markets like private networks. Take hyperscalers for instance. They can innovate and implement new technology quickly because they are starting with a blank sheet of paper. And they are partnering with telcos to gain much-needed experience in how to build and operate networks. I think these are exciting times as this kind of competition will drive innovation.

While it may seem like telcos are at a disadvantage, I think they will rise to the challenge. The way we communicate is changing and they are more familiar with current and future users. It’s not just about connecting people but also about connecting things and entities that have different needs. A new type of network is needed that is agile and can grow in a modular fashion as user demands change. New use cases mean new market opportunity. Telcos know they must move fast to take advantage of new revenue streams.

In your estimation, how are 5G rollouts going?

When the industry first started talking about 5G, we focused on outcomes in three areas:

We’ve seen progress in the first pillar. But to me, faster speeds is only unleashing a small subset of new use cases. The other two pillars – uRLLC and mMTC – will enable technologies that will change society as we know it today. These are harder to move forward faster as they require more investment from operators.

Also, when we mention 5G, we should couple it with other technological evolutions happening alongside it such as virtualization, Open RAN and edge compute-enabled architectures. We have seen new operators make strides in these areas with new networks. We have also seen existing operators make very aggressive and impressive announcements about their future plans. These investments will require a monetization plan; therefore, it’s important to identify things like the edge-native killer use case.

What is your experience as a woman in the telecommunications industry?

I consider myself fortunate to have worked at many amazing companies throughout my career. I’ve gained a variety of experience that spans many technologies. But rising as a woman in this industry is challenging.

It’s great to see companies focused on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) but there is a lot of work to be done. I can’t tell you how many LinkedIn messages I receive that start with “we want to talk with you because we need more women on our leadership team.” They are missing the point. I’m not interested in helping you improve a statistic. I am interested in bringing my unique experience and lens to a team. That’s the power of DEI – bringing together a group of people who represent diverse communities and perspectives.

My hope is that the work I am doing today and the challenges I have overcome will create a more inclusive workplace for my 7-year-old daughter. For most of my career, I’ve been the only woman in the room. By the time my daughter enters the workforce, I hope she is working with a much more representative group of colleagues than what I experienced.

How would you describe your leadership style?

I try to lead with empathy. Great leaders lead from the heart and not just the head. So, while much of my work must be from the head, I often remind myself I must lead from the heart. Believing in people and diversity. Mentoring and coaching others to bring their talents and value forward for their company’s and customers’ success – as well as for their own career accomplishments.

Dream Big, then Stay Curious, Be Passionate. I’ve always loved “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish”, but believe in addition to need and openness, you must also have passion and curiosity to make the most out of life.

Mariam Sorond has joined VMware as the Chief Technology Officer of the Service Provider and Edge business unit.

Mariam Sorond has joined VMware as the Chief Technology Officer of the Service Provider and Edge business unit. Learn more about her outlook on the telco industry, her career path, and her leadership style.

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Mariam Sorond has joined @VMware as the CTO of the Service Provider and Edge business unit. Learn more about her outlook on the telco industry, her career path, and her leadership style.

Bessie Yuan, you are responsible for VMware's business in Greater China. How did your career path lead you to such wide responsibility?

I didn’t grow up with a dream to be in technology. I wanted to be in the airline industry so I could travel and see the world. But I listened to my parents who wanted me to study computer science and then I did my master’s in economics. At the time that I graduated, I didn’t come across a job opportunity in economics that made me excited, so I had to switch back to computer science. 

I started my career as a trainee at Oracle then worked for several multinational companies. Most recently, I was general manager of the Enterprise Commercial Group for Microsoft China. I think one important thing that enabled me to take my current VMware position is that all along my career path, I accessed opportunities that allowed me to gain experience through increased responsibilities.

<a href="https://www.forbeschina.com/business/%E5%95%86%E4%B8%9A/59831">Forbes China</a> recently named you as one of the Top 100 Outstanding Businesswomen in China. That’s a wonderful way to be recognized for your contribution. Would you say your success derives from some mission you have?

I don’t call it a mission, but I’m passionate about helping other women in the technology industry and beyond this industry, as well. I want to be the person who can really contribute and give back to the community. And I want to see other women succeed and emerge as leaders.

Your answer aligns to the International Women's Day global theme, “Break the Bias.” How do you knowingly or unknowingly break the bias?

I was fortunate in that I worked for companies with very good cultures that respect diversity. While I personally didn’t experience any bias, I see many opportunities across the board where there are very few or even no women leaders at senior board member levels. So that’s part of my passion―to influence the local companies and promote women leadership development. I want to support other women entering technology and in the workforce. And in my role, I see an incredible opportunity to influence our partners and customers to promote greater diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry.

Another important way I provide influence is with my own children. Your children are the closest people you can influence, and you must lead by example. I strive to be a mother my children can be proud of.

Speaking of leading by example, is there a mentor or someone in your life whom you’ve admired and has inspired you?

A lot of people have helped me, and I have learned different things from each one. As an example, I learned a lot from Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, and I am inspired by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla. Actually, so many people have inspired me and shaped who I am. I couldn’t name them all! However, I do want to mention a manager I had about 15 to 20 years ago.

This manager saw my potential. He told me that if I want to lead a company, I’d need to get more customer-facing experience in sales. At that time in my life, I thought of myself as someone that is just good at working with computers and coding. I didn’t value sales as a career path, so I didn’t want to try it. But when I did try it, I realized that sales is not the simple job that I thought it was. It’s an incredibly discerning role that requires heightened awareness and empathy for your customer. 

This is such an exciting time to be at VMware because there’s so much transformation going on. You joined the company late last year, so what motivated you to join VMware? 

Honestly, it was the role and the opportunity to lead the business in the region. When <a href="https://news.vmware.com/author/duncan-hewett">Duncan Hewett</a> (erstwhile leader for VMware in Asia Pacific and Japan) talked to me about this role, I realized I could really make things happen because I know this local market and I’ve got solid experience. I also wanted this role because of the way it has been set up. I feel that I can make a large impact and I can realize my potential.

As I shared when I was hired, I look forward to leading this incredible team to accelerate the further development of the Greater China business. I want to do that by injecting an innovative drive into the digital transformation process of more companies.

I also want to say that I’ve been hired for my potential, and this is a great practice that’s important for women. Hiring to potential enlarges the opportunities for women leaders in the corporate world. And my advice to women would be, don’t limit your imagination, even if something may be beyond your current capability. The format of an enterprise is continually changing so the relationship between an employer and an employee will evolve and perhaps become more flexible than what it is today. My general advice to women is just don’t limit your imagination or creativity.

Bessie Yuan shares her career path to Vice President and General Manager of VMware's Greater China Region.

Bessie Yuan shares her career path and passion in helping develop more women as leaders in the community.

Bessie Yuan: Leading With Influence

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Bessie Yuan: Leading with Influence- VMware News and Stories

"I want to see more women pursue their passion, and to develop and invest in themselves," Bessie Yuan, @vmware VP and GM of the Greater China Region, shares. #IWD2022

PALO ALTO, Calif. – March 11, 2022 – VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), a leading innovator in enterprise software, today announced registration is <a href="https://whova.com/portal/registration/wttce_202204">open </a>for the seventh annual Women Transforming Technology (WT2) Conference, being held from April 11-12, 2022. Everyone is invited to participate in the conference, which is now in its third year as a virtual event.

WT2 is designed to continue the important conversation on championing and advancing women across the technology industry. This year’s conference theme is “Elevate Joy” and features inspiring speakers who will share their stories, experiences and key learnings in tech, their careers and personal lives.

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