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Empathy: The New Nonnegotiable Leadership Trait

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Careers aren’t just about work. Fulfilling jobs should also offer employees personal and professional development, a support network, and a sense of belonging. That’s why Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), also known as affinity groups, play an important part in many organizations.

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ERGs also provide many benefits, from recruitment to retention and education. These employee communities are a critical resource to inform what is and is not working.

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Every ERG is different. At VMware, we celebrate our people from a wide variety of dynamic backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Collectively, we refer to our ERGs as Power of Difference communities or PODs.

Through these groups, we encourage everyone to <a href="https://www.vmware.com/company/diversity.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bring their authentic selves to work</a>. We understand that making VMware more diverse, equitable and inclusive for our employees, customers and communities is fundamental to who we are. We also believe it’s essential to our success.

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<strong>Power of Difference Communities</strong>

VMware’s PODs are the employee-powered engines that fuel our DEI efforts. Seven global demographic PODs strengthen networks for women and underrepresented groups. These groups are open to anyone in the company and designed to help participants grow as leaders, engage with other communities, and drive business impact.

Here's a quick look at our POD communities and what they’re doing to effect change.

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<em>Increasing broader Asian representation and inclusion in tech, creating an environment where all Asians can thrive</em>.

<em>Envisioning a time and place where DEI becomes innate to all that we do</em>.

The Black@VMware business resource group supports the transformation of VMware's people practices and processes, ensuring that diversity and inclusion is applied to each and every aspect.

<em>Striving to create a welcoming and inclusive workplace for employees of all abilities.</em>

The Disability@VMware POD’s 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, and physical and technological accessibility. 

<em>Strengthening VMware’s inclusive culture and enhancing its business impact by elevating the Latino community’s representation and leadership</em>.

<em>Providing a safe and inclusive environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer employees and our Allies (LGBTQA) to advocate for equal rights and respect for everyone at VMware</em>.

<em>Working with VMware leadership and the broader employee community to grow our outreach to veterans, provide leaders with resources to better leverage the unique skills that veterans can bring to teams, and create opportunities for the advancement of veterans within VMware.</em>

<em>Envisioning a VMware where all women are connected, empowered, safe, heard, recognized, and that we belong</em>. <em>We attract the best female talent who drive innovation, challenge the norms, and thrive in our ecosystem. Women are recognized and celebrated by the VMware community, because we are all champions for equality.</em>

VMware’s Culture Is Built on EPIC2 Values

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Explore VMware's Power of Difference (POD) communities and the company's commitment to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion.

Real Change, Powered by Human Difference | VMware Stories

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<p><b><i>Our commitment to igniting systemic change and driving disability inclusion of more than a billion people with disabilities globally.</i></b></p>
<p>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 href="https://www.thevaluable500.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" name="&#038;lpos=content_company : 255">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.</p>
<p><a href="https://youtu.be/zP-x-kGrvvk" target="_blank" rel="noopener" name="&#038;lpos=content_company : 256">Watch the video message from our CEO</a>. </p>
<p>From ensuring the technology we develop is accessible for all to empowering our employees through accessible, inclusive and innovative engagement and wellbeing programs, our company remains committed to driving meaningful impact on disability, wellness and neurodiversity inclusion.</p>
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Our commitment to igniting systemic change and driving disability inclusion of more than a billion people.

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June is Pride Month, which is celebrated annually to honor the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City. “The Stonewall Riots served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world,” <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/gay-rights/the-stonewall-riots">reports History.com</a>. This year is a particularly good time to pause and reflect on how communities can drive real change—inside companies and around the world. We recently spoke with Shanis Windland, vice president of <a href="https://www.vmware.com/company/diversity.html">Diversity, Equity and Inclusion</a> (DEI) at VMware, to get her perspective and insights on building companies where we all want to work.

How has your career journey evolved to focus exclusively on DEI?

<strong>Shanis</strong>: I began my career as a certified public accountant. Eventually, I managed large accounting teams before moving to a broader role running all of the finance for a gaming startup. In my last role, CFO at Heptio (now part of VMware), finance, HR, recruiting and other teams were in my purview. As employee number four at Heptio, I helped build the company and culture from the very beginning. That’s really my passion, building both companies and cultures.

At VMware, I’m focused on building diversity, equity and inclusion into the company’s fabric and ensuring our business-led strategy is embedded in every decision that the organization makes. For me, it’s an opportunity.

Inclusion and diversity are so often spoken about together. What’s the difference?

<strong>Shanis: </strong>Diversity is who we are, and inclusion is all about our actions and behaviors.

So, diversity includes all the different dimensions of your company population, while inclusion encompasses:

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It’s important to note that you can’t have a culture of inclusion without equity. We must first ensure fairness and equal opportunity before we can be truly inclusive.

When and how did you first discover that DEI especially requires leadership to lean in?

<strong>Shanis:</strong> I’ve spent my career working in technology companies, mostly startups. Often, I used to be the only woman in the room or at the table. As I grew in my career, I realized that wasn’t acceptable to me. I started to step up, speak out and become a sponsor for others in the same position, including underrepresented groups. My job as a leader is to bring new and different people to the table and to the room. I came to realize that when I gained experience and influence, my job was to use it to help others.

How does a company go about building or changing its workplace culture to embed DEI into the business?

<strong>Shanis:</strong> You have to be all-in when it comes to culture, and you have to be intentional about what kind of environment you want to create. Your leadership and your employees have to agree on what makes the culture special, and you have to promote those ideas.

<strong>For example, making sure employees and partners know:</strong>

Being intentional and being firm about what is and isn’t acceptable (and sticking to that) are important pieces of building a great culture.

<strong>Shanis:</strong> It’s about the business case. Employees bring different viewpoints, backgrounds and experiences to a company. They then challenge each other to build better products and a better place to work. When we actually represent the world around us in our workplaces, we’re going to build what the world needs and not just what I need or what you need. It’s a business imperative in competitive marketplaces to be our best and do our best work.

It is also about retaining the best and broadest possible pool of talent. Organizations cannot retain this talent without building a place where all employees can actually see themselves succeeding.

At VMware, we truly believe in the power of human difference. In building a company culture where everyone feels they belong, we know this will help propel VMware into the future. And to ensure we’re all held accountable for attaining our DEI goals, we built them right into our <a href="https://www.vmware.com/2030agenda.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2030 Agenda</a>. By 2030, we’ve committed to several mission-critical DEI goals, including:

<h2>What is your advice for organizations that want to drive real progress on DEI initiatives?</h2>
<p><strong>Shanis</strong>: Executives and managers need to have a personal commitment to make it successful. Employees know when management is truly bought in and when they aren’t, so that authentic commitment is really important. Having humble executives who listen, build trust and truly share their authentic stories goes a long way.</p>
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<p><strong>&#8220;Companies invested in transforming the future will be great at business and great at bringing out the best in people.&#8221;</strong></p>
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<p>Employees want to integrate work and play. They want to feel connected, to feel like life inside and outside of work matters. They bring something unique to conversations. When an executive or manager isn’t authentic, the people working for that person aren’t going to believe the company cares—even if you have a diversity, equity and inclusion program. My view is that companies invested in transforming the future will be both great at business and great at bringing out the best in people.</p>
<h2>Do you think there’s an ideal culture where everyone wants to work?</h2>
<p><strong>Shanis</strong>: No, there isn’t one ideal culture. In fact, some employees will experience their company differently from others. A shared purpose, a shared vision and a set of values that everyone ascribes to is important. But other than that, each person brings their own unique perspective, which fundamentally helps shape the culture.</p>
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<h4>For me, these are the basic building blocks of great culture:</h4>
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<li><strong>Value diversity.</strong> People from different backgrounds with different experiences bring different perspectives. Their perspectives challenge current approaches, which helps build better companies.</li>
<li><strong>Practice transparency.</strong> Share information where possible (e.g., financial and product roadmaps). Employees not only deserve to know where time and money is spent, they also gain context to make better day-to-day work decisions.</li>
<li><strong>Hire employees with values, skills and growth potential.</strong> Shared purpose and vision are more important business characteristics than a homogenous team.</li>
<li><strong>Listen and value input enough to make a change.</strong> Talent that gives and receives honest feedback is important. So is being humble enough to embrace change based on input.</li>
<li><strong>Recognize people who contribute to the future.</strong> Companies that focus on providing growth opportunities and promoting from within build stronger cultures.</li>
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<p>I also believe that building a great culture means we need employees who are willing to give their input. At some point, they have to decide, “This is a company I want to be a part of.” Second, “This is a workplace I care enough to influence.” Then, all employees have to be brave about bringing what they believe are best practices and help put them into place.</p>
<p>Everyone benefits when you build the place you want to work.</p>


Shanis Windland

Diversity and Inclusion leader Shanis Windland shares her advice for building a company culture of equity and innovation.

How does a company go about building or changing its culture? We spoke to VP of DEI at VMware to learn how!

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Building a Place Where We All Want to Work: Diversity & Inclusion

<p>Empathy became somewhat of a buzzword in recent years. But 2020 demonstrated empathy’s timeless relevance in both our personal lives and the business world.</p>
<p>Last year, most of us became remote workers practically overnight. And for many, this meant juggling our families and back-to-back online meetings. For others, it meant near-constant solitude for long periods of time.</p>
<p>“One of the things I think people have not been speaking enough about is that concept of empathy,” said technology industry analyst Maribel Lopez in a podcast. “We see that people are starting to focus on employee wellness, as an example, whether that’s posting educational programs, whether it’s mandating ‘no work’ days or reconfiguring schedules and physical workspaces so that people feel safe and they can practice social distancing. So, I think this concept of empathy for what your employees are dealing with right now, that’s something we need to focus more on.”</p>
<p>Wherever we are on the spectrum of surrounded to lonely, we all have one thing in common: We need empathy from our managers, teams and leaders to make it work. To dive deeper, I spoke with several executives at VMware to learn how effective leaders use empathy to drive impact and employee value.</p>
<h2>A Nonnegotiable Leadership Trait</h2>
<p>As both business leaders and everyday people, practicing empathy is nonnegotiable. In fact, “it&#8217;s a requirement to be a part of our community,” said Betsy Sutter, executive vice president and chief people officer, VMware.</p>
<p>Sutter believes leaders can’t meet the needs of customers and employees without deeply understanding them first. And businesses won’t attract or retain the best talent without empathetic leaders. Yet, feeling, expressing and practicing empathy effectively doesn’t come naturally to us all. This is especially true when business demands seem to get in the way.</p>
<p>“I wasn’t always good at it,” said Sanjay Uppal, senior vice president and general manager, VMware. “I had a lot to learn and am still learning.”</p>
<p>Indeed, Sutter and Uppal pointed to times they were under too much pressure to be as empathetic as they should have been. Now, both believe empathy must be developed like any other leadership trait.</p>
<h2>Empathy Begins with Listening</h2>
<p>Problem solving is a tempting approach when a loved one, colleague or employee reaches out for support. However, problem solving often leaves the person on the other side of the conversation feeling unheard and dismissed. Instead of trying to solve the problem, leaders advise acknowledging its difficulty, asking questions and expressing support.</p>
<p>VMware President Sumit Dhawan shared a story about making a difficult decision that had a significant impact on his team. Dhawan focused on the logic behind the decision and the many benefits associated with it—to no avail. The team wasn’t convinced.</p>
<p>“I should have made more of an effort to really understand why they were so hesitant,” Dhawan reflected.</p>
<p>Dhawan’s situation in that moment was one we can all relate to: Frequently feeling too rushed, too stressed or too familiar to keep empathy top of mind. And this leads to mistakes both in the leader-employee relationship and for the business. According to Dhawan, leaders tend to consciously lead with empathy less and less as the relationship progresses, or in other words, take someone for granted.</p>
<p>“It’s easier to make assumptions when you know someone well, so it’s important to stay aware of the work it takes to continually empathize,” said Dhawan.</p>
<p>Another VMware leader, Fidelma Russo, asks open-ended questions to demonstrate that all ideas are welcome. She also taps on more outspoken employees to “break through politeness” in meetings. This enables colleagues to share how they really feel. It also builds a shared team understanding of acceptable behavior.</p>
<p>“You have to call people out when they’re being disrespectful or dismissive of norms,” said Russo.</p>
<h2>Putting in the Hard Work</h2>
<p>Empathy is not all feel-good, heartfelt conversation.</p>
<p>In Harvard Business Review’s <a href="https://hbr.org/2019/02/how-leaders-can-open-up-to-their-teams-without-oversharing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How Leaders Can Open Up to Their Teams Without Oversharing</a>, Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy wrote, “We tend to assume that leaders are marketing to us. If a leader never shows emotion, that conviction only becomes stronger.”</p>
<p>Practicing empathy also requires candor, accountability and hard work—especially during such a difficult time as 2020. Challenges did not disappear with the new year—and will not for quite some time. In these unprecedented times, how we show up is more important than ever.</p>
<p>“You have to go there,” said Sutter, referencing the difficult conversations many leaders are now fielding around the pandemic, racial injustice and more.</p>
<p>Teams look to leaders for support, guidance and inspiration. Yet, they also need to understand what leaders value and how they expect individuals to behave. By leading with empathy, leaders cultivate a team culture of trust and connection, empowering people to perform at their best.</p>


VMware Staff

Practicing empathy is a nonnegotiable leadership trait, especially in light of the pandemic, civil unrest and more.

Empathy: Leadership in the New Normal Demands a Human Touch

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<p>This Women’s History Month, everyone is invited to choose to challenge gender bias and inequality, committing to celebrating and supporting women. In answer to the call, the Women@VMware <a href="https://www.vmware.com/company/diversity.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" name="&#038;lpos=content_7-leaders-womens-history-month : 313">Power of Difference</a> (POD) group and VMinclusion planned a wide range of Women’s History Month celebrations at VMware. Opportunities abound to learn about, support and propel the company&#8217;s <a href="https://www.vmware.com/2030agenda.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" name="&#038;lpos=content_7-leaders-womens-history-month : 313">2030 Agenda</a>: building a future that is accessible, unbiased and inclusive for all.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s how seven VMware leaders choose to challenge gender inequities and help accelerate awareness and change.</p>
<h5>1. Amy Fliegelman Olli Supports Televerde Foundation</h5>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-amy-fliegelman-olli.jpg?w=1024" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-amy-fliegelman-olli.jpg 1400w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-amy-fliegelman-olli.jpg?resize=300,86 300w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-amy-fliegelman-olli.jpg?resize=768,219 768w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-amy-fliegelman-olli.jpg?resize=1024,293 1024w" alt="" width="1024" height="293" /></p>
<p><i>Amy Fliegelman Olli, executive vice president and general counsel, said:</i></p>
<p>“I choose to challenge bias and stereotype by acting on the board of directors of <a href="https://televerdefoundation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Televerde Foundation</a>. This company hires incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women, empowers them to find their voice and purpose, and provides support and stability as they transition back to society. For women who are or have been incarcerated, the obstacles to re-engaging in the workforce, achieving independence and reaching their full potential are extraordinary.</p>
<p>“As the first in my family to go to college, I recognize how fortunate I was to have people in my life who supported my dreams. I would like to have a similar impact. I believe that by supporting one another’s goals and dreams, and respecting and valuing every individual, together we can build a more just and equitable world.”</p>
<h5>2. Carol Carpenter Sponsors Women@VMware</h5>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-carol-carpenter.jpg?w=1024" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-carol-carpenter.jpg 1400w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-carol-carpenter.jpg?resize=300,86 300w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-carol-carpenter.jpg?resize=768,219 768w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-carol-carpenter.jpg?resize=1024,293 1024w" alt="" width="1024" height="293" /></p>
<p><i>Carol Carpenter, chief marketing officer, said:</i></p>
<p>“I’m fortunate to have had women mentors in my life who have given me advice and guidance throughout my career. I value their smart and sensible perspective and their willingness to choose to challenge the status quo. And that’s why I am thrilled to be one of the executive sponsors of the Women@VMware POD group, so I may be able to pass some of my own experience on to other women eagerly plotting their careers.”  </p>
<h5>3. Joan Stone Advocates for Equitable Representation</h5>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-joan-stone.jpg?w=1024" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-joan-stone.jpg 1400w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-joan-stone.jpg?resize=300,86 300w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-joan-stone.jpg?resize=768,219 768w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-joan-stone.jpg?resize=1024,293 1024w" alt="" width="1024" height="293" /></p>
<p><i>Joan Stone, chief communications officer, said:</i></p>
<p>“Working as a communicator has shown me time and again how challenging it can be for many—and particularly for women—to find their voice and a clear space where they can be heard. I am passionate about helping young women and girls understand the power of their opinions. I choose to challenge by advocating for equitable representation of opinions, ideas and experiences in everything we do. At the very core, this is about listening carefully and respectfully to all. I am encouraged to be part of a company that values diversity of thought and works to recognize listening as a critical part of making change happen.”</p>
<h5>4. Kathy Chou Leads WWSSO to Exceed DEI Goals</h5>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-kathy-chou.jpg?w=1024" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-kathy-chou.jpg 1400w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-kathy-chou.jpg?resize=300,86 300w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-kathy-chou.jpg?resize=768,219 768w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-kathy-chou.jpg?resize=1024,293 1024w" alt="" width="1024" height="293" /></p>
<p><i>Kathy Chou, senior vice president of worldwide sales strategy and operations (WWSSO), said:</i></p>
<p>“Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is something I passionately embrace and think about in everything I do in my role  at VMware. I feel fortunate to work for a company that makes DEI a priority, and I’m proud of the fact that WWSSO continually exceeds the goals that we set in terms of hiring and promoting diverse talent. Women’s History Month is a great time to remember that everyone brings a unique voice and perspective and ensuring all those voices are heard leads to better decisions, a smarter workforce and a more powerful organization.”   </p>
<h5>5. Paula Hodgins Embraces Ambition</h5>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-paula-hodgins.jpg?w=1024" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-paula-hodgins.jpg 1400w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-paula-hodgins.jpg?resize=300,86 300w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-paula-hodgins.jpg?resize=768,219 768w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-paula-hodgins.jpg?resize=1024,293 1024w" alt="" width="1024" height="293" /></p>
<p><i>Paula Hodgins, senior vice president of worldwide global accounts and telco, said:</i></p>
<p>“As I watched my mother raise three children—and work full-time as a teacher while getting her university degree at night—I learned a valuable lesson about the importance of women embracing ambition. My mother was ambitious for her family, because she wanted to provide us with a good life. She was ambitious for herself because she wanted to achieve more. </p>
<p>&#8220;So often, the concept of ‘ambition’ is perceived negatively when it is associated with women, but I learned through watching her to embrace my ambition. My ambition has been a big source of fuel when others didn’t believe in me or see my potential. Be ambitious and dream big. You never know what you can accomplish.”</p>
<h5>6. Sandy Hogan Honors Women Who Change the World</h5>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-sandy-hogan.jpg?w=1024" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-sandy-hogan.jpg 1400w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-sandy-hogan.jpg?resize=300,86 300w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-sandy-hogan.jpg?resize=768,219 768w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-sandy-hogan.jpg?resize=1024,293 1024w" alt="" width="1024" height="293" /></p>
<p><i>Sandy Hogan, senior vice president of worldwide commercial and partner sales, said:</i></p>
<p>“For me, International Women’s Day is much more than a day. It’s weeks, months and years. It’s generations of women who broke down barriers to gender equality. It’s recognizing the amazing accomplishments of the women who came before us. It’s recognizing the women from diverse experiences, who every day are changing the world with their courage and kindness. I look to these women—my family, friends, colleagues and women from all walks of life—and am inspired to act, to shape an inclusive world. This day is a unique opportunity to renew that commitment and honor them with the power of our collective voices.”</p>
<h5>7. Betsy Sutter Commits to Gender Equality in the Workplace</h5>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-betsy-sutter.jpg?w=1024" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-betsy-sutter.jpg 1400w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-betsy-sutter.jpg?resize=300,86 300w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-betsy-sutter.jpg?resize=768,219 768w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/womens-history-month-betsy-sutter.jpg?resize=1024,293 1024w" alt="" width="1024" height="293" /></p>
<p><i>Betsy Sutter, executive vice president and chief people officer, said:</i></p>
<p>“The pandemic has allowed us to think about designing a radically diverse workforce. This is one where all women feel included, and they have full permission to make decisions that are right for them. This workforce of the future is better equipped to be creative and solve complex problems. I am committed to achieving gender equality in the workplace by making inclusion a competitive advantage for our company.”</p>
<h5>How Do You #ChooseToChallenge?</h5>
<p>When did you dare to challenge the status quo? Share your story or the story of someone you admire with a selfie of your hand up high.  </p>


In honor of Women's History Month, our leaders share how they're helping accelerate awareness and change.

How 7 VMware Leaders #ChoosetoChallenge

Women&#8217;s History Month: How 7 VMware Leaders Choose to Challenge

<p>Choose to challenge is this year’s <a href="https://www.internationalwomensday.com/theme">International Women’s Day</a> theme. Women in the technology industry have been doing this for decades. Today, in this highlight reel of stories, we celebrate the exceptional difference women make to tech, business and our world.</p>


<p>Arizona Federal Credit Union executive vice president and CIO Amy Hysell is curious, determined and dedicated. She used her knowledge of the business, experience serving people and leadership skills to overcome cultural bias and build the 'best IT shop in the nation.'</p>

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<p>The race to attract and retain tech talent is tight. And companies everywhere are increasingly looking at returnship to fill open positions. Return-to-work programs for women may prove even more valuable as countries emerge to full-work participation in the new normal.</p>

<p>Like technology, art is a catalyst for change.</p>

<p>Together, art and technology help people make a deeper connection and take immediate action in specific ways. The work of artist <a href="https://sougwen.com/">Sougwen Chung</a> and Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist <a href="http://www.reneecbyer.com/">Renée C. Byer</a> do just that.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Pop Culture Tech Podcast 1.4: Art Meets Tech" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kePQYCdsY28?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>


<p>Lady Mariéme Jamme is on a mission to close the global education gap and build a generation of 1 million women and girl coders by 2030. </p>

<p>Jamme is all-in on STEAMD (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics and design) education. She is the founder of iamtheCODE, the first African-led global movement to mobilize governments, the private sector, philanthropic foundations, investors and civil society to advance STEAMD education. Her mission is to drive sustainable development for women and girls in marginalized communities.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="The Luminaries Series: Lady Mariéme Jamme, iamtheCODE Founder" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2GkzDd55jL0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>


<p>Innovation at a charity can never be for innovation’s sake. No one knows this better than Ursula Dolton, chief technology officer at the British Heart Foundation (BHF). </p>

<p>Under her guidance, the charity navigated the many challenges brought about by the coronavirus outbreak. Like so many organizations, a combination of strong leadership and technology was key to its successful response.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-22393" src="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/BFHCTO_FACEBOOK_1200x628.png" alt="" width="1200" height="628" srcset="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/BFHCTO_FACEBOOK_1200x628.png 1200w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/BFHCTO_FACEBOOK_1200x628.png?resize=300,157 300w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/BFHCTO_FACEBOOK_1200x628.png?resize=768,402 768w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/BFHCTO_FACEBOOK_1200x628.png?resize=1024,536 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>


<p>IT security professionals were used to going it alone in protecting business data. That changed quickly when the pandemic hit worldwide. Now, executive leaders like Aparna Bawa, Zoom’s COO, are in the trenches with IT security teams to ensure secure operations and intrinsic security.</p>

<p>From viral charitable campaigns to volunteerism and service learning, this Pop Culture Tech podcast episode explores how tech-for-good fuels our spirit of giving.</p>

<p>Tech innovations fuel charitable moments and real-world missions. Behind the scenes, organizations like <a href="https://taprootfoundation.org/">Taproot Foundation</a> infuse hundreds of millions of dollars worth of pro bono support directly into the nonprofit sector. And Lindsay Firestone Gruber, the Foundation’s president and CEO, is leading the charge.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Pop Culture Tech Podcast 1.5: The Spirit of Giving" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rBYgwyYGkI4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>


<p>Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) vice president Hsueh-Lan Wu believes, “Using technology to serve people must be the common goal we share with our partners. And we hope to work hard to achieve this goal together.”</p>

<p>Even as Taiwan’s SMEs become less reserved about digital transformation, expertise from bigger players is key. And how better to demonstrate the process of digital transformation than to do it yourself?</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Chunghwa Telecom Supporting Taiwan&#039;s Rapid Pandemic Response" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fNmmdmjgXeU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>


<p>Recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on African trade and investment, Rosa Whitaker is a passionate champion for creating enterprise solutions to address poverty and promote prosperity across Africa. While much remains to be done across Africa, technology is helping to close the education, economic and healthcare gaps.</p>

<p>As the pandemic evolves, employers carefully consider how and when to return workforces to offices worldwide. In the meantime, employees continue adjusting to the new opportunities and challenges of remote work.</p>

<p>When organizations are unsure how to take the next step, they look to experts. Two—<a href="https://news.vmware.com/-author/susan-insley/">Susan Insley</a>, vice president of human resources at VMware, and <a href="https://news.vmware.com/-author/laurel-farrer/">Laurel Farrer</a>, a leading remote work strategist and chief executive officer of Distribute Consulting—discussed their top five barriers to remote work success.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="What&#039;s Your Biggest Barrier for Remote Work Success?" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b-ULib-m7A0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>


Agents of change. Luminaries. CIOs. These are just a few of the women in technology we're celebrating this International Women's Day.

Celebrating this International Women's Day with powerful stories of women in technology and agents of change.

Women in Technology Accept the Challenge

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Women in Technology Accept the Challenge - VMware News and Stories

Celebrating #InternationalWomensDay with powerful stories of #womenintech and agents of change.

As a global innovation leader, the high-tech industry transformed how we:

Unfortunately, the percentage of Black professionals in tech management positions remains in the low single digits.

According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) <a href="https://www.eeoc.gov/special-report/diversity-high-tech">Diversity in High Tech Report</a>, African Americans make up less than 5% of the technology industry’s workforce in Silicon Valley. And the percentage of African Americans that occupy executive positions in the industry may be as low as 1%.

In a concerted effort to shine a light on Black talent in upper management, the Black@VMware employee resource group (ERG) highlighted 10 tech professionals within the company in a two-part panel series.

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<h2>Bridging the Leadership Representation Gap</h2>
<p>Research shows that <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/black-women-most-educated-group-us-4048763">Black women are among the most educated demographics in America</a>. Yet despite graduation rates in high percentages, the deck is stacked against Black Women in the tech space. More specifically, Black women in senior management roles looking to advance their careers.</p>
<p>The EEOC requires companies to define executives as people within two reporting levels of the chief executive. Of the 25% of women working in tech, Black women account for only 3%. Of the 3%, the number of Black women holding senior management titles and above is less than 0.5%.</p>
<p>The absence of Black tech executives is, in some ways, part of a vicious cycle for tech firms. But there’s an opportunity for allyship on behalf of underrepresented groups.</p>
<h2><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-23865 size-full" src="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Quote-Card_LI.png" alt="" width="1200" height="627" srcset="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Quote-Card_LI.png 1200w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Quote-Card_LI.png?resize=300,157 300w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Quote-Card_LI.png?resize=768,401 768w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Quote-Card_LI.png?resize=1024,535 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><br />Targeted Investments: Finding New Ways to Identify and Hire Underrepresented Talent</h2>
<p>During the discussion, several panelists made it clear that the racial divide is not synonymous with Black women, nor is it a new idea. But after 2020, the appetite for change may be shifting. Black Lives Matter protests renewed focus on disparities in pay, opportunity, and success.</p>
<p>While tech leaders often point to a “pipeline problem,” panelists said companies have an opportunity to rethink the way hiring is done to make sure they don&#8217;t pass over candidates they need to build products that appeal to a broad customer base.</p>
<p>To combat this, VMware set specific and measurable goals around increasing representation for women and underrepresented minorities (URMs). As such, all vice presidents (VP) and above were assigned Diversity, Equity &#038; Inclusion goals to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Improve the representation of women globally.</li>
<li>Improve representation of US URMs.</li>
<li>Ensure all interview slates have at least one woman or URM candidate.</li>
<li>Improve culture through leadership actions.</li>
</ul>
<p>Ongoing pay equity commitments also boast proud results. The company continues to see women earn 99% of their male counterparts’ salaries globally. Racial and ethnic minority employees earn 100% of their white counterparts in the U.S.</p>


<p>The work to create a diverse and inclusive environment is never done. And it’s constantly evolving.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-23867 size-full" src="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Quote-Card_LI-1.png" alt="" width="1200" height="627" srcset="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Quote-Card_LI-1.png 1200w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Quote-Card_LI-1.png?resize=300,157 300w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Quote-Card_LI-1.png?resize=768,401 768w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Quote-Card_LI-1.png?resize=1024,535 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>


A focus on gender diversity in the corporate sector has in recent years gained more traction than efforts to increase racial diversity.

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Representation Counts, Especially at the Top - VMware News and Stories

<p>Black Americans play a profound role in shaping the world’s technology. Many everyday essentials, from caller ID to traffic lights, came from the creative minds of Black technology inventors, innovators and leaders.</p>
<p>At VMware, we pride ourselves on innovation. So, in honor of Black History Month, we decided to highlight some of the all-time greatest Black engineers, scholars and entrepreneurs. These individuals profoundly progressed science, the tech industry and daily life.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/events/6763592382765133824/"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-23750" src="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Celebrating_Black_Voices_in_Tech_VMware_Tanzu.jpg" alt="[Banner] Engage and Empower Series: Celebrating Black Voices in Tech" width="1200" height="675" srcset="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Celebrating_Black_Voices_in_Tech_VMware_Tanzu.jpg 1200w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Celebrating_Black_Voices_in_Tech_VMware_Tanzu.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Celebrating_Black_Voices_in_Tech_VMware_Tanzu.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Celebrating_Black_Voices_in_Tech_VMware_Tanzu.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></a></p>
<h2>1. Dr. Mark E. Dean</h2>


<p>Ever heard of <a href="https://www.engadget.com/2015-02-06-mark-dean-pc-pioneer.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dr. Mark E. Dean</a>? He’s a Silicon Valley legend who co-invented the color IBM PC monitor and gigahertz chip. Dean also holds three of IBM&#8217;s nine original patents.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="IBM&#039;s Silicon Valley R&amp;D Lab" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/orn29yPKyz0?start=64&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>In the video above, watch Dean give Fast Company a tour of Almaden, IBM&#8217;s Silicon Valley innovation lab. In the 2008 interview, the forward-thinking technologist explains concepts like spintronics, the traits of a good innovator and the value of data analysis: &#8220;People are sitting on goldmines they don&#8217;t even know about.&#8221;</em></p>
<h2>2. Dr. James E. West</h2>
<p>Did you know that more than 90% of the microphones today, including those in phones and cameras, use technology co-invented by <a href="https://nationalmedals.org/laureate/james-edward-maceo-west/#:~:text=For%20co%2Dinventing%20the%20foil,multimedia%20computers%20employ%20electret%20technology." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dr. James E. West</a>? After a long career as an acoustical scientist, West became an educator and advocate for diversity in the sciences.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Interview with Inventor James Edward West" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/95EFhuRyAe0?start=44&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>In this video, hear West himself discuss the revolutionary impact of his invention, as well as the challenges he faced in the sciences.</em></p>
<h2>3. Garrett A. Morgan</h2>
<p>The light must be green because these innovations are a go! Today, we celebrate <a href="https://gma-pps-nj.schoolloop.com/pf4/cms2/view_page?d=x&#038;group_id=1367761412824&#038;vdid=iy234g1x9hq2lq" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Garrett A. Morgan</a> for patented inventions, including the three-position traffic signal and the first gas mask.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="This Inventor Risked His Life on His Own Invention" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TQ5KXM0aGw8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>The Smithsonian Channel interviews experts about the genius of Morgan&#8217;s lifesaving gas mask invention in this video. </em></p>
<h2>4. Lisa Gelobter</h2>
<p>Get ready to reply with your favorite GIF in celebration. <a href="https://www.tequitable.com/team" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lisa Gelobter</a> was integrally involved with the advent of Shockwave. The technology formed the beginning of web animation, which performed 3.1 billion calculations per second. After working with major organizations (like Hulu, BET and The White House), Gelobter founded tEQuitable, a platform to address bias, harassment and discrimination in the workplace.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="From Hulu to Obama’s White House | Black Inventors" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SwMvZaSn84o?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>The Root recounts Gelobter&#8217;s historic contributions to tech and entertainment, as well as the impact of Gelobter&#8217;s platform tEQuitable.</em></p>
<h2>5. Dr. Jesse Ernest Wilkins, Jr.</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.maa.org/programs-and-communities/outreach-initiatives/summa/summa-archival-record/j-ernest-wilkins" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dr. Jesse Ernest Wilkins, Jr.</a> is an acclaimed mathematician and scholar, who contributed to a greater understanding of atomic energy. As the University of Chicago’s youngest student, Wilkins earned a doctorate by age 19. Wilkins’ research in nuclear physics helped explain how gamma radiation works and how to shield the harmful rays.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Ernest Wilkins, Jr." width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vH1uA7Gen7I?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>This Brown University video presents a timeline of Wilkins&#8217; distinguished career in math, physics and engineering.</em></p>
<h2>6. Lewis H. Latimer</h2>
<p>Many are familiar with Thomas Edison, but have you ever heard the name <a href="https://www.invent.org/inductees/lewis-latimer" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lewis H. Latimer</a>? Edison is often credited with inventing the light bulb. In actuality, Latimer was one of many working to perfect commercial lighting.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Lewis Howard Latimer Life Story - Inventor and Innovator" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vnehQD9NCrE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>In this video from the Institution of Engineering and Technology, hear more about Latimer&#8217;s life and inventions in depth.</em></p>
<h2>7. Janet E. Bashen</h2>
<p>Meet <a href="http://www.bashencorp.com/founder/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Janet E. Bashen</a>, the first Black woman to receive a patent for a web-based software solution. Bashen’s patented invention, LinkLine, is an equal employment opportunity case management and tracking software.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Janet Bashen CNN interview" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4wgWhHbr5Nc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Hear Bashen introduce the LinkLine solution during a past CNN interview, in the video above.</em></p>
<h2>8. Dr. Edward A. Bouchet</h2>
<p><a href="https://gsas.yale.edu/diversity/office-graduate-student-development-diversity/edward-bouchet-conference" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dr. Edward A. Bouchet</a> is the first Black American to hold a doctorate in any subject from an American university. Bouchet earned a doctorate in physics from Yale University in 1876. As an educator later in life, Bouchet continued nurturing other Black students in the sciences.</p>
<p><div id="attachment_23737" style="width: 471px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2017/04/10/new-plaque-honors-edward-bouchet/"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23737" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-23737 size-full" src="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Edward_Alexander_Bouchet_Yale_College_class_of_1874-_4102.jpg" alt="Edward Alexander Bouchet" width="461" height="562" srcset="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Edward_Alexander_Bouchet_Yale_College_class_of_1874-_4102.jpg 461w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Edward_Alexander_Bouchet_Yale_College_class_of_1874-_4102.jpg?resize=246,300 246w" sizes="(max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-23737" class="wp-caption-text">Bouchet was also the sixth person to earn a physics doctorate in the Western Hemisphere, according to the Yale Daily News.</p></div></p>
<h2>9. Mary W. Jackson</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/content/mary-w-jackson-biography" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mary W. Jackson</a> became NASA&#8217;s first Black female engineer in 1958 (yes, the one and the same portrayed in the movie “Hidden Figures”). Jackson contributed to research on aerodynamics for decades. She also “worked hard to impact the hiring and promotion of the next generation of all of NASA’s female mathematicians, engineers and scientists.”</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="NASA names headquarters after Hidden Figure Mary W. Jackson" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lLDTnvuSTSo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>NASA recaps milestones in Jackson&#8217;s career in this video, which announces a building dedicated in the now-famous engineer&#8217;s name.</em></p>
<h2>10. Dr. Frank S. Greene, Jr.</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.purdue.edu/mep/Alumni,%20Friends,%20Corporate%20Partners/Alumni%20Spotlights/Frank.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dr. Frank S. Greene, Jr.</a> is considered one of the first Black technologists, earning Greene a place in the Silicon Valley Engineering Hall of Fame. Greene worked on developing high-speed semiconductor computer memory systems in the 1960s. Greene also founded the software companies Technology Development Corp. and ZeroOne Systems, Inc., as well as venture firm NewVista Capital.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">New Vista Capital founder and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Purdue?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Purdue</a> grad Frank S. Greene Jr. inspires future leaders with this week’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Monday?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Monday</a> Motivation. <a href="https://twitter.com/PurdueECE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PurdueECE</a> <a href="https://t.co/mEf6klS9Be">pic.twitter.com/mEf6klS9Be</a></p>
<p>— Purdue University (@LifeAtPurdue) <a href="https://twitter.com/LifeAtPurdue/status/1338514304568610820?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2020</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>


Read about 10 Black technology inventors, innovators and leaders, who profoundly shaped science, the tech industry and daily life.

10 Black Technology Inventors and Innovators to Know | VMware Radius

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<h1><i>5 women in India share their perspectives</i></h1>
<p>In India, less than <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/india-women-workforce-education-womens-rights-culture-marriage-employment-a8915011.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">30% of working-age women</a> are currently employed, compared to 80% of men. While bias and safety concerns play a part in this, the most overwhelming reason for this skewed gender representation lies in cultural conditioning and expectations.</p>
<p>Women in India bear the lion’s share of domestic and child-rearing responsibilities. Because of this, they often have to prioritize their personal responsibilities over their professional dreams. Research indicates that Indian women spend up to <a href="https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?datasetcode=TIME_USE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">352 minutes</a> a day on housework. This is 577% more than men, who spend 52 minutes on average. The women that do work outside the home rely heavily on a robust support framework of domestic helpers, nannies, day care centers and even extended families and neighbours. </p>
<p>The unprecedented events of this year effectively cut off the country’s working women from their all-important support system. And they found themselves struggling to balance their lives and do justice to all their responsibilities. On the professional front, India’s culture is heavily focused on people and personal interaction. As a result, business in India traditionally relied on personal communication. When the country went into lockdown, most white-collar workers had to suddenly adjust to a completely remote working model, conducting meetings and consultations virtually. Collaboration tools and a robust remote working infrastructure helped ensure business continuity and a relatively stress-free working experience for most women.</p>
<p>2020 will go down in history as the year when the world changed. As the boundaries of the personal and professional merged and clashed, women in India met the challenge head on and balanced their professional and personal responsibilities efficiently. How did these real-life superwomen do it all? And how did technology help them? Five women from across VMware in India share their stories.</p>
<h3>Remote Collaboration </h3>
<p>As consumers of our own VMware technology, our transition to remote working was fairly seamless. Our technology infrastructure and business continuity protocols helped ease some pressure for our teams and enabled them to better balance all of their responsibilities.</p>


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<p>As <b>Smita Ojha</b> points out, “<i>It was IT preparedness and timely communication about the available resources which made work and collaboration seamless and effortless. We were quickly prepared to meet the challenge of working remotely, and ready to also help customers adjust and adapt to the situation effectively.</i>”</p>
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<p>In addition, many like <b>Mrinal Hedau</b> now view remote working as a preferred workplace model. “<i>There is no doubt that human interaction is important at the workplace. However, VMware’s in-house solutions and capabilities enhanced the virtual collaboration experience. Now, colleagues from around the world are just either a call or message away.”</i></p>
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<h3>The Balancing Act </h3>
<p>Of course, the work-from-home life takes some getting used to, especially when the entire family is suddenly homebound with nowhere to go and—potentially—nothing to do. To be productive and efficient during this time, working professionals had to establish new routines.</p>


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<p>As <b>Pushpalatha G P</b> explains, “<i>In the initial days of the lockdown, I was overwhelmed at the prospect of delivering on my professional role and also managing domestic responsibilities. But once the initial panic subsided, I focused on working out a schedule that accommodated all my responsibilities and my team’s availability, accepting that the regular 9-5 wasn’t going to work.</i>”</p>
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<p>For others, the unprecedented challenges meant a joint effort to help manage all responsibilities.</p>
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<b>Lakshmi Gayatri Kundem's</b> husband and eleven-year-old child got together as a family to discuss long-term sustainable working solutions. “<i>The mantra we followed is ‘keep it simple!’ Each day, we plan and share responsibilities. This helped manage our home and work needs efficiently. Even at work, while the number of meetings increased drastically, we tried to keep them short and with enough time left to complete tasks. As the days went by, I realized that my productivity increased, too.</i>”</p>
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<h3>The Future of Work  </h3>
<p>Even the toughest critic of the work-from-home model had to admit that with the right technology infrastructure, remote working can provide business continuity and business security. Remote working models can also lower physical office infrastructure costs, address issues such as traffic congestion and air pollution, and provide access to a wider talent pool. But for people who thrive on the buzz of a busy office, the possibility of an increased remote working future presents some pros and cons that they need to think through.</p>


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<p>Take <b>Alka Pendharkar,</b><br>
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“<i>I thrive on the in-office buzz. And while I do not miss the commute in rush-hour traffic, working remotely initially left me feeling uneasy. But regular check-in calls helped me feel connected to the team. I now think the ‘new normal’ is growing to be a preference, and collaboration tools make up for the in-office experience. I am confident I can bring my best self to work, feel connected with colleagues and still make time for my workout routine.</i>”</p>
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<p><b>Focus on the Good</b></p>
<p>The current circumstances are still far from ideal, and each one of us is adapting every day. But our teams found the positives to focus on. Smita, Mrinal, Lakshmi, Pushpalatha and Alka are just some of the women we connected with. There are so many more within our own organization and outside who have had to deal with this unprecedented challenge in their own way. </p>
<p>As Indian women continue to navigate these uncharted waters, technology will emerge to be a key ally, an effective enabler of remote working and a powerful force for good. At this juncture, it is safe to say that the nature of work will not be the same again, and we remain deeply committed to nurturing a workplace ethos that allows every member of our team to thrive.</p>
<p><b>References:</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/india-women-workforce-education-womens-rights-culture-marriage-employment-a8915011.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/india-women-workforce-education-womens-rights-culture-marriage-employment-a8915011.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?datasetcode=TIME_USE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?datasetcode=TIME_USE</a></li>
</ul>


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<p>This past March, the world turned upside down and challenged everyone in ways we could not have anticipated.</p>
<p>In the span of a weekend, our organization of more than 33,000 employees turned their bedrooms, dining rooms and hallways into home offices, outfitted with the latest technology and tools to remain productive and connected with colleagues, customers and partners. The experience was trying and challenging but reinforced our resiliency and empathy as we were introduced to our colleagues’ children, partners, pets and interior decorating preferences.</p>
<p>At VMware, we have listened, learned, adapted and adjusted. In the past nine months, our employees achieved exceptional results, despite difficult circumstances. They maintained continuity for our company and our customers, all while navigating and balancing painful personal, social and community disruption.</p>
<p>Last week, VMware laid out our trust, equity and sustainability commitments for the next 10 years in our <a href="https://www.vmware.com/global-impact.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2030 Agenda</a>. Fulfilling the business outcomes we outlined—building and protecting trust, creating a future that is accessible, equitable and inclusive, and decarbonization efforts for our customers and our operations—requires a new definition of work. Today, we are sharing our strategy for our <a href="https://careers.vmware.com/future-of-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Future of Work initiative</a>, a forward-looking hybrid workforce model that rethinks our traditional office environment and way of working, in addition to driving progress on the goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda.</p>
<p>While planning for the initiative was well underway before the emergence of COVID-19, the pandemic accelerated our efforts. As our employees demonstrated throughout the pandemic, work location does not dictate success. The choice and flexibility that form the cornerstones of this new distributed workforce model mirror the choice and flexibility we provide to our customers. We are empowering our team to choose to work permanently remote, “flexible” or near a VMware office, or from a VMware office full-time. Employees can work from any location that accelerates their productivity and advances their personal and professional goals during and after the pandemic.</p>
<p>In addition to aligning to the bold outcomes in the 2030 Agenda, the Future of Work initiative brings together a set of policies, programs and adaptive culture to provide support for more than 33,000 personal” innovation hubs around the world, highlighting VMware’s vision of the Anywhere Workforce. It extends our EPIC2 values and advances our commitment to building a more diverse workforce, reducing our carbon footprint and putting employee well-being first.</p>
<p>Sprawling office campuses with a range of amenities and perks were once meant to attract top talent, but limited our ability to reach and meet prospective employees located beyond our office locations. COVID brought a fresh perspective around traditional concepts of work and the purpose of the office, while expanding mindsets on employee productivity, which improved in a remote environment. We discovered that a majority of people prefer to do focused work at home or outside of the office, while campus offices are better suited to collaboration and community. With that in mind, VMware’s Future of Work program is grounded in three primary pillars and advances our commitment to the goals in the 2030 Agenda, as well as employees’ career development and the company culture and values. These pillars<br />include:</p>
<p><b>1. Workforce: </b>We are focused on building a diverse, innovative and highly engaged distributed team that has access to the resources and support they need to be productive in whichever work environment they choose. This includes expanded benefits and well-being programs and reimbursements for home office equipment.  </p>
<p><b>2. Workplace:</b> Innovation and collaboration hubs are the office of the future. VMware campuses across the globe are being converted to accommodate the way people work today. Removing the need to commute to an office and reducing carbon emissions in our day-to-day operations has significant impact on our sustainability commitments. This means moving from spaces that prioritize individual work to environments that foster teamwork, innovation and experiences. Already, 25% of our global offices are set up with a collaboration-first approach.</p>
<p><b>3. Work Practices: </b>Supporting our teams with distributed-first capabilities will increase well-being and productivity without requiring relocation or travel.  We are leveling the playing field and ensuring equity and inclusion of all employees by providing every employee equal access to support systems, regardless of where they may choose to work.</p>
<p>As we look to the future, we’ll continue to experiment, assess and adapt. We believe emerging technologies, like augmented reality and virtual reality, will play a key role in bridging distances and shaping a more dynamic and creative workforce. Our human resources, workplace and IT teams will continue to partner with business groups to refine and iterate our program as we evolve into a distributed-first workforce that sit alongside our global portfolio of office collaboration hubs.</p>
<p>There’s no disguising the fact that this past year presented incredible challenges for employees, leaders, companies and communities alike. But the shift to remote work gave us an opportunity to accelerate our momentum with initiatives like these. The Future of Work is here. And at VMware, we are focused on achieving the trust, equity and sustainability outcomes in the 2030 Agenda by reimagining and extending a culture rooted in innovation, flexibility and choice. Accessibility to a broader talent pool and flexible work will shape a more diverse VMware and help achieve net-zero carbon emissions for operations. Every organization, every institution and each of us as individuals needs to do our part. Each of us needs to ask ourselves: How can we contribute? How can our employers contribute?</p>


Rich Lang

Rich Lang, VMware SVP Human Resources, outlines VMware's future of work initiatives to support more than 33,000 employees worldwide.

Seeing 20/20 in 2021: Envisioning the Future of Work

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Sheri Byrne-Haber

Our co-lead for @VMware Disability reflects on the challenges facing the community and reports VMware's progress.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion