MITRE Named Among Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s Champions for Accountability
MITRE Honored for Championing Diversity in Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia encompasses nearly 9,000 executives from traditionally underrepresented demographic groups, including women and people of color. Despite their overall share of the Northern Virginia workforce at 74 percent, only 47 percent hold leadership positions. The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia are seeking to change this, starting with their badging program, “Champions for Accountability,” introduced as part of their research report, Championing Diversity. MITRE was among 54 regional employers recognized for transparency and accountability in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workforce are among our region's biggest challenges.
And by being here today, you're demonstrating your intention to help foster a more inclusive environment in your workplaces where everyone has a sense of belonging.
Progress has been made, and so I just salute all the people today who have been involved in these champions of accountability because it really, really is one of the most crucial things in America.
Diversity to me is really all the ways that we're similar and different. We usually have more in common than we don't.
Diversity is a fact, really. I mean, we can look at data and we can identify its presence or its absence.
Companies that value diversity are more profitable. If you embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion, your business will make more money Your employees will stay.
Solving problems for a safer world, you need people. You need people from different backgrounds,
from different parts of the world.
We track the way that society is changing on a demographic level. The future of this region will rely on a variety of different communities and lived experiences. To ignore that is to ignore the future of work in this region.
And so the more that we can expose ourselves to different cultures and people, we call it being culturally responsive.
We know how important it is to value inclusion efforts within the organizations.
Part of that is just making sure that those opportunities are there and then making sure that there's follow through on the commitments that have been made.
All of MITRE throughout the company we have 9,000 employees in over 50 locations in the states, as well as eight countries. We are truly a global organization with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
MITRE hosted the inaugural event featuring Dorothy Gilliam, the first black woman reporter at The Washington Post, who spoke and moderated a discussion with chief diversity officers. MITRE’s Stephanie Turner, vice president, inclusion, diversity and social innovation, participated on the panel and served on the research task force. She shared best practices alongside Chief Diversity Officers Nathan Carter from Northern Virginia Community College and Laila Salguero from Peraton.
“Creating a sense of belonging for all employees is essential to building a more inclusive and diverse workforce,” said Turner. “On behalf of MITRE, I am pleased to commend the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce for their leadership in creating the Champions of Accountability and their engagement of the regional business community. As research by the Virginia Community Foundation illustrates, there are many opportunities to strengthen diversity. I’m honored to be working with the many dedicated business executives leading the path forward.”
The Championing Diversity report provides a unique assessment of our region. Equipped with data, ideas for transformation, and incentivized through the badging system, the report serves as a catalyst for other companies in Northern Virginia to make necessary change.