At Micron, one of our five values is our people; we care about each other. As U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Our people value explains why we are laser-focused on strengthening our culture of inclusion, one of our five aspirational commitments regarding diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI). We know when our people feel valued, respected and safe to challenge the status quo, they will share their ideas — ideas that propel our innovation forward.
In 2014, we took a big step in fostering our inclusive culture with the introduction of employee resource groups (ERGs). These voluntary, employee-led groups focus on shared identities or life experiences. Our first ERG, the Micron Women’s Leadership Network, took shape at our headquarters in Boise, Idaho. Today, nearly half our global workforce belongs to at least one of our 10 ERGs.
Annually for the past four years, we have brought our global ERG leaders together for a virtual summit to strengthen their relationships and reinforce opportunities to align our ERG strategy with Micron’s business strategy. This year, our ERG leaders heard from Oona King, a former member of the British House of Parliament and the DEI head at Uber. They also engaged in workshops on psychological safety and explored ideas and insights around artificial intelligence (AI) and opportunities to leverage it as ERG leaders. Take a look at this sizzle reel that captures our powerful virtual gathering.
At Micron, we want to create a culture that weaves through our company’s DNA, infusing our work with meaning and binding our global teams together with trust. I have to be honest — like many organizations, we are not all the way there yet.
But we are investing in ERGs and other programs because we believe the powerful culture we are creating is already setting us apart from our competition. Our people are what make us Micron, and we are developing our ERG leaders to harness the energy of these groups to fuel our creativity, inclusion and innovation.
This is a transformational time for the semiconductor industry, as the demand for our memory and storage solutions grows rapidly. Semiconductors are the backbone of modern technology — from AI to consumer electronics to critical defense systems. In response to this growing demand, Micron has announced manufacturing investments around the world. In the U.S. alone, we expect our investments to create approximately 75,000 direct and indirect American jobs over the next 20 years.
Our ERGs play a critical role in helping us attract and retain our talent. That’s why I affectionately refer to our ERG leaders and members as our ambassadors of inclusion. They join us at key hiring conferences, especially those with our strategic partners, like the National Association of Black Engineers (NSBE), the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).
They are also committed volunteers to Micron’s K-12 programs, speaking with students, teachers, counselors and parents about the opportunities within STEM careers. They support our Girls Going Tech, Chip Camp and other programs around the world that are helping us inspire the next generation of the semiconductor workforce.
Micron’s ERGs are more than social networks; they are strategic assets that align closely with broader business goals. Throughout the years, directors on Micron’s board have met with our ERG leaders, ensuring these leaders have a true pulse on the needs of our workforce. Our ERG members have influenced Micron’s inclusive benefits, built mentoring programs that have quadrupled the number of Micron’s women inventors and helped our facilities team understand the importance of creating accessible workplaces that work for everyone.
Our ERGs foster communities — of experienced and new team members, people with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ+ people, and people from various races and ethnicities — and this inclusive culture facilitates greater innovation. I am so proud to be part of an organization that truly leverages its power and impact for good. That, according to President Roosevelt, shows how much we care.
It’s what makes us bold. It’s what makes us unique. And it’s what makes us Micron.
