A culture of inclusion and belonging
Leading with our values and beliefs to ensure that every IBMer can bring their full selves to work.
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A culture of inclusion and belonging
Leading with our values and beliefs to ensure that every IBMer can bring their full selves to work.
Follow us
IBM has more than 100 years of work on diversity, inclusion and equality in the workplace. That legacy, and our continued commitment to advance equity in a global society, has made us leaders in diversity and inclusion.
Guided by our values and beliefs, we’re proud to foster an environment where every IBMer is able to thrive because of their differences, not in spite of them.
Autism Acceptance Month at IBM
At IBM, we celebrate Autism Acceptance Month during April to recognize the important talent and contributions of autistic and neurodiverse IBMers to our business, our clients and our communities. Learn more about our commitment to neurodiverse Talent here.
Real people,
Real stories
“ IBM is the first company in 15 years where I have felt safe to show and discuss my disability ”
Luiza
Diversity & Inclusion Leader for IBM Brazil
“ We are actively pursuing and applying research technologies such as AI, blockchain, and IoT to societal and enterprise problems within agriculture, healthcare, and financial services. ”
Kommy
Chief Scientist for IBM Research Africa
“ I came out in my job interview. I ended up talking about the work I’d done as part of my LGBT network at university. It does take strength, particularly if it’s your first big job. ”
Ella
Global LGBT+ Diversity Leader
“ I almost quit pursuing my degree due to social gender-stereotypes and for not fitting in. I cannot believe how far one can go by just believing in yourself. ”
Rawan
Sales Engineer
“ I’ve been a proud IBMer for many years and love working here because of the impactful work and all the great people with smart minds around the world! ”
Jim
Briefing Consultant, with Barnum, his service dog
“Women bring strong skills and unique perspectives to projects and it is always rewarding to be on teams that embrace diversity of all kinds and find ways to leverage the strengths of each member. ”
Tara
Sr. Software Engineer for Blockchain and Cloud Solutions
“I recently celebrated my 5 year work anniversary while on a training course in Amsterdam and it got me thinking about how IBM has allowed me to flex my career path. ”
Avtar
Performance Engineer
“IBM fosters innovation and believes in growth. Those commodities were the main three things I was looking for in my career after the service. ”
Cecilia
Technical Sales Specialist Apprentice
“ IBM is the first company in 15 years where I have felt safe to show and discuss my disability ”
Luiza
Diversity & Inclusion Leader for IBM Brazil
“ We are actively pursuing and applying research technologies such as AI, blockchain, and IoT to societal and enterprise problems within agriculture, healthcare, and financial services. ”
Kommy
Chief Scientist for IBM Research Africa
“ I came out in my job interview. I ended up talking about the work I’d done as part of my LGBT network at university. It does take strength, particularly if it’s your first big job. ”
Ella
Global LGBT+ Diversity Leader
“ I almost quit pursuing my degree due to social gender-stereotypes and for not fitting in. I cannot believe how far one can go by just believing in yourself. ”
Rawan
Sales Engineer
“ I’ve been a proud IBMer for many years and love working here because of the impactful work and all the great people with smart minds around the world! ”
Jim
Briefing Consultant, with Barnum, his service dog
“Women bring strong skills and unique perspectives to projects and it is always rewarding to be on teams that embrace diversity of all kinds and find ways to leverage the strengths of each member. ”
Tara
Sr. Software Engineer for Blockchain and Cloud Solutions
How This IBM Master Inventor Brings STEM Education to Native American Communities
“I recently celebrated my 5 year work anniversary while on a training course in Amsterdam and it got me thinking about how IBM has allowed me to flex my career path. ”
Avtar
Performance Engineer
“IBM fosters innovation and believes in growth. Those commodities were the main three things I was looking for in my career after the service. ”
Cecilia
Technical Sales Specialist Apprentice
How IBM supports Diversity & Inclusion
We have a rich past, now be part of our future
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First women and black employees hired
IBM hired three women, Emma Manske, Nettie Moore and Lilly Philp, 20 years before women were given the right to vote. The same year, IBM hired Richard MacGregor, IBM’s first black employee, 10 years before the founding of NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and 36 years after the Emancipation Proclamation
First disabled employee hired
IBM hired its first employee with a disability, 59 years before the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and 76 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“ Same Kind of Work for Equal Pay. ” T.J.Watson Sr.
IBM recruited 25 female college graduates, slated to work in systems service. These were the firm’s first female professionals, 29 years before the Equal Pay Act. Thomas J. Watson, Sr. champions the introduction of women into IBM’s professional ranks, as the company holds its first systems engineering service class for women.
First woman VP named
IBM named Ruth Leach (Amonette) a vice president, the company’s first female executive. Between 1940 and 1943, one third of IBM’s manufacturing hires are women.
First pocket-sized braille printer manufactured and distributed to all employees
IBM manufactures the Banks Pocket Braille Writer, a pocket-sized Braille printer, which it donates to veterans, sells to the public at cost and provides free to all visually impaired employees.
IBM President signs company’s first written equal opportunity policy letter
IBM wrote its first Equal Opportunity Policy. This policy was signed by T. J. Watson, Jr., one year before the Brown decision ending “separate but equal” in public education and 11 years ahead of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in the U.S.
IBM created Supplier Diversity Program
IBM created its supplier diversity program in 1968, before the existence of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). Our program’s goal is to provide opportunities to diverse suppliers who can add value in every region where we operate. Suppliers qualify by being at least 51 percent owned by people from an ethnic minority (as defined in each country or region), or by women, military veterans, people with disabilities or LGBT+ individuals.
IBM’s first operational application of speech recognition
IBM’s first operational application of speech recognition enabled customer engineers servicing equipment to “talk” to and receive "spoken" answers from a computer that can recognize about 5,000 words. IBM also developed an experimental terminal that prints computer responses in Braille for the blind.
IBM’s Computer Program Training for People with Disabilities
IBM’s first operational application of speech recognition enabled customer engineers servicing equipment to “talk” to and receive "spoken" answers from a computer that can recognize about 5,000 words. IBM also developed an experimental terminal that prints computer responses in Braille for the blind.
IBM includes sexual-orientation in its equal opportunity policy
Non-discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation Publicly Stated. IBM became one of the first companies to include sexual orientation as part of its commitment to nondiscrimination.
Domestic Partner Benefits added in U.S.
IBM announces Domestic Partner Benefits for gay and lesbian employees.
IBM introduces Home Page Reader
IBM introduces Home Page Reader, an award-winning Web browser that uses speech to help the blind and visually impaired use the Internet. The first product of its kind, Home Page Reader was developed by blind IBM researcher Chieko Asakawa. The application was offered in the US, Europe and Asia, and was capable of reading web pages in American or British English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and other languages.
Global work-life fund launched
This multi-year fund has been designed to address strategic work-life challenges for IBM employees worldwide, focusing on dependent care.
Global Equal Opportunity Policy – “ orientation, gender identity and expression ” were added
“ Orientation, gender identity and expression ” were added to U.S. and Global Equal Opportunity Policy.
Accessible Workplace Connections launched to request and manage reasonable accommodations
The Human Ability and Accessibility center collaborated with IBM Human Resources and the IBM Office of the CIO to create the Accessible Workplace Connection portal, which makes it easy for managers to accommodate IBMers with disabilities, and teaches those employees about the tools and policies that exist to help them do their jobs on an equal footing with their peers.
First Woman CEO appointed – Virginia Rometty
IBM Board of Directors Elects Virginia M. “Ginni” Rometty President and CEO of IBM: Samuel J. Palmisano and Virginia M. “Ginni” Rometty at IBM’s corporate headquarters in Armonk, N.Y. Rometty, an IBM senior vice president, was elected by the IBM board of directors to become the company’s president and ninth CEO on January 1, 2012.
Introduced rainbow logo in support of the LGBT community
IBM Launched 8-bar rainbow logo as a new symbol of IBM’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. This is a demonstration of IBM’s continuing efforts to advance and influence nondiscrimination workplace policies consistent with basic human rights.
IBM honored with 2018 Catalyst Award
IBM was honored with the prestigious 2018 Catalyst Award for leadership in building a workplace that values diversity and inclusion. “ Leading the Cognitive Era Powered by the Global Advancement of Women. ” IBM’s global diversity and inclusion initiative has strategically and purposefully focused on technical women’s career development and advancement. HR and global business leaders partner to drive IBM’s diversity and inclusion goals by attracting and recruiting diverse talent, prioritizing leadership development and talent discussions and engaging as a good corporate citizen.
IBM supported passage of the Equality Act
The Equality Act, or HR 112, called to amend existing laws to provide consistent, explicit protections for LGBT+ employees in the United States. Ginni Rometty stated IBM’s position in a letter to U.S. Congress, and IBM Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Tia Silas testified before the House Judiciary Committee. IBM was the only company invited to testify.
Awards and Recognition
