IBM: No. 24 in the DiversityInc Top 50

IBM Logo
Company Information

U.S. Headquarters: Armonk, N.Y.
Global Employees: 434,246
Last Year’s DiversityInc Top 50 Ranking: No. 17
Why It’s on the List

A longtime diversity leader, both globally and nationally, IBM shines in its succession planning, mentoring, talent development and efforts to include LGBT people.

The mentoring efforts of this huge multinational, whose focus is both consulting and technology, are world-class, with more than 80 percent of U.S. managers participating. A variety of mentoring programs, including virtual mentoring, is available to all employees. Most mentoring relationships are evaluated annually.

In 2012, IBM also changed the name of its resource groups to Business Resource Groups, which the company uses for talent development, diversity training and community outreach.

IBM’s supplier-diversity program, which started in 1968, has a very robust Tier II program. IBM’s first-tier suppliers are required to have supplier-diversity programs, to provide opportunities to suppliers, and to track and report resulting expenditures.  Flowing supplier-diversity-program requirements through the supply chain is the result.

One example: IBM’s Technical Services business council utilizes best-practice techniques for ensuring the flow of supplier-diversity requirements through the supply chain. Additionally, a contractual requirement of Technical Services’ large core suppliers is that 25 percent of their subcontracted spend that supports IBM’s requirements be with diverse-owned suppliers. Mid-sized core suppliers have a 15 percent requirement.
Other DiversityInc Lists
  • No. 1 The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Global Diversity
  • No. 4 The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees
  • No. 3 The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities
Diversity Leadership
Virginia M. Rometty
Chairman, President and CEO

“IBM thinks about diversity the way we think about innovation—both are essential to the success of our business. When we innovate, technology becomes smarter for clients and creates new opportunities for growth. When we incorporate diversity into our business, we create better innovations and outcomes.  IBM has embraced diversity, and it gives opportunities for IBMers and our clients to achieve their full potential.”
Ron Glover
Vice President, Diversity & Workforce Policy, Human Resources

“The demographics around the world indicate that the population is changing rapidly and becoming even more culturally diverse. This shift means that global companies like IBM must continue to attract talent to ensure our workforce mirrors the marketplace we serve. We also know clients value capabilities and technologies from us that are transformational and that no one else can deliver. Innovation requires collaboration—across fields and disciplines, units, time zones and borders. There is clearly a symbiotic relationship here and a business imperative to be this type of global company.”