Avnet’s Inclusion Vision and Mission
Vision
A company whose employee population reflects the diverse communities in which we live, work and do business, with an organizational culture which seeks out varying perspectives that allow the best ideas to come to light and help Avnet achieve maximum business success.
Mission
To create awareness of culture and diversity by fostering a supportive and respectful environment, where inclusive behaviors are valued and embraced as the workplace norm, and that opportunities are broadly open for all.
At Avnet, we are focused on building a culture of inclusion around the world. We aspire to create an equitable and inclusive environment in which every employee feels a sense of belonging. We celebrate our differences and believe that a diverse workforce fosters the ability to leverage a broader range of perspectives and leads to better decision-making and enhanced outcomes. For the latest statistics regarding Avnet’s representation of diversity, please see our sustainability report.
Avnet’s Inclusion strategy is built on five pillars:
LISTENING & LEARNING
Regular listen and learn sessions
ERGs and Affinity Networks
Periodic pulse surveys
Townhalls and group meetings
EDUCATION & AWARENESS
Inclusiveness curriculum (voluntary)
Culture and Diversity calendar
SharePoint site, Viva Engage forum
Global Inclusion Council
POLICIES & PRACTICES
Best talent for the role
Performance management
Leadership development
Global mentoring program
BUSINESS COMMITMENTS
Common Leadership goal
(performance expectation)
Support of all approved ERGs
Inclusiveness as a core value
COMMUNITY & PARTNERSHIP
ESG framework
Avnet Cares (volunteering)
Education/STEM support
Engaging with industry efforts
Leadership voices
“To make Avnet as strong and versatile as it can be, we are committed to sharing values of diversity and inclusion to achieve and sustain excellence in every aspect of our business. Our belief is that we can best promote excellence by attracting, engaging, developing, rewarding and retaining a diverse group of employees and stakeholders by creating a climate of respect that is supportive of their success and providing opportunity and access to thrive.”
Ken Arnold
Chief People Officer
“At Avnet, we support an inclusive workplace culture, understanding that when employees feel a sense of belonging, engagement and high productivity follow. We remain committed to aligning with all country and regional laws. Our standard practice has always been hiring and awarding jobs to the best person for the role, and we do not waver from this. We believe Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) provide a continued means to educate, network, collaborate and develop teams –all of our ERGs are voluntary, employee-led and open to all in the company.”
Claire Senga
VP, Global Talent, Learning and Inclusion
Our community
Relationships, allyship and mentorship are key components of Avnet’s culture.
Relationships, allyships and mentorships are key components of Avnet’s culture
Avnet’s success is all about relationships, allyships and mentorships – starting with our CEO and continuing with every employee.
According to the National Institutes of Health, Office of Equity Diversity and Inclusion, “allies, or the individuals who stand up for equal and fair treatment of people different than them, offer some of the most effective and powerful voices for those who are underrepresented. The practice of emphasizing inclusion and human rights by members of an “in” group, to advance the interests of an oppressed or marginalized “out” group (allyship) is also one of the most critical activities that makes [any organization] a more inclusive environment for all employees.”
Avnet recognizes the importance of allyship both in and out of the workplace, which can be seen in our long-standing organization called RISE – an employee resource group (ERG) committed to empowering and supporting women at Avnet to achieve success on their own terms. This is just one example of how Avnet employees support one another through both formal and informal relationship building, and it is replicated in our other ERGs.
In the area of mentorships, Avnet recently launched a new global mentoring program MentorConnect. This program is enabled by technology and supports career and skill development without limiting potential connections by geography or proximity. A mentee in Singapore can have a mentor in Phoenix, and a mentor in Thailand can have a mentee in Mexico. MentorConnect is open to all Avnet employees and grounded in our intent to foster a learning culture, where anyone can be a mentor or mentee, regardless of position or level.
Awareness and education enhance our global culture of inclusion.
Awareness and education enhance our global culture of inclusion
Listen and Learns are opportunities for employees from across the globe to come together and openly discuss and learn about a variety of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion topics. The goal of these voluntary group sessions is to create a safe space and foster an inclusive environment that supports employees of a wide variety of perspectives and backgrounds.
Avnet’s Board of Directors exemplifies Avnet’s commitment to diversity of thought, experience, and background.
Our Inclusion focus areas
Click the headings below to learn more about each focus area.
Culture of inclusion
A culture of inclusion makes for a great place to work and drives business success. Here at Avnet, inclusiveness is one of our Core Values, and we view it as central to creating a sense of belonging for our employee community. Strong relationships are a key part of Avnet’s global culture and are reflected in our Listen & Learn events and Employee Resource Groups. We are a global company with operations in many countries, and we respect and value the local cultures that come together under the Avnet umbrella to form the greater organization.
Business strategy
At Avnet, we know a diverse workforce fosters the ability to leverage a broader range of perspectives, which leads to different ways of problem solving and better decision-making overall. Avnet’s Board of Directors is fully committed to and involved in advancing our inclusion strategy.
Further, inclusiveness is one of Avnet’s core values. With regard to execution of our strategy and goal setting, Avnet inclusiveness efforts are supported by a Global Inclusion Council with cross-functional, business and regional representation and flanked by various Employee Resource Groups. Avnet aspires to be a workplace that truly represents the diversity of the communities where we live and work.
Education & Awareness
As we enter our second century in business, we are expanding on our efforts by emphasizing a culture of inclusion through education and awareness, through a global culture calendar and a series of employee features, events, and activities led by our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
Avnet’s ERGs hold frequent listen and learn sessions on various educational topics. The sessions are open to all employees and often attended by members of senior leadership. The information gathered during these open conversations helps us to engage the workforce through transparency and allows for people to share in real time.
For more information about Avnet, please visit our Sustainability Report section on social impact.