Our people are at the heart of our solutions. Our people reflect the communities we live in and the world where we do business. Our people represent 175 companies, more than 50 industries and all geographic regions. Their diversity is our strength.
Inclusion & Diversity
Our commitment to our people
“Inclusion & Diversity is a business imperative for Dow and is not only the right thing to do, but it’s the smart thing to do. We are striving to create an environment where every employee is respected and valued and has an equal opportunity to develop, advance and be heard.”
—Karen S. Carter, President, Packaging & Specialty Plastics
Together, we all can play a critical role in reshaping our world
We are driven by the realization that addressing inclusion and diversity is an imperative as a company—and a society. We promise to invest in growing our understanding, appreciation and celebration of the differences among us. We will continue to focus on formal training and policies that promote inclusion, accessibility and equal treatment.
We are a stronger company by providing a culture of excellence, equality, safety and innovation that celebrates diversity across all spectrums: race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sex, age, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or mental or physical ability.
Dow is proud to join the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion,™ the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance inclusion and diversity in the workplace.
How we can achieve our vision
By 2020, Dow will be a leader in inclusion—authentic, respectful, equitable inclusion. Without an inclusive workplace, diversity is just a numbers game instead of a powerful, integral force for driving Dow’s success. We have established seven global foundational pillars to achieve our vision:
- Governance: Foster an inclusive culture across the institution
- Customers: Deliver an unparalleled customer experience
- Talent: Increase employee engagement and create an environment where everyone can thrive
- People leaders: Cultivate an inclusive culture
- Suppliers: Achieve top benchmark performance in supplier diversity
- Communities: Strengthen communities where we live, work and do business
- Reputation: Establish a leadership position and be recognized as a great place to work
We will hold ourselves accountable
Inclusion & Diversity is a fundamental part of Dow’s business strategy. We have established the governance structure, vision statement and key performance indicators (KPIs) necessary for effective, sustainable strategy implementation and sustained performance.
We will measure and track our progress on our goals to hold ourselves accountable—and to demonstrate to others that our commitment to inclusion and diversity is backed by meaningful actions and results.
We released our first-ever inclusion report in 2018, called SHINE. To learn more about Dow’s Inclusion 2020 Goals, strategy and progress, view the full report here.
Karen S. Carter, Dow’s first-ever Chief Inclusion Officer, has taken the lead on implementing our strategy. Three committees also play distinct and necessary roles in supporting our inclusion efforts:
- President’s Inclusion Council defines and supports the mandate from the top
- Senior Leaders Inclusion Council influences change through senior mid-level business and functional leaders
- Joint Inclusion Council will proactively engage with Dow’s Employee Resource Groups to ensure we are engaging employees at all levels
We champion inclusion through Employee Resource Groups
Our ten Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are key partners in helping us connect and engage talent. With over 186 chapters worldwide, our ERGs are just one way we are making inclusion a hallmark of Dow.
Many of our ERGs have formed partnerships with external organizations to drive progress and change, develop community programs and pursue other outreach opportunities. We also support informal employee groups—such as working parents, young professionals and biking club—to promote camaraderie, teamwork and fun in the workplace.
WOMEN'S INCLUSION NETWORK
WIN supports the professional development of women around the world, offering mentoring and networking opportunities, and providing access to professional development tailored to the unique needs of women at critical career stages.
GLOBAL AFRICAN AFFINITY NETWORK
GAAN creates opportunities for employees to develop mentoring and networking relationships that enhance their career potential.
Executive Sponsor: Jim Fitterling, Chair and Chief Executive Officer
ASIAN DIVERSITY NETWORK
ADN offers networking with peers and leaders, mentorship opportunities, resources for skill development and advocates for greater Asian cultural awareness.
Executive Sponsor: A.N. Sreeram, Senior Vice President of Research & Development and Chief Technology Officer
GLAD
GLAD, the chemical industry’s first LGBTQ+ employee resource group, was formed more than 15 years ago, to improve LGBTQ+ workplace equality.
Executive Sponsor: Amy Wilson, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
HISPANIC LATIN NETWORK
HLN focuses on 3 pillars: build the pipeline of Hispanic talent, develop and engage through activities and trainings, and contribute to an inclusive environment.
Executive Sponsor: Mauro Gregorio, Business President, Consumer Solutions; Latin America oversight
DISABILITY EMPLOYEE NETWORK
DEN focuses on improving perceptions about people with disabilities and raising awareness about the contributions they make—both at work and outside of work—and fosters the success of people with disabilities.
Executive Sponsor: John Sampson, Senior Vice President, Operations, Manufacturing & Engineering, Environment, Health & Safety Operations Emergency Services & Security
MIDDLE EAST│NORTH AFRICA INTERCULTURAL NETWORK
The Middle East│North Africa Intercultural Network is focused on breaking stereotypes, bringing awareness and inclusion of Middle Eastern culture, and providing insight into conducting business in the region.
Executive Sponsor: Isam Shomaly, Business Vice President, Feedstock & Commodities
VETERANS NETWORK
VetNet was established to attract, retain and mentor active service members and veterans, and serve as an education resource, while also generating positive community outreach.
Executive Sponsor: Jane Palmieri, Business President, Polyurethanes; Asia Pacific oversight
PR!ME
PR!ME creates a culture of appreciation and recognition for mature workers and leverages their unique expertise and experience to contribute to the growth of Dow.
Executive Sponsor: Melanie Kalmar, Corporate Vice President, Chief Information Officer and Chief Digital Officer
RISE
RISE provides an environment to foster positive integration of new employees, enabling them to contribute their full potential faster and influence the Dow culture through their unique voice.
Executive Sponsor: Rebecca Bentley, Vice President, Global Public Affairs
We nurture our employees and their individual potential
We are committed to building a vibrant, diverse and talented employee-base. Every day. Every region. Every employee. We invest in each employee’s growth and development through professional training and mentoring, community involvement and team building.
Our workforce is comprised of exceptionally talented employees. Each individual’s skill and willingness to work as one team makes us one of the most competitive companies in the market. Our training programs are designed to challenge our employees and prepare them for the next step in their careers.
We drive economic growth through supplier diversity
We’re a global leader in material sciences. We recognize that engagement of small and diverse suppliers maximizes bottom-line value, drives innovation and supports economic growth. Our supplier diversity initiative focuses on identifying and building relationships with enterprises owned by minorities, women, veterans, LGBTQ+ and disabled persons as well as certified small businesses.