“I’m glad to have taken part in such a fun and meaningful event,” said Seok-Nyoung Cha from the MX Division. “I hope we can all think deeply and act together to fight biases, stereotypes and discrimination.”

More than 700 employees took time to thank the female colleagues and family members in their life at another event. At the DX Division’s Female Executives’ workshop, hosted since 2021, female executives held candid conversations with the CEO to discuss the company’s vision and ways to foster female leaders. Additionally, a mentoring program for female developers will be launched this year.

Employees hold up heart hands — the official International Women’s Day gesture — in front of a photo wall set up by the DX Division.

Starting this March, the Device Solutions (DS) Division will organize monthly activities to build awareness of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) values among its employees. After selecting DEI topics centered on women, people with disabilities, caregivers and foreigners, the division will hold contests and training sessions each month that give employees a chance to learn how to show support for one another. Furthermore, the division will conduct interviews with female leaders in celebration of International Women’s Month and relay their thoughts on female leadership and how younger women can grow in their careers.

Outside of Korea, the company will partner with Dress For Success (DFS)[1] in five countries — the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands and Singapore — to organize clothing donation drives to help women get jobs and gain financial independence. Webinars and seminars that raise awareness about DEI will be held as well.

Last November, the DX division established the DEI office to reflect DEI values in all areas of the business, identify areas of improvement and further promote an inclusive corporate culture. To this end, the office checks the company’s systems and culture for discriminatory practices and holds training sessions and campaigns to give employees an accurate understanding of these values. In addition, the office supports voluntary Employee Resources Groups (ERGs) dedicated to DEI that facilitate discussions on the company’s diversity status and improvement goals through the DEI Council, in which the company’s executives take part.

“It is of the utmost importance to operate a diverse and equitable system. We believe that innovative products and services can emerge from a culture where DEI is respected,” said Jinhee Nam, Secretary General of the DEI Office at Samsung Electronics. “Our office established a global DEI policy and plans to operate various programs to increase diversity and create an inclusive organizational culture.”

Jong-Hee Han, Vice Chairman and CEO of the DX Division at Samsung Electronics, and Kye Hyun Kyung, President and CEO of the DS Division at Samsung Electronics, delivered a company-wide message to employees calling for gender equality and highlighting the importance of DEI in honor of International Women’s Day. “I would like to express my gratitude to all the female employees in the DS Division who are doing their best,” said Kyung. “We will help all employees realize their full potential to achieve both personal and professional growth at Samsung,” Han assured.

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[1] Founded in New York City in 1997 to help unemployed and underemployed women achieve economic independence.

To honor International Women’s Day on March 8 and reflect on the value of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), Samsung Newsroom sat down with Samsung employees from different backgrounds ­— from executives to new hires and DEI managers — to hear their thoughts on the company’s thriving DEI culture.

“Diversity is the engine of sustainable growth in a global company, and Samsung is committed to Innovation for All,” said Younghee Lee, President and Chief Marketing Officer of Global Marketing at Samsung Electronics.

“As a global company, our brand philosophy emphasizes solving customers’ problems and helping them enjoy a better life, regardless of their region, race or gender in any part of the world. We are making an effort to genuinely share this value with customers while supporting our mission throughout the organization,” she said.

Lee urged employees to establish a culture of accepting differences by “listening to colleagues’ opinions and having open discussions so that each person can fully realize their capabilities based on their unique background.”

In celebration of International Women’s Day, she advised women to always be themselves and trust their potential. “I believe that if women challenge themselves and pursue what they truly want — in a way that’s true to who they are, rather than blindly following others — it will be a meaningful step forward not only for them but also for society as a whole.”

As a designer for Samsung Electronics’ Interaction Design Team responsible for inclusive design, Gunho Chae considers the brand’s wide customer base to develop products and services that respect the diversity of all users.

Samsung developed a glossary of terms to inform its inclusive language and created guidelines and training materials so employees are well-equipped to incorporate DEI values into all user interface elements and images.

“Samsung accepts all customers and recognizes their differences — regardless of their age, disability, family structure, gender identity, race, culture or socioeconomic status,” said Chae. “We respect all users and strive to make our products, services, manuals and advertisements relevant to our customers for an enhanced user experience.”

Michelle Anne Manglal-Lan, who oversees DEI at Samsung Electronics America, seeks to create an environment where employees can smoothly communicate, understand and learn from each other. She is particularly committed to providing motivation to female employees and fostering a corporate culture where they feel empowered to unlock their potential. Last year, she organized the Americas Employee Resources Groups (ERGs) conference to establish a network for collaboration and share best practices in DEI.

“The ERGs were born out of our employees’ interest and engagement with DEI,” said Manglal-Lan. “Together, we are stronger and can achieve our goals faster. I’m proud of the fact that Samsung Electronics America is the first office to launch an ERG.”

A new employee at Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display (VD) Division, Jiyoon Jang realized the company was more diverse than she had imagined when she first stepped foot in Digital City, Samsung’s Suwon office. “We received DEI training during our new employee onboarding sessions, and I realized the importance of an inclusive culture in a place with such a diverse group of people.”

“I knew Samsung made donations to social responsibility efforts,” she said. “Since joining I also learned that the company is sincerely committed to developing technologies that are truly inclusive.”

Relumino Mode for people with low vision and Audible Subtitles for people who are hard of hearing are among some of the projects the VD Division has developed to make the company’s products more accessible — and align with the department’s slogan, Screens for All.

“I hope the products that I work on in the future will contribute to diversity and inclusion and that I will be able to take pride in what I do,” Jang said. “I believe that discrimination against minorities and intergenerational conflicts stem from ignorance, so I am working hard to educate myself by attending sessions and reading about diversity, equity and inclusion whenever I get the opportunity.”

Above all, Samsung Electronics believes a company culture that respects diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is essential to continued innovation. In honor of the U.N.’s International Women’s Day on March 8, Samsung is giving a platform to its female employees and demonstrating how a company can embrace equity inside and out.

As a global leader in technology and innovation, Samsung aims to lead by example and advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of all women in the workplace. What’s more, research shows that workplaces that excel in DEI drive better outcomes for businesses, including better employee engagement, talent retention and higher financial achievements.

Women Supporting Women Through Open Communication

On top of being the Head of Procurement for Samsung’s Visual Display division, Clara Han is also a working mother of two children in elementary school.

“Although there is now growing movement around men participating in parenthood, women still have difficulty building and continuing their careers uninterrupted due to having children,” said Clara. “As a result, Samsung continuously strives to create a culture where employees can be recognized and grow regardless of gender, nationality or age.”

“We are trying to create an environment where each group member understands and acknowledges the individual differences so that everyone can receive the same opportunities, receive a fair evaluation and perform their best in every situation,” said Clara. “Every voice matters, and having an attitude of listening to everyone positively impacts efficiency and performance at work.”

Megan Detwiler, an engineer at Samsung, became involved with Women in Technology at Samsung (WITS) shortly after she started working at Samsung Austin Semiconductor. Within the program, Megan runs various campaigns to help raise awareness about DEI among employees. While she applauded WITS’ professional development opportunities for women, including industry conferences, classes and monthly meetings, for Megan, the most rewarding part of the program was its sense of community.

“Through WITS, I have been able to connect with people across all aspects of the company, meeting people in technical and non-technical roles, at every level of leadership, from technicians and professionals to vice presidents,” said Megan. “People like that at Samsung, especially in WITS, are invested in ensuring you are set up not just to succeed but truly grow and thrive here.”

“WITS helped me find my voice so that I have not only that confidence but also the courage to amplify other women’s voices as well,” said Megan.

Manavi Pathak, Head of Learning and Organizational Development at Samsung R&D Institute India-Bangalore (SRI-B), is also an active member of the Samsung Women’s Accelerated Network (SWAN). She highlighted how an inclusive workplace successfully meets the needs of the women who work there, noting how Samsung’s DEI initiatives and culture allow talented women to succeed.

“Women are themselves demanding more from work,” said Manavi. “At Samsung R&D Institute India-Bangalore, we have women’s leadership development programs, diversity hiring goals, day care policies, special leave, flexible schedules and more, all of which have supported my professional development and well as the careers of other woman colleagues at Samsung Research.”

“The COVID-19 crisis has reimagined the way we work. More and more women want to work for companies prioritizing cultural change and improving workplace flexibility, including employee wellbeing, diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Manavi. “Companies that rise to the moment will attract and retain woman leaders.”

Adam Eaglefield, an Engagement Team Manager at Samsung Electronics U.K., is also a member of the Women @Samsung ERG and its Male Allies team. This association runs mentorship and networking programs to develop female talent. He says that to realize DEI, the most important part is that we must not only listen to women but also break through unconscious prejudices and understand each other’s point of view.

“Allyship is fundamental in any cause or movement,” said Adam. “In this case, male allies can champion women in the business and industry in all interactions, from working to see representation at senior levels to ensuring women are represented and heard in everyday meetings.”

“As an ally, I make sure that I actively listen to women and their experiences, frustrations, passions and desires,” said Adam. “We must learn more about one another’s perspectives, and our own privileges and unconscious biases, and most importantly, come together to act in a positive way.”

Maria Fernanda Gonzalez, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at Samsung Electronics Mexico, is also a member of Women at Samsung (SEM-S). She spoke about why she appreciated working for a company that actively empowers women and embraces equity.

“Samsung has supported me by giving me all the means to grow, not only by providing me with opportunities to grow in leadership roles but also by giving me the tools to go beyond my goals,” said Maria Fernanda. “I can be an empathetic team player that contributes to the development of my other team members.”

“I am confident that with more strong female leaders who can inspire the next generation of women, we will be able to close the gender gap in the tech industry,” said Maria Fernanda.

Lunch Talk & One Table: Gathering Employee Feedback to Improve Women’s Experiences at Work

To create a work environment that anyone can enjoy, Samsung holds annual events and campaigns for employees all over the world to celebrate special DEI days, including International Women’s Day, International Day of People with Disability and World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. For this year’s International Women’s Day, Samsung’s management and female executives will hold a Lunch Talk meeting to discuss ways to improve DEI. Samsung also will have a One Table event hosted by Jong-Hee Han to listen to the concerns faced by female employees, including female developers and working moms, and to discuss ways to foster female leadership.

The ideas discussed at the meetings will then be delivered to the DEI Secretariat and integrated into organization management. The participants and leaders of each organization will discuss how Samsung can make a consistent effort for gender equality and suggest various opinions to management, ranging from employee mindset to systemic improvement for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Global Women’s Week: Celebrating Diversity, Inclusion and Gender Equality

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Vice Chairman Jong-Hee Han and President and CEO Kye Hyun Kyung deliver a message emphasizing the importance of gender equality and DEI to all employees of the DX Division. Vice Chairman Han underlined the value of diversity, equity and inclusion with his determination to “make an effort to form an organizational culture where all employees from various backgrounds feel that they’re part of the organization.” He emphasized his goal to help employees “fully unleash their potential through equal opportunity.”

About 5,000 Samsung worldwide executives and employees worldwide interested in DEI actively participate in Samsung’s 33 ERGs, which offer everything from networking and mentoring to education at ERG. These groups work hard not only to improve the experience of Samsung employees but also to volunteer and give back to the local community. Among them, these large-scale women’s ERGs operate programs for networking and career development of female executives and employees, striving to strengthen women’s capabilities at work.

Every year since 2017, One Family Council has been holding an annual “Pink Box” charity event at Suwon Digital City for young women from low-income families. This year, a “Pink Box” containing DIY keyrings, women’s items and encouraging messages will be delivered to 100 teenagers.

During the week of International Women’s Day, overseas regional head offices also hold meetings with female employees, DEI webinars with external instructors and panel discussions, in addition to offering vacations for female employees, gift delivery events and more.

Samsung continues to work toward creating a space that goes beyond being just a workplace and fosters employees’ growth by letting them unleash their potential. Samsung’s move toward making an organization where employees and the company can grow together is accelerating the steps toward a better future.

To help mark this special day, Samsung Electronics Canada interviewed Mary Peterson, Vice President, IT and Enterprise Solutions at Samsung Electronics Canada. Beyond her role as Vice President, Mary Peterson is the Executive Sponsor of W+, an employee-drive resource group that supports the success of women across the organization. Mary also spends her time mentoring a number of young women and business professionals, uplifting the next generation of Canadian leaders.

Using examples from inside or outside of work, what do you think helps keep you motivated and inspired?

I am encouraged by the people around me at Samsung Electronics Canada who are taking action to support diversity, inclusion and women empowerment. This is an important cause and they are willing to spend parts of their already busy day to make a difference in this area. They have formed the “W+ Group” an employee resource group that supports the success of women at SECA through three key pillars:

1) Empowerment for women to achieve success

2) Connections across SECA to provide support to women

3) Building a Culture at SECA where women can be successful

This is a powerful mission and this group of women and men have already moved the dial in achieving these aims. As Executive Sponsor of this group, I’m inspired daily by these individuals, who continue to do the heavy lifting and bring great energy and ideas on how to move the W+ mission forward.

Outside of work, I am inspired by the volunteer work I do as a member of a Board of Directors for a non-profit organization, Safehaven, that supports individuals with intellectual disabilities and complex illness. There is so much to be done in this world to support vulnerable people, especially during the pandemic. Diversity and inclusion are not only about women’s rights. They include other under-represented populations also. Safehaven’s tagline is #WeBelong because it is important to remind each other that we all have the right to live life to our fullest potential. These same words can be used to support women in business – every woman has the right to build their career to their fullest potential, and we must continue to fight for and support these rights!

Can you share some of your personal experiences with diversity and inclusion?

I have been in the technology business for over 30 years. In the beginning, I knew that I was facing biases and unfair treatment, but I thought I just had to “suck it up”.  I knew I wanted to move into senior leadership roles and, therefore, I convinced myself that if I worked a little harder, I would overcome these obstacles and achieve my goals. It wasn’t easy and while I didn’t notice it then, I made sacrifices in both my personal and professional lives in order to make it happen.

In hindsight, I now realize that I was often treated differently than my male counterparts and I faced biases and discrimination.  But, without understanding what it was, I just put my head down and worked a little harder. Unfortunately, even today, biases and bad behaviour exist in some organizations. There is still a significant gender pay gap, women are still underrepresented in senior business leadership roles, on Corporate Boards of Directors, and in senior Government positions. I am discouraged that we haven’t made more progress in 30 years and that is why I am personally committed to helping close some of these gaps.

How do you encourage and inspire your colleagues when it comes to diversity and inclusion?

Beyond being the Executive Sponsor for the W+, I mentor young women who are starting out in their careers. I think it is so important to reach out and support future leaders. Being a sounding board, giving advice, and encouraging others to follow their career goals is a small thing that I can do that will hopefully help these individuals take the next steps in their careers.

I also like to encourage others to embrace opportunities to develop.  My career has not been a straight upward line – it’s been a continuous zigzagged path to where I am now.  But I can look back at all those ups, downs and sideways moves and know that I have learned important career lessons at every step, and that’s what’s helped get me to where I am today.

How would you describe your career at Samsung in one sentence?

I have been at Samsung for five years and  I am encouraged that women make up approximately 40% of the Samsung Electronics Canada Executive Team – a team that is respectful and supportive of women. I am also inspired by the work that Samsung’s W+ employee resources group does to empower women within our organization to achieve success at work, at home and in their communities.

What are three things you want others to know about Samsung from a diversity and inclusion perspective?

W+, as mentioned above, is a grassroots organization at Samsung Electronics Canada driving women empowerment, connection and culture. It is made up of an incredible group of men and women committed to building the success of women across the business.

I believe that all Samsung Electronics Canada members are respectful and supportive of women in business and women in leadership.

And finally, I believe that we are free to have conversations with our colleagues to help everyone understand how to better support women. I think that most people’s intentions are good, but when mistakes are made, mostly because of unconscious biases, they are open to having a conversation on how to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

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You have an opportunity to make an impact for women’s history month. Here are a few ways you can help celebrate and support the cause:

• Visit the IWD website to learn more about the mission and this year’s theme
• Spread awareness for women’s history month by posting on social media with the hashtags #ChooseToChallenge and #IWD2021

You can also participate in the following virtual volunteer opportunities related to women’s history, gender rights, women’s rights in Canada:

• Lean In Canada (community of professional women empowering each other to build purposeful and fulfilling careers) https://leanincanada.com/volunteers
• Canadian Women (dedicated to building a gender equal Canada) https://canadianwomen.org/get-involved/volunteer-canadian-womens-foundation/
• Women of Influence (Empowering women to advance today —to create a more inclusive tomorrow) https://www.womenofinfluence.ca/get-involved/volunteer/

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^[1] Definition provided by the Government of Canada: https://cfc-swc.gc.ca/commemoration/iwd-jif/theme-en.html