Awards Highlight Our Commitment to Diversity

Apr 21, 2014 1:05 PM ET

Awards Highlight Our Commitment to Diversity

By Celeste Carrasco, Director of Federal Public Affairs

“Good corporate citizenship” is more than just a phrase at our organization: it’s our culture, and I am very proud of that. On the heels of Women’s History Month, AT&T was named among the “Top 50 Companies for Female Executives,” by the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) for the fifth consecutive year in a row. Companies that are included on this list have a proven track record of moving women into top executive positions, as well as cultivating a corporate culture that identifies, promotes, and nurtures talented women. 

At AT&T, more than 90,000 women executives, engineers, marketers, sales people, finance leaders, attorneys and mentors  help lead a ground breaking transformation in the way we connect with our world every single day. The work and recognition of my fellow female colleagues – particularly those who serve in the technology fields within our organization – is a great source of inspiration for me. Not only do these women help shape our environment, but they are truly helping people. 

I am equally thrilled that the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) recently released their Corporate Inclusion Index, awarding AT&T their sole highest score – 95 – in recognition of our success at employing Hispanics at every level of our company. This measurement is based on HACR's four pillars of corporate social responsibility: employment, procurement, philanthropy, and governance. As a female Latina executive, I am passionate about empowering others, and serving at an organization that values the concept of “paying it forward” is especially important.

Good corporate citizenship is more than just winning awards or receiving recognition, though it’s nice to receive reminders that we’re on the right track. I thoroughly appreciate and understand the powerful impact of AT&T’s commitment to cultivating a diverse team of talented individuals. Our commitment to these principles of fairness is as strong as our commitment to the people and the communities we serve – and we will continue to make this effort a priority.