This is not to say that we are “there” yet – we do have a long way to go – but we are certainly heading in the right direction. Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, Cinco De Mayo and Juneteenth. YKK AP has taken several strides to make employees feel not only included, but valued and respected these efforts are shown through celebrations such as Martin Luther King Jr. Today, leaders who understand this advantage are focused on embracing the strengths of a diverse workforce to cultivate a fair and equal playing field for career opportunities and employee engagement. If you asked me today why I chose YKK AP as an employer, my answer would center YKK AP’s commitment to diversity and inclusion as the main factor.ĭiversity in the workplace matters because it allows us to recognize difference as an asset and not an obstacle diverse workplaces thus have the opportunity to combine a broad collection of experiences, backgrounds and viewpoints, ultimately leading to better decision-making. The excitement was building up in me and I could not wait to take on this new role within the organization. This signal of commitment reflected the values of the organization to its customers and future talent from the earliest point of contact.ĭuring the office tour I was astonished by the diverse and inclusive workforce…men and women, people of different races, and even staff members who spoke with accents just like me. At that time, I knew I was in the right place – an organization that was committed to embracing Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) both inside and beyond the organizational literature. The booklet contained the 25 YKK AP Fundamental Behaviors, and embracing diversity was one of them. When I sat down for my interview, the first question that I asked was, “Does YKK AP embrace diversity and inclusion?” With a smile on her face, the VP of HR (my interviewer) pulled out a small booklet and handed it over to me. Being very passionate about diversity and inclusion in the workplace, I immediately began reflecting on my own experience to best capture what this topic means to me and why it is essential for us all. I could not contain my excitement when I was asked to present this topic to the organization.

Embrace diversity