The talented and qualified women and minorities that add diversity to the tech industry at large aren't being proportionally represented within the sector's leading companies, according to Intel CEO Brian Krzanich. To melt away that discrepancy, Intel is investing $300 million into its new Diversity in Technology Initiative.
Krzanich announced the $300 million initiative during Intel's keynotes presentation at the 2015 Consumer Electronics show, after vowing to rid conflict resources from his company. He said the issue of diversity in the technology sector will shape the future of the industry.
"A confluence of industry events has brought this issue to the center stage, from the threat and harassment that have characterized the debate in the gaming world, to the publication of hiring data and diversity statistics in the tech industry -- this is a highly relevant issue and one that we all need to address," stated Krzanich.
The National Girls Collaborative (NGC) Project reports that qualified women with science and engineering backgrounds end up working in the bio-medical and social science fields, accounting for about 58 and 48 percent of the workforce in those sectors respectively. Women account for about 13 percent of the engineering workforce and about 25 percent of workers in the field of computer and mathematical sciences.
Inside Intel, women account for around 748 of the 5,027 mid-level officer and manager positions, according to reports compiled by CNN. In the top officer and manger positions, women account for six of the 41 slots -- the talent is available and Intel was to bring them in.
"It's time to step up and do more," stated Krzanich in his keynotes address. "It's not good enough to say we value diversity and then to have our work places and our industry not reflect the full availability and talent pool of women and underrepresented minorities."
Intel has invited the entire tech industry to join in on the movement to promote diversity in the technology industry. Fueled by its $300 million investment, Intel hopes to reach full representation in its workforce by 2020, stated Krzanich.
"We're going to hold out leaders accountable by tying their pay to our progress. This is going to be difficult to achieve, which is why we're making a significant investment to support diversity and inclusion in out industry," stated Krzanich before adding: "This isn't just good business, it's the right thing to do."
Check out Intel's full keynotes address below:
