Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to have worked with great people from a wide variety of backgrounds and beliefs, some of whom have faced incredible challenges because of their race, gender or disability. I firmly believe that it is our duty as a company to do what we can to make our society one which is just and fair for all.
Working with diverse colleagues has influenced me greatly over the years. They have been an invaluable source of new ideas, viewpoints, and opinions, and have pushed me to become a better professional and leader. On a personal level, I feel I have become a better, more tolerant and open-minded person for this experience.
This enriching experience has, quite simply, made me understand the value of diversity, in race, gender, disability and thought, for any organization.
I am proud to lead a company that incorporates a philosophy of “Doing the right thing as a human being” in every aspect of the business. At our organization, diversity is important, and as a Spaniard leading a Japanese company in the United States, I can personally attest to this.
Despite my international background, I personally have not experienced racial discrimination. Therefore, I cannot possibly claim that I understand what many in the Kyocera family and others across the world experience on a daily basis – I do not.
Looking at the recent and continuing events in the United States and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, the importance of an open and tolerant society is evident. I truly believe the tide is shifting, and at Kyocera Document Solutions America, we aim to do our part, and take greater steps to help fight inequality, whatever form it may take.
This led to the creation of our Social Responsibility Committee. It should be stated that this is an employee-driven committee, and it has filled me with pride to see our people volunteering to take the initiative on such important issues. I wish to thank them for setting an example for us all. We have empowered them to make this a success, and our management team is committed to supporting their recommendations on how to make our company better – more diverse, inclusive and socially aware – so that we can not only make improvements at Kyocera, but to also make a greater contribution to society. As I previously said, people are what make organizations, and organizations are engines of change.
To achieve sustainable diversity, we want to help tackle the root cause and help create the foundations on which a strong, inclusive society can be built upon. To truly create equality, we must build stable foundations for a diverse future that can stand for generations to come, not just relying upon policies or regulations.
As a company, I certainly feel we can do more. We aim for every person, regardless of gender, race, religion, sexuality or physical capability, to have the same prospects for progression, be it for a job or a promotion.
To that end, we have formed the new position of Manager, Talent Acquisition and Diversity. This role will focus on spearheading our efforts to ensure that we attract and maintain a diverse workforce at all levels within Kyocera Document Solutions America. This will be done in part through the cultivation of relationships with associations and organizations committed to ensuring equal opportunity and inclusion.
By doing the right thing as a human being, our goal is to continue to contribute great value to the society around us. This will not only benefit us as a company but, more importantly, it will have a positive impact on our customers, our partners and our society as a whole.
I want Kyocera Document Solutions America to be recognized as a company that cares about much more than just profits. We are determined to continue building a legacy as a company that is committed to making its community better and stronger. We want our customers to be proud to have chosen Kyocera and our employees proud to be a part of our team.
It is these intangibles that make all the difference. They separate the good from the great, the sustainable organizations from those that eventually fall away. At Kyocera, we are here for the long haul, and we are driven to do better for our people each and every day.
We will do so by staying true to our philosophy. We will continue to do what is right.
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