Difference enriches, but there is more that connects us
Today is Diversity Day and KPN is celebrating the richness and power of diversity in the workplace once again this year. The theme is 'Difference enriches, but there is more that connects us'. KPN is organizing three days of internal workshops, lectures and meetings in which colleagues will come together to celebrate diversity. In conversation with Hilde Garssen, Chief HR Officer and member of the Board of Management of KPN, about the usefulness of and need for Diversity Day.
Why does KPN celebrate Diversity Day?
“Diversity, inclusion and equality are important values at KPN. We believe in the power of diverse teams and an inclusive and equal corporate culture. Regardless of gender identity, origin, religion and age but also ability to work, neurodiversity and sexual orientation. Everyone stands to benefit. That’s why we are continuing to work on diversity and inclusion. It’s good for our colleagues, for KPN and for customers too.”
Diversity is about more than just gender diversity. What else are you doing?
“Cultural diversity and, of course, the LHBTQIA+ community are two crucial elements of our policy. Our Kleurrijk KPN network is there for all people from multicultural backgrounds and colleagues who want to learn more about the richness that diverse cultures bring. We have also included in the KPN collective labor agreement that colleagues can exchange a public holiday for a holyday of their choice. In addition, there is the KPN-Internationals network, where we want to give our colleagues from abroad a warm welcome and, for example, pair them with a Dutch colleague as part of the Culture Coaching program. And at KPN, we have one of the oldest Pride communities, with hundreds of members who feel free to be themselves: KPN Pride. This network has existed for over 13 years and is considered one of the oldest Pride business networks in the Netherlands.”
We continue to work on diversity and inclusion. It’s good for our colleagues, for KPN and for customers too.
How is KPN doing in terms of gender diversity?
“Gender diversity is an important part of our policy, it always has been. Our Board of Management consists of six people and has a 50/50 male/female ratio. That makes us the absolute front-runner among Dutch corporates. Thirty-three percent of Supervisory Board members are women. So, we are comfortably in compliance with the Diversity Quota and Targets Act (Wet ingroeiquotom en streefcijfers) that entered into force last year. I’m very proud of that. However, there are other areas in which we want to improve male/female ratios as well, despite the big challenge this will be. For example, we want more than 30% of senior management to be female by the end of 2024. We aren’t there yet, but we’re doing everything we can to make sure it happens.”
What is KPN doing to make sure it actually achieves its ambitions?
“We are developing tailor-made plans for each division to help us achieve our ambitions. For example, management-team compositions that enable us to gain an insight into the diversity of our teams. Our next step, this year, has been to add some optional questions to our employee involvement survey about the perceived inclusivity of our organization. The insights these questions generate will be used to continue to work on specific plans in the various divisions that will facilitate the achievement of our ambitions.”
What’s on the program for the days ahead?
“The theme this year is 'Difference enriches, but there is more that connects us' and there’s a very good reason why we chose this particular theme. Diversity provides us not just with different perspectives but also a connection that helps us make KPN an organization that is inclusive for everyone. The theme features in every event and we cover all the latest digital developments as well. We bring science, practice and technology together. For example, we join forces with Masuma Shahid (a PhD researcher) to consider the positive and high-risk effects of Artificial Intelligence on the human rights of various target groups. And, in her keynote, Marcia Goddard (a neuroscientist) tells us all about how our brain and unconscious bias influence decision-making.
I myself am particularly proud of the exclusive exhibition of works we have put together at our office in Rotterdam especially for Diversity Day. Taken from the KPN Art Collection, these works of art tell the story of diversity in terms of culture, gender and sexuality, etc. I look forward to admiring them with colleagues and then discussing topics that are sometimes very sensitive.
So, there will be plenty of scope for dialog, fun, new experiences and also to learn from each other. Because, by empathizing with someone, you learn to understand them better.”
Diversity provides us not just with different perspectives but also a connection that helps us make KPN an organization that is inclusive for everyone.