Diversity and Inclusion at Philips

I believe that a diverse and inclusive culture drives business performance and encourages everyone to bring their best qualities to work. We understand that recognizing and valuing different ideas, experiences and perspectives are key to enhanced collaboration, innovation and success. To me, while being diverse means respecting different backgrounds, genders and ages, it also involves valuing different individual expertise and what people bring to the table. Diversity, in my view, is an essential parameter for any company that wants to be successful.

At Philips, we are constantly integrating diversity into our processes and actively implementing leader-led strategies to achieve step-changes in; gender diversity, building intentionally diverse teams, and furthering an inclusive culture where everyone is valued for their uniqueness. We create the space for both men and women to become the best they can and as a result have been successful in both hiring women leaders as well as growing female leaders from within our organization. In fact, 55% of our top management today are female. It is a strategic priority for Philips to increase the diversity of our workforce to better mirror the society in which we operate, to foster an inclusive working environment where people are valued and accepted for their uniqueness, and where everyone can be themselves.

To the eager beavers looking to enter the job market, I urge you to look for a company that values that you come in with new, fresh ideas and recognizes your potential. Look for a company that is not trying to fit you into a stereotype but rather a company that appreciates what makes you different.