At the heart of Micron’s commitment to our people lies a fundamental belief in diversity, equality, and inclusion. Micron’s commitment guides our advances in the technology market, in our economic strategies and our ability to attract and promote some of the brightest women in the world.
During Women's History Month and International Women’s Day, Micron brought team members together to share how we are building a more inclusive culture to ensure women have an equal seat at the table.
Here are just a few gems from a series of awe-inspiring panel discussions, all of them from outstanding leaders who shared their experiences and insights.
You Belong Here
During International Women’s Day, we asked our female board members to join Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer April Arnzen to share their insights on the keys to achieving career aspirations within male dominated corporate environments. Mary Pat McCarthy, Linnie Haynesworth and MaryAnn Wright each shared their perspectives on the importance of allyship, finding mentors, taking risks and leaning in. This inspiring group of women shared stories from their varied careers, unified by a common theme: belonging. “I have shed the notion that I didn't belong, but it took a little while over the early parts of my career to realize that I was where I was supposed to be,” Haynesworth, the newest board member, said. The insights from three of our four female board members (Micron reached male/female board parity earlier this year) provided great guidance for Micron team members who were looking for inspiration on their own sense of fully belonging or becoming a better ally for female coworkers.
It’s a Journey, Fueled by Passion
International Women’s Day also featured a conversation between Micron President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra and Arista Networks President and CEO Jayshree Ullal. Jayshree’s success speaks for itself – she was named to Fortune’s Top 20 Business Persons in 2019, and her star continues to ascend. Their discussion focused on Ullal’s career journey from engineering to marketing to leading a company. “I think you should not be risk averse if you want to be a leader because you should thrive on ambiguity and change and wear passion on your sleeve,” Ullal said.
Women CAN Thrive in Careers and Motherhood
Women’s History Month conversations continued with Alysia Montaño, an Olympic middle-distance runner. She was joined by Micron Senior Vice President of Technology Development Naga Chandrasekaran. Montaño received attention in 2014 when she competed in the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships while eight months pregnant. She placed last but returned to competition after giving birth and won the 800 meters final of the U.S. trials. Today, she works as an activist for working mothers.
After losing professional sponsorships when she became pregnant, Montaño cofounded a nonprofit, &Mother to support all women who choose to thrive in both career and motherhood. She spoke of her body being her business and having the growth mindset to dig deep and challenge the status quo — the assumption that a female athlete’s career stalls when she chooses to start a family. This international platform shines a light on the challenges working mothers face.
These inspiring stories--shared during this Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day--demonstrate the success and impact women have in the workplace. At Micron, we believe that our commitment to women at Micron maximizes our opportunity to transform how the world uses information to enrich life for all.
