TIer Gilberto Aguilar said it was no surprise that TI was just named a “Top STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Employer for Hispanics” by Hispanic Network Magazine. Gilberto started working at TI 29 years ago at a plant in his home country of El Salvador, and said it didn’t take long for him to feel the inclusive environment TI works hard to maintain.
“Two years into my first job, one of the managers in the U.S. asked me to come for a very challenging assignment,” said Gilberto.
Gilberto succeeded at his new ‘very challenging’ assignment and then went back to the plant in El Salvador.
“They decided to close the plant, but the manager I worked with in the U.S. recognized what I had been able to do when I was on assignment and asked me to come and work for him permanently,” said Gilberto. “Here is someone who recognizes talent and skills regardless of background, where the person comes from or what he looks like. He gave me an opportunity to do a job that I was well qualified to do.”
Fast forward nearly three decades later, and Gilberto is a product and test engineer manager for the MSP430 and chair of TI’s Hispanic Initiative ¡Unidos!
“The job opportunity 27 years ago shows how TI really recognizes skills and talents no matter who you are and allows you to be empowered,” said Gilberto.
Gilberto’s story is just one example of TI’s commitment to diversity and inclusion – a commitment recently recognized by Hispanic Network Magazine in its special “Best of the Best” summer issue. TI was one of 30 companies listed in the “Top STEM Employer for Hispanics” category. The “Best of the Best” lists compile information from company surveys, data from independent research organizations, market research reports, public information and annual reports submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Form 10-K).
“I think it is wonderful recognition of all of the effort that people have put in across the company to make TI a great place to work,” said Samantha Dwinell, vice president of human resources at TI. “No matter who you are or where you are from, you feel like you can be successful and make a career here.”
Samantha said TI was recognized by Hispanic Network Magazine because of a commitment by TI’s leadership to diversity and inclusion, but also because of the hard work of TI’s diversity initiatives like ¡Unidos!
“It is a huge part of our culture to have the diversity network, which are all active, engaged and employee run, which is very important,” said Samantha.
“I believe TI is empowering everyone to reach their greatest potential because of the hard work of TI’s Diversity Initiatives like ¡Unidos!” Gilberto added.
Gilberto said the recognition from Hispanic Network Magazine is humbling but not surprising.
“Anybody you talk to will tell you how proud I am to be a part of Texas Instruments,” he said. “I’ve always been in awe of what TI has been able to accomplish and how TI transformed into the company it is today. Our culture of diversity and inclusion is a huge part of that.”