Toyota Recognized for Commitment to Diversity
ATHENS, OH — Toyota was named among the 40 Best Companies for Diversity by Black Enterprise. The annual list, included in the July 2011 issue of the magazine, recognizes 40 companies that have demonstrated significant representation of African Americans and other ethnic minorities in areas including supplier diversity, senior management, board of directors and total employment. Toyota was recognized for its achievements in the area of supplier diversity.
This is the sixth consecutive year that Toyota has been included among the Best Companies for Diversity. The list is compiled based on the results of a comprehensive survey of the top 1,000 publicly traded companies in the United States, as well as global companies with significant U.S. operations.
“At Toyota, diversity and inclusion have always been among our top priorities, and we are honored to be recognized by Black Enterprise,” said Dian Ogilvie, senior vice president and chief diversity officer at Toyota Motor North America. “We believe constant growth towards a more inclusive environment is imperative not only in developing and retaining a talented workforce, but in fostering a corporate environment that mirrors the communities in which we do business. As we remain committed to continuously improving, we will work closely with our senior managers and Diversity Advisory Board to enhance our efforts even further.”
In 2001 Toyota launched its 21st Century Diversity Strategy, which set tangible diversity targets in areas including employment, procurement and dealer development. Working closely with its external Diversity Advisory Board, a seven-member board chaired by former Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, Toyota has made strong progress, including more than doubling its annual spending with diverse suppliers. In addition, people of color now represent nearly 30 percent of Toyota’s employment.
The Best Companies for Diversity is just one of Toyota’s latest recognitions for its efforts in diversity and inclusion. Other honors include:
- Inclusion among DiversityInc.’s Top 50 Companies for Diversity for five years
- Inclusion in the Human Rights Campaign “Best Places to Work Corporate Equality Index” for the past four years
- Induction into the Billion Dollar Roundtable, in recognition of over $1 billion in annual spending with certified ethnic and women-owned suppliers
- “Corporation of the Year” award from the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)
- “Distinguished Supplier Diversity Award” from the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
“The companies selected for distinction in this list not only demonstrated a commitment to diversity, but viewed it as a business imperative,” said Black Enterprise Careers & Lifestyle Editorial Director Sonia Alleyne. “The strength of Toyota’s network of minority suppliers enables the company to be even more competitive on a global scale.”
“Everyone deserves a chance to better themselves, said Jeff Wood, President of Don Wood Toyota, Athens, Ohio. “Our dealerships are as committed as Toyota to make sure everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.”
