- The same, as per SEMI, can also help semiconductor players in tackling talent gap challenges
- SEMI report also talks about the advantages of increasing gender neutrality in semiconductor industry’s workforce
Attracting, developing and retaining talent are some of the biggest challenges facing the technology industries, and this is especially true in the semiconductor industry, where the talent gap is widely acknowledged to be growing. Women, as per a recent SEMI report, are under-represented in the workforce of these industries, pointing to a significant opportunity to address these talent challenges.
“Supporting women’s career advancement is not only the right thing to do, it also makes good business sense. Having led successful diversity and inclusion initiatives with the semiconductor industry, Accenture can share first-hand insights into the challenges that women face in moving up the corporate ladder — and how to address them,” said Syed Alam, who leads Accenture’s Semiconductor practice globally.
Lack of Women in Technology
The technology industry, as per SEMI, is one area where gender diversity can be improved. While 47 per cent of today’s workforce are women, they represent just 25 per cent of US IT workers. Only a few major semiconductor companies are led by female CEOs. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is one of a few US semiconductor companies with a woman at the helm in its peer group.
AMD’s CEO, Lisa Su, has steered a remarkable turnaround for the company as she continues to navigate themale-dominated semiconductor industry. Upon becoming CEO and persisting through a year of organizational growing pains, Su was able to kickstart growth acceleration, demonstrating substantial year-on-year revenue growth since 2016. Her leadership resulted in a nearly 300 per cent stock rise in 2018.
“I invest time with several of our AMD women groups, including the AMD Fellows Forum, Women in Technology Leadership and AMD’s Women Forum. At a young age, my parents encouraged a focus on math and engineering. I am very passionate about how extremely complicated devices change the way we live, work, and play. Our mantra to the team is focusing on great products, the company’s most important customers, and on simplifying everything AMD does,” Su said.
“It is in the best interest of individual companies – and the electronics manufacturing and design supply chain as a whole – to invest in the huge untapped potential that the female workforce represents. Tailored sponsorship and mentorship programs will help address the global talent pipeline problem, the greatest crisis facing our industry today. These programs will also enable companies to reach peak innovation and financial performance with the best and brightest minds at the table, while making the workplace a fair and equitable place of opportunity,” said Ajit Manocha, CEO and president, SEMI.
