Diversity policies bring different perpectives: Motorola executive

Leaders are beginning to put policies and plans in place to ensure that they hire the right people, for the right job and that they have a diverse idea of what the 'right person' means.

Diversity is not just ticking a box to make sure every gender and race is hired. The real objective is to bring different perspectives that lead to better business decisions, according to Phyllis Lin, APAC channel leader at Motorola Solutions.

She spoke to Digital Nation Australia in Kuala Lumpur for the organisation’s 50th-anniversary anniversary celebrations on the importance of diversity policies, especially within male-dominated industries.

Lin said, “Now when we hire people will really look at the balance of the team. How many of the male staff we have, how many of the female staff we have, and we try to put up some of some kind of balance.”

Women also bring different ideas and viewpoints when faced with business challenges, compared to their male counterparts, Lin said.

“The strengths females have are different from male strengths and that brings diversity to the team,” she said.

According to Lin, there are still hurdles. With most of the company’s partners and customers being male, she has to make strides to be heard and respected in the industry.

“We have to be loud enough and to be heard. But by doing that we have to do our homework.”

Lin said when an organisation backs its diversity efforts, it increases awareness within the industry.

From that increased awareness, Lin said she has been approached multiple times to be a part of diversity programs.

“The program leaders approached me. I want to help the young generations and that is something I can contribute from my experiences,” she said.

At Motorola Solutions, Lin said they always try to hire locals in the region rather than outsource overseas.

“We put up a local investment with hire local people. For example, if we were working in the Philippines, we hire the Philippine people. I think 50 years ago, for example, when we operated in Vietnam, because of the language we hired people like who are Vietnamese, but they were educated in the US and from the US,” she added.

Athina Mallis travelled to Kuala Lumpur as a guest of Motorola Solutions.