By Bruce Christian CHANNEL MANAGEMENT DEI Enters the Channel with Juniper’s Diversity+ Partner Program Businesses everywhere are becoming more socially aware of injustices and taking a stand to be more active in fighting hatred, discrimination and systemic or institutional racism wherever it appears. In industry sector after industry sector, leading companies are beginning to implement policies that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workforce. This includes IT and telecommunications, as can be seen at Juniper Networks. Vice president of global channels and virtual sales, Gordon Mackintosh, explained why Juniper jumped at the chance to be a DEI leader in the industry. “The decision to build a program to help support and build a diverse array of partners was an easy one, because it’s a central part of our business philosophy,” Mackintosh explained. “We’re focused on making sure that Juniper is a place where people feel welcome, feel valued and know that their views are heard. “We cultivate inclusive business relationships that embrace people from diverse backgrounds, experiences, identities and thinking styles,” he said. Mackintosh explained that at Juniper, “we recognize that the true potential of the network can only be realized by connecting people of all backgrounds, life experiences and approaches to problem solving.” He said that diversity is good for business and provides a competitive advantage when competing for new partners and when hiring for global value chains roles. “In line with this belief, we are committed to increasing diversity in our supplier and partner relationships to better reflect the diversity of our customers,” Mackintosh said. 36 CHANNELV ISION | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTg4Njc=