Avnet is investing in the SciTech Institute’s Chief Science Officers (CSO) program to support the powerful intersection between industry and STEM education. A pillar of the CSO program is to encourage students to pursue a career in science and technology, while empowering them to use their STEM skills to make a positive difference in their world.
Based on the outcome of Avnet’s sustainability materiality1 study in 2020, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) was identified as a key focus area for our ESG strategy.
Additionally, Avnet has been focused on the strategy of striving to make a positive social impact on the world by focusing on both its internal and external operations, communities and employees. We work to ensure our entire operation is socially responsible and ethical.
Workplace culture and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
Reinforcing our core values is the cornerstone of our approach. A strong and diverse company culture is key to Avnet’s success. People who feel they belong are invested in what they do to help make the company successful.
Our DEI strategy is built on five pillars, which we consider foundational to everything we do for our DEI program at Avnet.
- Listening and learning
- Education and awareness
- Policies and principles
- Business commitments
- Community and partnership
Below is an update on our FY21 DEI goals and our FY22 DEI goals
DEI goals: FY21
| FY21 Goal | Performance |
|---|---|
| Increase DEI community support | MET GOAL
|
| Develop baseline DEI programs | MET GOAL
|
| Set goals for increasing diversity training and hiring | MET GOAL
|
| Maintain Board diversity at 40% | MET GOAL
|
| Evolve our Employee Resource Groups (ERG) | MET GOAL
|
| Set goals on executive leadership team diversity | DID NOT MEET
|
DEI goals: FY22
Redefined goals to align to five-pillar strategy:
| STRATEGY | ACTION | FY22 GOAL |
|---|---|---|
| Listen-and-Learns | Pulse surveys | Issue at least one survey to the Avnet population on DEI topics and host additional educational sessions |
| Education and awareness | Global DEI Council | Council introduced globally; each regions' goals include at least one deliverable in FY22 e.g. hosting a regional DEI event |
| Policy and practices | Mentoring | Partner with Talent Center of Excellence to revamp and re-launch Avnet’s mentoring program globally with tools and global communication |
| Business commitments | Supplier & vendor diversity |
Proactively target efforts to increase spend with the minority- and female-owned businesses that we currently partner with, and implement a dual sourcing procurement strategy to bring on additional women-owned or minority-owned vendors into Avnet’s portfolio of suppliers. Process improvements will include developing a standardized response statement for vendor and supplier inquiries and defining specific supplier diversity spend goals by end of FY23. |
| Equity | To further promote workplace equity, we will perform a baseline salary study in FY23 leveraging our global compensation framework to uncover potential gaps in overall pay and drive even greater levels of employee engagement. The legwork to prepare for this effort will continue through the current fiscal year. | |
| Community and partnership | Volunteering | Hold at least one event per region in FY22 where employees volunteer, in person or virtually, to highlight or support a community that is historically marginalized or disadvantaged (in collaboration with Avnet Cares) |
Visit Avnet’s DEI programs page for more information.
LIFE SAVING TRAINING: Avnet's employee training not only helps employees stay on top of skills, but it also saves lives. On March 31, 2021, Kasia Adamowicz, an inventory shift supervisor, began her day like any other at Farnell's Maybrook inventory office. However, a few hours later, a colleague collapsed and needed urgent help. Ms. Adamowicz had completed her first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at Farnell (U.K.). She immediately recognized that her colleague was suffering cardiac arrest. She quickly performed CPR until emergency services arrived, saving his life.
EMPLOYEE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Avnet believes our responsibility to our employees, industry and global community extends beyond achieving business and financial goals. We are proud of our long history of community involvement both through financial giving and hands-on volunteerism. By sponsoring initiatives in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), diversity, the environment, disaster relief and supporting employees’ volunteer passions in our local communities, Avnet and its employees continue to make an impact around the world.
STEM sponsorship
Community Grants
ASU Innovation Open (ASUio)
Arizona State Science and Engineering Fair
Bee-saving Projects
Community Partnership
Special Donation
Supporting Communities
in Crisis
In-kind Donation
Young Maker Competition
Igniting a Passion for STEM
Awards
2021 Gold Quill Award for Merit for their COVID-19 employee communications
The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) serves professionals in the field of business communication, bringing together the profession’s collective disciplines. The annual Gold Quill Awards are presented to those organizations meeting and exceeding the highest standards of the profession. This year Avnet was one of about 500 submissions, and won in the category: COVID-19 Response & Recovery Management and Communication. We are one of just a handful of U.S. companies recognized in this category.
2021 Copper Anvil Awards for Crisis Communications and Internal Communications
The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) serves the communications community, advocating for industry excellence and ethical conduct while providing lifelong learning opportunities. The annual Copper Anvil Awards recognize organizations that deliver excellence in public relations in their communities and is one of the highest honors in the industry. This year, Avnet’s communications team took home two awards, one for crisis communications and another for internal communications, in recognition of its work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
50/50 Women on Boards List
50/50 Women on Boards recognized Avnet for Being a 3+ Corporation with three or more women on their board of directors. 50/50 Women on Boards is the leading global education and advocacy campaign driving the movement toward gender balance and diversity on corporate boards.
CRN’s 2021 Women of the Channel list
Two Avnet female executives – Dayna Badhorn and Peggy Carrieres – were recognized for their unique strengths, vision and achievements as female leaders in the IT sector, including vendors, distributors and solution providers.
Avnet India awarded “Best Workplace in Electronics in India” in 2020 and is certified as ‘Great Place to Work’ for 4th consecutive year in 2021.
Avnet India was recently awarded the Best Workplace in Electronics in India in 2020 and was certified as a “Great Place To Work" for the fourth consecutive year with the highest scores achieved as compared to the previous three years by the Great Place to Work© Institute.
Avnet Chief People Officer Ken Arnold named Most Admired Leader by Phoenix Business Journal
Ken Arnold has received the honor of being named by Phoenix Business Journal as one of its the Most Admired Leaders in 2020. Arnold’s career includes more than 20 years of experience in human resources and information technology, including serving as vice president of human resources for multiple business units, in talent acquisition, and as director of human resources, information systems and payroll operations. He is a member of the Avnet Executive Leadership Team and responsible for leading our global human resources team to attract, develop, engage and reward employees.
Avnet Asia Pacific Awarded Outstanding International Branded Distributor for the 19th consecutive year by the Electronics Supply & Manufacturing-China (ESM-China)
The award reaffirms Avnet’s best-in-class supply chain services and outstanding contributions to the electronics industry particularly during these unprecedented times.
