In recognition of Black History Month, GE Research is shining a spotlight on our Black and African American talent and getting their opinions on diversity, representation, and belonging in the workplace. Today we hear from Atinuke Ademola-Idowu, a research engineer in our Controls & Optimization organization. Atinuke is an electrical engineer whose current focus is on designing model-based controls and optimization tools for GE wind turbine systems.
Atinuke is a member of GE Research’s African American/Affinity Forum (AAF), an employee resource group that helps GE attract, promote, and develop diverse talent. As an early career African American engineer, Atinuke connects with young minorities looking to break into the industry; she understands her words and experiences can have great impact. Atinuke has represented GE Research in outreach and engagement sessions with colleges and universities. Her dedication and passion for equity make her a strong leader and a true asset.
Atinuke was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria and moved to the U.S. for graduate studies.
As a woman of color, why does representation in the workplace matter to you?
Representation matters to me because when I look ahead in the workplace and see someone like me who has walked the potential career pathway that I plan on walking and is thriving, it makes the journey seem achievable. Also, having people like me, navigating the same or similar path makes the journey feel less lonely and easier to accomplish. When you don’t feel different or glaringly stand out, it certainly adds to the joys of working and feels like a true community.
What steps can an employer take to build a more diverse and inclusive company where all talent thrives?
Building a more diverse and inclusive company involves hiring diverse people and maintaining a company culture that is comfortable and inclusive to retain these diverse individuals. Hiring diverse people requires more outreach to colleges and avoiding biases during the recruitment process. Also, the ability of the employer to retain diverse employees will signal to potential employees that the company might be a place to work and thrive. The better the diversity at a company, the more diverse people will want to work there. Maintaining an inclusive culture involves creating an atmosphere where diverse people feel their voices are being heard and they don’t need to shrink or conform to the prevalent company culture.
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