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Winter
2002 Vol. 11 No. 1
Attracting
Top Talent
Finding outstanding talent is the first
step in creating a high performance workforce," says
Elena Bingham. "The world's best companies today seek
out smart people who offer not only technical skills,
but teamwork abilities," she says. "This ensures that
business solutions reflect the best ideas refracted
through the lenses of experience, innovation and creativity-through
diverse thinking."
A member of the DuPont diversity leadership
team, Bingham, welcomes individuality and cherishes
freedom. Through her experience as a woman, a Hispanic
and as a naturalized American, she brings a new dimension
to the role of collaborating with colleges to identify
prospective employees. Her life and professional experiences
as chemist, financial analyst, business manager and
human resources manager have shaped her understanding
of the benefits of attracting growing numbers of minorities-Hispanics,
African Americans, Asians, people from the Middle East-to
build a powerful workforce.
How does a company go about finding the
talented prospects who can bring forth the ideas and
energy to fuel future success? Bingham explains that
it often begins with educational support.
| Elena
Bingham, manager of College Relations and Recruiting
and corporate leader of the Hispanic Network, offers
the perspective of diversity and unity that evolved
from a childhood in her native Cuba-where she was
comfortable in her own culture until revolution
compelled her family to flee. |
There
is unity in diversity. We are all individuals, that
is what identifies, unites and distinguishes us. Cultural
backgrounds influence our customs, season our foods,
color the cadence of our speech, but do not, and could
not, define us. -Elena Bingham
"For decades, DuPont has funded scholarships
and internships to support minority undergraduate and
graduate students," she says. "Many young people get
to know the company through the National Action Council
for Minorities in Engineering, Inc., (NACME) or the
National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities
in Engineering and Science, Inc., (GEM). Some participate
in two or three internships before they complete their
degrees and look for their first professional assignments.
DuPont's goal is to hire 50 percent of new employees
from participants in the Student Employment Program,
which includes both internships and co-op opportunities."
Some 20 universities and colleges are
the focus of DuPont's recruiting efforts for scientists
and engineers because of their diverse student bodies,
and because graduates are well prepared for technical
careers.
"There is unity in diversity," Bingham
says. "We are all individuals. That is what identifies,
unites and distinguishes us.
"Cultural backgrounds influence our customs,
season our foods, color the cadence of our speech, but
they do not, and could not define us," she says. "Recent
events dealt a harsh blow to our security and comfort,
but we cannot falter in working toward our goal of a
better future. That takes all of us, each making our
personal contribution as unique as our individual identity."
"I
am a firm believer in personal development on a continuous
basis throughout an individual's career. Investing in
our people has become an important part of how DuPont
is positioning itself for the future."
-Chad
Holliday DuPont Chairman and CEO
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