Corporate
Nick Di Ponzio: What My Grandmother Taught Me About DE&I
4/6/2023
Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. Three significant words often strung together with the power to shape a stronger company culture and workplace environment for all.
At Samsung, it’s part of our company’s heritage to push boundaries and defy barriers to achieve meaningful progress and power bold innovation. But innovation doesn’t just happen — it is designed by humans for humans. And a critical ingredient is our inclusive culture and diverse workforce. Our company is made up of nearly 270,000 people around the world of different ethnicities, races, genders, sexual orientations, identities, religious beliefs, and abilities. But together, we’re ONE global team united by Samsung’s purpose and values.
Action is another noteworthy word. Samsung is continuing to make progress on our journey towards driving meaningful change. And we want to spotlight the DE&I champions within our organization that have been and continue to be instrumental in enabling us to make an impact and helping to create a rich sense of belonging where everyone can thrive.
We sat down with Nick Di Ponzio – a proud Samsung employee and Vice President of our People Team. Here’s what he had to say about DE&I…
1. What does diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) mean to you, both personally and professionally?
When I think of DE&I, I think about connections with people that enable an elevated level of thought, empathy, and support for one another. It’s about being openminded, and demonstrating a genuine interest to learn, understand, and eventually graduate to an appreciation for that diversity. For me, I love to learn about the things that make each individual unique – their background, culture, values, upbringing, and beyond. Also, finding out what we have in common is just as interesting to me as our differences. Generally, I find that there is a tendency to gravitate to what is common or familiar, but I always look to disrupt that train of thought.
2. Can you share a little about what’s shaped your passion for creating a more equitable workplace?
While growing up, my sister and I spent a lot of time with our grandparents, who were Italian immigrants. We were practically raised by them. My Grandmother, who passed away several years ago, is without a doubt THE most influential person in my life. Growing up in war-torn Italy, she had to flee her home, make a new life in the mountains, and was tasked with the responsibility of raising her four younger siblings. She would tell me stories about how she would help people fleeing from captivity – many of whom were Black and Jewish; how she would provide food, clothing, and what little else she could spare; and how she would have to send them on their way as quickly as possible without being discovered. Others in her town were not nearly as accommodating. This was quite an experience for my then 14-year-old grandmother.