Motorola Solutions has long been known for its electronics and communications products. The company, founded in 1928, pioneered mobile communication back in the 1930s with public safety networks and car radios. They even made the equipment that carried the first words from the moon in 1969. Motorola also led the communications revolution with the very first handheld cell phone in 1983.
However, the Chicago-based company is much more than just electronic innovation. Throughout its 85-year-plus history, Motorola has focused on diversity and inclusion, with a goal of incorporating diversity throughout the organization, on all issues, and in all decisions. As a priority, Motorola works to restore communications in locales after natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes strike. They offer a commitment to be first on the scene whenever possible and to help lessen the magnitude of the damage.
This is clearly a company committed to corporate social responsibility. With a three-prong plan to operate ethically, protect the environment, and support the community, Motorola is a true leader in the communications field.
And there is plenty of action to back up this plan. The company eagerly seeks out varying cultures, abilities, and opinions in its hiring process, regularly hiring women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields where the gender is historically less represented. Last year, 29 percent of their hires worldwide were women and 34 percent were people of color. More than half of the interns hired by the company are female or people of color. A third of the company’s promotions into the executive ranks were female. The company makes a commitment to raise these numbers each year.
Parental leave and paid family illness leave, as well as a financial wellness benefits program, are available to all employees. Looking forward, Motorola is investing in programs that embrace this inclusive mindset, including development programs for high-potential female leaders and a virtual unconscious bias class available to the entire global workforce. To further enhance hiring and promotions, Motorola has strategic partnerships with the Illinois Diversity Council, the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and several others.
Motorola Solutions Enterprise Mobility Project Manager Mandy Gill is a part of Motorola’s female-driven executive workforce.
“A recent study found 60 percent of respondents aspire to be senior leaders in their companies,” she told IT Brief, “yet the same report also found there is hesitancy of women to put their names forward. So I think it’s imperative to ensure roles at senior management are designed to provide women with the right coaching, development, and flexibility to reach those senior leadership roles. One of the most encouraging things for me at Motorola Solutions is knowing I work with people who are genuinely passionate about developing and empowering women.”
Chairman and CEO Greg Brown echoed that sentiment with the Business Roundtable.
“As a global company, we not only embrace and value diverse individuals, opinions, cultures, and abilities, but we also actively seek them. It is the unique perspectives and experiences of our employees that enable Motorola Solutions to pioneer so many innovative products and technologies.”
Motorola also truly makes a mark in the communities it serves. Following large-scale disasters, such as Hurricanes Harvey and Michael, Midwest tornadoes, and the California wildfires, the company mobilizes at a moment’s notice to help the affected community reestablish communications so desperately needed to quickly begin recovery, often using its light and effective land mobile radios and brand new TETRA radios in the midst of the crisis. These devices allow federal, state, and local agencies to facilitate cooperation with one another across law enforcement, firefighters, EMS personnel, and other first responders. Command center software helps streamline and mobilize the flow of intelligence during a disaster so that agencies can respond quickly and restore order. Together, these technologies enable the coordination of potential evacuations, search, rescue and recovery operations, and law enforcement activities in impacted areas. Motorola also uses a proactive system of monitoring potential weather events so these response teams can be activated the second an emergency is declared.
Motorola is also strongly committed to reducing its negative impact on the planet and eagerly works to minimize the environmental impacts of its operations and products. With an emphasis on recycling and reuse, reducing energy use and packing materials, building green buildings, and reducing hazardous substances in its products, Motorola demonstrates its corporate responsibility takes many forms.