Secret of true AI at DELL EMC is diversity of its creators

Without diverse input at the building stage, the outlook of any artificial intelligence can be very one dimensional – but DELL is helping such software systems see the bigger picture ... 

TECHNOLOGICAL advances mean the world is changing so rapidly it’s a struggle to keep up.

One of the key issues is the ever-growing skills gap because, while it is commonly thought by the older generation that many young people all want to enter the technology sector, the reality is that not enough are studying STEM subjects to meet future needs.

For Dell Technologies the answer is a diverse and inclusive workforce that includes minority groups, females as well as men, and everyone from graduates to those re-entering the workforce at a later stage in life.

Diversity and inclusion is seen by Dell Technologies not just as a politically correct slogan but a business imperative - which is why the company has launched a range of programmes to attract and retain diverse talent.

Dell Technologies’ diversity and inclusion strategy is as important as its technology strategy because it is regarded as bringing business and social value to the company.

“We are in 180 countries and have 140,000 employees and what they want is to create a place where people can come to work and be themselves,” said Tricia Smyth, EMEA Diversity and Inclusion Lead for Dell Technologies.  “We want them to feel a sense of belonging so they do their best work rather than sit worrying about how they are perceived.

LEADING THE WAY:  Tricia Smyth, EMEA Diversity and Inclusion Lead for Dell Technologies

That is a key part of their code of conduct. On the flip side they want customers to see they value these groups.” Artificial intelligence (AI) is one area where homogeneity does not make good business sense.

“At the end of the day AI is programmed by a person and if you have a homogenous group programming it means there is just one dimension,” pointed out Smyth. “If they can apply diversity to that they are more likely to reflect what customers are looking for.

“As one of the largest technology companies in the world the onus is on us to use that position of privilege to make a difference. 

“We are in a unique position to work on global challenges and they have built their agenda around sustainability, inclusion and transforming lives with technology.”The seriousness of the skills gap can be seen in the fact that by 2024 in Europe and North America alone there are expected to be 600,000 unfilled computing jobs based on current graduation rates. 

This is where programmes like STEMAspire comes in as it is aimed at encouraging females to study science, technology, engineering or mathematics and reverse the tendency for female students to drop out before they finish their studies. 

This is Dell Technologies’ biggest programme in Scotland and has been so successful that the same model is being adopted by the company’s Pride employee resource group to encourage more of the LGBT community to enter the field. “We have just finished piloting this in Ireland and the feedback has been superb both from the mentors and mentees,” said Smyth. 

“For mentors it is good to see they can cultivate talent and from the LGBT standpoint they are providing role models within Dell Technologies. Often LGBT students fail to make the transition from college or university into the industry as they are unsure of how they will be received.”

Dell Technologies also goes into secondary schools with its Digital Futures Programme to give pupils an idea of what it is really like to work in the sector and the range of jobs available.

“This is working well too,” said Smyth. “At the start of one of my recent sessions I asked for a show of hands of those considering a career in the technology industry. Three out of 165 pupils put their hands up but at the end of the hour every single hand went up. They show how technology affects everything they do so that they can see all the different aspects of being a computer programmer.”

Another Dell Technologies programme centres on those who have taken a few years out of the workplace and would like to go back to work but are in need of new skills as well as a confidence boost.

Flexible working is also seen as key to encouraging people with family responsibilities to work for Dell Technologies and by 2020 it is expected that nearly 50 per cent of the workforce will have flexible work arrangements.

“We want to attract talent and make sure they create an environment where people can be themselves,” said Smyth. 

“Dell Technologies is committed to that and is regularly voted one of the most ethical and most admired companies.

She added: “The core to all of this is addressing issues of bias. They all have biases and these affect how they make decisions so they need to be aware of them.”In order to help employees recognise their biases the company has launched its Many Advocating Real Change (MARC) programme.

“We are not trying to change people but they need to eliminate bias from how they hire and recruit to make sure they build a diverse workforce,” said Smyth. “People tend to hire someone they like or someone like them so it is building awareness that someone unlike you does not always mean worse - it just means different.” 

For more information go to https://corporate.delltechnologies.com/en-us/social-impact/cultivating-inclusion.htm

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Gender was on the agenda in Edinburgh

Dell Technologies are working collaboratively with Equate Scotland to help support and prepare the next generation of female STEM professionals entering today’s transforming work environment. 

Scotland’s gender equality expert within STEM Equate Scotland, recently hosted their annual Student Network Conference and Awards Ceremony at the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation. Equate Scotland, established in 2006, is an organisation that actively promotes and encourages the advancement of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. 

CAPITAL VENTURE: The Student Network Conference and Awards Ceremony

The event brought together female students from colleges and universities across Scotland, celebrating their passion for their chosen field. Students connected with inspiring female professionals from companies such as Dell Technologies, Data Lab, Ernst Young and Balfour Beatty, to help build on their network and enhance their career development.

The conference came about as part of Equate Scotland’s strategy to make tangible and sustainable change in Scotland, enabling the development of women studying and working within STEM industries by supporting their recruitment, retention and career progression.

Scotland’s STEM employment sector struggles with skills shortages which many expect will be exacerbated by Britain’s exit from the European Union. Studies suggest there are too few students coming through, particularly females, which jeopardises Scotland’s chance to be at the forefront of innovation. 

Only 25% of women have a profession within the STEM sector and 70% of university students studying STEM will not progress onto a role within the industry. Dell Technologies attended the event and hosted an interactive workshop for students and employers. The workshop focused on effective communication and social media, providing students with tips and guidance on how to enhance and maintain a professional social media presence across platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter.   

Sarah O’Donnell, Executive Communications at Dell Technologies says: “The event was very much a celebration of super inspiring young women, bringing them together to connect with peers and other female professionals to help enhance their career development. 

“Dell Technologies were delighted to support the event and I was particularly privileged to impart some of my knowledge on social media and communication skills in a super interactive workshop.” 

Equate Scotland initially connected with Dell Technologies in 2017, providing support in the launch of their STEMAspire mentoring programme. The programme came about as part of

Dell Technologies wider social impact strategy to drive growth and innovation through advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace.  

Dell coupon codes for August 2023

Yes, to receive your 10% AAA discount head to the Dell website and register your company and follow the email instructions sent to your inbox.

We’re very happy to be able to tell you that Dell offers free standard shipping on all orders! If you’re a member of the Dell Rewards program you can also get free expedited delivery on selected orders to get your orders even sooner. Express shipping options are also available if you'd prefer, but these are subject to extra costs.

To get in touch with the Dell support team you can call them at 1-877-275-3355, the opening hours are Monday - Sunday 09:00 - 23:00 or you can start a live chat on the website, which is open 24/7. 

Yes, Black Friday is a great time of year to shop at Dell because you’re bound to find an abundance of deals. If you’d like the lowdown on what was available to purchase last year, check out their Best Black Friday Dell and Alienware deals guide, you could buy devices for hundreds of dollars less than their normal prices. We're guessing there’ll be some even better deals this upcoming Black Friday, so be sure to check back here to find out what the best offers are.  

Dell offers a 30-Day Price Guarantee, so if you find the same product for cheaper on one of Dell’s qualifying retailers, the price will be matched. To get your price match you need to contact a Dell customer service team member either on the phone or through the live chat, sharing the active link which shows the product with a lower price and they will validate your price match.

Hardware, accessories, peripherals and parts ordered at Dell can be returned for a refund within 30 days of receiving them. However, shipping costs are non-refundable and there may be a 15% restocking fee. Items must be returned in their original packaging and in excellent condition.

Yes, most Dell products comes with a standard warranty of 1 year, however, some products can also have warranties of up to 5 years. Furthermore, warranty extensions can be purchased along side your item at the checkout. 

Shop the Deals Section: There’s a handy ‘Deals’ section which can be found in the top bar of the website. In this dropdown, you can select from different categories including ‘Laptop Deals’, ‘Gaming PC Deals’, and ‘Monitors Deals’ just to name a few! What’s on offer changes regularly, so snap up a great offer when you find one.

Shop the sales: As well as Black Friday deals, Dell also has sales throughout the year offering some massive discounts. The main ones to look out for are the holiday season and New Year's sales. 

Dell Rewards: If you’re a regular shopper at Dell it’s worth joining the free loyalty program, Dell Rewards. When you become a member, you get 3% back in rewards and free fast shipping. To become a member, you need to have a Dell account, and from there you can opt to join the program. 

Shop refurbished items: A great way to get a discount on Dell products is to shop the refurbished range, which can be found in the Dell Outlet. Dell’s refurbished items are quality checked and any repairs that are needed are completed, to make sure they’re of like-new quality so you’re really getting a great deal. For more peace of mind, Dell offers the same comprehensive warranty that new products get.

Student Discount: Dell has its own exclusive student discount program which offers limited-time discounts exclusively to university students, as well as some other treats. To get your Dell student discount you need to provide your school or university email address and Dell will send you your unique student coupon.

Military Discount: Dell offers a 10% discount on PCs and electronics for the Military and their families. To claim the coupon code, sign up at Dell with your ‘.Mil’ email address.

Dell trade-ins: Dell has a trade-in program that gives you the chance to give your old device to Dell in exchange for a store credit that you can use towards a brand-new product. If your old device doesn’t qualify for store credit, Dell will still happily take your old device in and recycle it for free.

1) Scroll through their list of Dell promo codes - they update this page regularly with the latest offers.

2) Once you’ve found the code you’d like to use, click the ‘Get Code’ button underneath the offer. A pop-up box will appear, revealing the code and a tab will be opened on the Dell website.

3) Click the ‘Copy’ button in the pop-out box to copy the code. Head to the Dell website and begin your shopping spree. Once you have everything, head to your shopping cart.

4) On the right-hand side of the shopping cart page, there’s a section called ‘Coupons’, paste the code in the box that says ‘Enter Coupon’ and click the ‘Apply Coupon’ button.

Dell Technologies to Hold Conference Call Aug. 31 to Discuss Second Quarter Fiscal 2024 Financial Results

ROUND ROCK, Texas, Aug. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dell Technologies DELL will conduct a conference call Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. CDT to discuss its fiscal 2024 second quarter financial results. The conference will be available to the public as a live, audio-only webcast on Dell Technologies' website at investors.delltechnologies.com; an archived version will be available at the same location.

The company will issue the results via a press release with accompanying financial statements before the conference call broadcast. At that time, the release, prepared remarks and a presentation containing additional financial and operating information prior to financial guidance may be downloaded from investors.delltechnologies.com.

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