CSX #2
Jacksonville, Fla.
CEO: Michael Ward
VP, Chief Human Resources and CDE: Diana Sorfleet
32,000 employees
www.csx.com
As the CSX Corporation sees it, developing and maintaining a diverse workforce is key to its ability to remain competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace and achieve business objectives. Leaders call it creating a culture of inclusion in which workers and those doing business with the company can feel valued and engaged regardless of age, gender, race, tenure, railroad affiliation, physical challenges, sexual orientation, geographic location, educational level, income or life experiences. The result is a noteworthy effort that, coupled with collaboration, innovation, risk taking and deft business decisions, helped the company reap record first quarter earnings and boost quarterly dividends 7 percent this year.
A great example of how and why diversity pays off, we chose CSX as the second best company for women to work and for diversity managers.
It is not the first time we have recognized CSX for its efforts. In 2011, Diversity MBA Magazine named CSX 12th among the top 50 companies that made strategic efforts to implement programs for managers of diverse backgrounds to excel and develop into the executive ranks. Those efforts included recruitment, continuing education, networking opportunities and professional development. It has been onward and upward since.
“They say that creating a culture of inclusion is a journey,” remarked CEO Michael Ward. “At CSX, we’re committed to fostering innovation, collaboration and risk-taking. We’ve built coaching and inclusion into our core competencies and as a result, we are now seeing this new culture emerge.”
CSX, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is a premier transportation company. It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural and consumer products. For more than 185 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation’s economic expansion and industrial development. Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation’s population resides. It also links for than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and small farming towns alike.
CSX employees participate in a number of inclusion groups and councils throughout the 23-state network. Groups are required to establish goals that align with CSX business imperatives. Inclusion groups and council members are actively involved in both community service and recruitment for CSX and, over the years, have proven their worth. Employees are active in inclusion groups for African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics, young professionals, women’s networks, military, gay, lesbian and transgender employees as well as individuals with disabilities.
More than 30 inclusion councils and groups, including global and executive councils, lead diversity/inclusion efforts from the top down and bottom up at CSX. That’s how the company rolls.
