Bentonville, AK
2.1 million employees
Founded 1962
CEO: Michael Duke
CDE: Sharon Orlopp
www.walmartstores.com
Among Wal-Mart’s employees are approximately 154,000 Hispanics, 237,000 Blacks, 41,000 Asians, 15,000 Native Americans, 256,000 55 and older, and over 826,000 women. Its board includes women, Blacks and Hispanics, and over half its managers are women and minorities. Its Office of Diversity ensures diversity in associate programs, placement, supplier relations, philanthropic initiatives, and community engagement. In 2003, Wal-Mart introduced leadership seminars for women, and in 2004, for people of color. Officer compensation hinges on attracting/hiring/retaining qualified diversity associates; those not meeting their goals have their bonuses reduced up to 15%. Wal-Mart also recruits talent from schools with significantly diverse students. Some of its accomplishments include sponsoring 625 women entrepreneurs in the Make Mine a Million $ Business Race, helping host the Small Business Boot Camp workshop for the Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference, supporting the establishment of the National Hispanic Chamber Leadership Academy, and supporting seminars offered by the Asian American Justice Center.
