Intel splashes out $300m on diversity drive

After #gamergate and #nadellagate, the company shows determination to attract more women and minorities

Intel has decided to put its money where much of the IT industry's mouth is and has pledged to spend $300m (£198.2m) on building a more diverse workforce, with women as a key focus.

The announcement was made by CEO Brian Krzanich during his company address at the CES conference in Las Vegas yesterday.

As well as putting up the company money, Krzanich also said he planned to tie executive compensation directly to the attempts to diversify.

"I'm announcing our intention to lead by example," said Krzanich. "I invite the entire tech industry to join us."

Intel, said the CEO, plans to reach "full representation" of women and minorities by 2020, and plans to be more open about its progress in these areas than it has been. Around three-quarters of Intel's current workforce are men.

"This isn't just good business," said Krzanich. "This is the right thing to do."

Krzanich did not, however, make it clear exactly what full representation means, or what the $300m cash would actually help to achieve.

It's often been said - not least by Anam Technologies CEO Louise O'Sullivan, who spoke to Computing a few months back - that flinging money at the issue may not result in a more balanced workforce.

Corporate culture may be the real issue, especially when it's geared towards a male-centric environment obsessed with the "bottom line", and not with finding ways to work and think that help nurture the approaches and viewpoints of individuals.

Microsoft, since its CEO Satya Nadella's horrendous gaffe in which he suggested women should ‘trust the system' to deliver them pay rises male counterparts seem to receive more often, has since pledged to keep a closer eye on the matter.

Julie Larson-Green, chief experience officer in the applications and services group (who used to be executive VP of devices and services - effectively in charge of all hardware at Microsoft before another Nadella reshuffle), has said the new scrutiny has "opened up the conversation", but what, exactly, is that conversation about?

Arguably, corporate culture still needs to be turned on its head as opposed to shoehorning those who don't buy into traditional mindsets into a company structure that's not built for them.

"I think we're underestimating what people will be doing in 10-15 years time, and I think it's important that this technology will be taken back by the people who need to use it," O'Sullivan told us, expressing a hope that the IT field is widening, with many more possibilities open for many more minds.

It will be interesting to see if Intel uses its millions to truly broaden its culture, rather than simply throwing golden handshakes at everybody but middle-class white men, and hoping bonuses will talk for themselves.