Founding KIOXIA LeadHERs – Part 3: From Structure to Scale

A.

I remember the first time we met and thinking - this is a person who knows how to get things done! When Linda reached out to me about forming a Women in Technology group, I knew you’d be a key addition to the group.

M.

I was eager to join! For the bulk of my 30 plus year career, I’ve been one of the few, if not the only, women in the room. My primary role at KIOXIA America is building IT applications, but at the core, my team and I are builders of structure that helps people get their work done. I wanted to take those skills, and my passion for diversity, and put them together to help our company, and all the women in it, grow and thrive.

A.

I know what you mean. In my team, we work with all the groups in the company to collaborate and leverage our strengths. I work with so many women who are the strong, but quiet engines of work and progress here, but they were not always seen and heard. And this means the company is missing out too.

M.

Exactly! As the LeadHERs group went through our first stages, Seedling to Start Up and Start Up to Structure, it was pretty clear that we’d need to be able to take that momentum to Scale. We talk a lot about scale in our industry, and it translates perfectly into LeadHERs goals of growth and empowerment.

A.

Absolutely! Scale is our ultimate goal. Scaling in business means growing the revenue faster than costs. In LeadHERs, we’re scaling by growing the capabilities and strengths of the group, leveraging each other’s experience and support. The increased value of our team members pays off for the LeadHERs members, and for the company as a whole.

M.

Scaling includes more opportunities for experience like leading cross-functional groups, doing presentations to management and working on outward-facing activities like International Women’s Day. Each LeadHER can broaden her experience and exposure both internally at the company and externally in the industry with the support of the group firmly behind her.

A.

That’s right! Of course moving forward we will scale further as the company invests in the group by funding various activities such as additional training, outside speakers, conferences and more. The payback to the company comes in dollars and cents - McKinsey* found that organizations with higher gender diversity are 21% more likely to experience above-average profits.

M.

The LeadHERs team will continue to expand our fully inclusive group and we will also help the company scale to more affinity groups by serving as an example, and a template, that can be used to help other groups hit the ground running.

A.

Scale also comes from increasing the involvement in LeadHERs from many different people and groups. We are supported by company leadership, president and CEO, Toshiaki Fujikawa, our strong champion, SVP and GM of the Memory BU, Scott Nelson, and terrific allies across the company. By working together and highlighting opportunities and challenges, LeadHERs helps the whole company level up.

M.

The potential of LeadHERs to scale is huge. With the support of the company, we can continue to expand LeadHERs membership, increase our attractiveness as an employer, and drive positive change within our own organization, while serving as a potential template for others.

A.

Now that’s what I call Scaling, and in our business Scale is critical to success!