백인 주류 남성의 직장이라는 평가를 받아온 애플이 변할 수 있을까? 최근 애플이 다양성 부문 책임자로 흑인 여성인 데니스 영 스미스 글로벌 인적자원 담당 부사장을 임명해 눈길을 끈다. 실제로 애플이 지난해 11월 공개한 'EEO-1' 보고서에 따르면 고위 임원 107명 가운데 인종별로는 백인이 88명, 아시아계 14명, 소수인종은 5명에 불과했다. 또한 여성은 단 20명에 그쳤다. 백인 남성 중심으로 돌아간다는 비판을 받던 애플 입장에서는 충격적인 변화로 여겨진다.

연합뉴스, 2017.05.24.

Apple hires first VP of diversity 

Apple, like many tech companies, is predominantly white and male — its latest diversity report indicates that the company’s workforce is 68 percent male and 56 percent white. Only 12 percent of Apple’s workforce identifies as Hispanic, while only 9 percent is black. Last Week Apple promoted Denise Young Smith, its global head of human resources and a 20-year veteran of the company, to a newly created VP position in charge of diversity and inclusion efforts. Smith’s role is primarily aimed at helping to improve those numbers, both through outreach in the education community and through examining the company’s hiring practices and workplace culture. The goal is to ensure that Apple is not losing employees to competitors early on, or fostering an environment that discourages minorities and women from applying for positions at Apple.

CNN, May 23, 2017