MRH Congress, Sevilla April 20, 2007 © 2005 IBM Corporation Diversity : at the core of our Strategy The IBM story Christian Dirkx, IBM Europe, Middle East, Africa

MRH Congress – Sevilla, April 20, 2007 Diversity at the core of IBM’s strategy | April 20, 2007 © 2005 IBM Corporation 2  , working in 75 countries, servicing 170  2400 in Belgium/Luxembourg –26 % women –16 % female managers –30 nationalities –50 % university degrees of all kinds  Professional experts in –Business –IT –Sales  A Knowledge Company focusing on –On Demand Workplace –Teaming –Communities –Networks DIVERSITY NETWORK GROUPS: –Women Leadership Council –GLBT Persons with Special Needs –Cultural Diversity

MRH Congress – Sevilla, April 20, 2007 Diversity at the core of IBM’s strategy | April 20, 2007 © 2005 IBM Corporation 3 The Opportunity History suggests that a sustained period of growth is about to begin for the $1.4 trillion information technology industry. At the same time, new markets are opening up on its borders. But the rewards will not be shared equally. As in the past, they will flow to those enterprises that can turn disruptive shifts to their clients’ advantage. Our Business Model: Innovation for the enterprise

MRH Congress – Sevilla, April 20, 2007 Diversity at the core of IBM’s strategy | April 20, 2007 © 2005 IBM Corporation 4 IBM Clients: The World of Business And leading in the world’s rapidly emerging markets Our Client Base

MRH Congress – Sevilla, April 20, 2007 Diversity at the core of IBM’s strategy | April 20, 2007 © 2005 IBM Corporation 5 Diverse and global: A tradition of progressive leadership Our Workforce 1914 Hires the first employee with a disability, 76 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act 1924 IBM’s first black employee and first three women employees mark 25 years with the company 1944Is the first company to support the United Negro College Fund 1953IBM President Thomas J. Watson, Jr., publishes the company’s first equal opportunity policy letter — one year before the U.S. Supreme Court desegregates public schools 1976 Helps launch the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund 1984 Adds sexual orientation to its nondiscrimination profile and establishes domestic partner benefits in Pulls out of South Africa to exert economic pressure on the apartheid regime 2004Ranks as one of the “Best Companies for Working Mothers” (US) for the 19th year in a row 2004Organizes an EMEA-wide GLBT conference in London, UK 2006Puts diverse, talented people forward as one of IBM’s main differentiators CAP 48 “Prix de l’Entreprise Citoyenne”

MRH Congress – Sevilla, April 20, 2007 Diversity at the core of IBM’s strategy | April 20, 2007 © 2005 IBM Corporation 6 Diversity: why we do it The Five Challenges of a 21 st -century Workforce Vergrijzing, Ontgroening, Langer Werken  Agoria study : ICT industry in Belgium is looking for 13,000 people in the next coming year  UK: by 2010, <20% of full time UK workforce will be comprised of able-bodied white men below 45  EU: by 2030, 24 million workers aged 55 – 64 Globalisation  Female to male employment rates: Central and Eastern Europe88.45 %89.2 % EU before enlargement54.9 % 73.0 %  IBM BeLux : substantial % of workforce reporting out of country Work/Life Balance  11.4 percent of IBM BeLux workforce work part time  60 percent of IBM BeLux jobs are a form of flexible employment Managing by Values 5 Mirroring Society

MRH Congress – Sevilla, April 20, 2007 Diversity at the core of IBM’s strategy | April 20, 2007 © 2005 IBM Corporation 7 Some concrete actions Mindset Taking the Stage Employee Alliance for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Empowerment Speed Mentoring Sessions Women Mean Business GLBT Welcome drink International GLBT Conference, London, UK PWD Awareness Event & CAP48 Award “Prix de l’Entreprise Responsable” Incented Sabbatical AITT Women In Business

MRH Congress – Sevilla, April 20, 2007 Diversity at the core of IBM’s strategy | April 20, 2007 © 2005 IBM Corporation 8 Taking The Stage  A four-part video workshop  Designed specifically for all women in IBM around the world  Shows women how to achieve a strong leadership presence when they speak in all situations – boardroom, meeting, conference, phone calls or anywhere else

MRH Congress – Sevilla, April 20, 2007 Diversity at the core of IBM’s strategy | April 20, 2007 © 2005 IBM Corporation 9

MRH Congress – Sevilla, April 20, 2007 Diversity at the core of IBM’s strategy | April 20, 2007 © 2005 IBM Corporation 10

MRH Congress – Sevilla, April 20, 2007 Diversity at the core of IBM’s strategy | April 20, 2007 © 2005 IBM Corporation 11

MRH Congress – Sevilla, April 20, 2007 Diversity at the core of IBM’s strategy | April 20, 2007 © 2005 IBM Corporation 12 “Sneak Preview” of the first results of the GLBT Equality Survey This information is preliminary – complete results & findings later this year  34% of surveyed companies do not have a written anti- discrimination policy but consider this as part of their ‘informal values’  50 % have a written anti-discrimination policy – about half explicitly ban discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation  only 5% have a formal group where GLBT issues are discussed, 73% don't see this appropriate/necessary  about everyone equally invites partners of GLBT or non-GLBT people to events ... there is mainly silence: 68% never communicates on GLBT equality