Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are key pillars that contribute to HARMAN’s values as an organization. We have always believed our people are instrumental to our business success, so we are devoted to continuing to find new ways to identify, celebrate and educate our employees regarding DEI. This year, we were proud to see our employees participating in activities around Neurodiversity Celebration Week for the very first time across HARMAN!

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative challenging stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. This major initiative seeks to evolve how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported, by giving schools, universities and organizations the opportunity to recognize their many talents and advantages. This encourages the creation of more inclusive and equitable spaces for neurodivergent individuals through education, increasing acceptance and understanding, and celebrating what makes them unique. 

The term “neurodiversity” describes the idea that people experience, perceive and interact with the world around them in many different ways. It’s often used in the context of autism spectrum disorders, developmental conditions including ADHD, and learning differences like dyslexia. Neurodivergent people often feel excluded in the world around them due to both a lack of awareness and appropriate infrastructure to support their needs.

As part of an educational program during Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we looked to someone from our own community, HARMAN’s Monica Hoffman, Director of Talent Management in the Lifestyle division, who shared her experience as a mother raising two children with ADHD. Many of our employees were inspired and identified with Monica’s story, best summarized in her own words.

“For those of you that have children, or you yourself, or have friends or family who classify as neurodiverse, I think this is a really big day for you and for us,” she said. “I think we’re only going to go up from here.”

With more than 1,200 HARMAN employees dialed in to hear her story, there were countless comments from fellow colleagues eager to keep this conversation going – a sign that these kinds of conversations are crucial to creating the inclusion-centered future that HARMAN strives for.

We look forward to finding new ways to honor and educate ourselves on the diverse communities that make up both the HARMAN family and the greater world around us. As we continue to have these important conversations and support efforts to becoming a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace, we thank everyone inside HARMAN and beyond, who are helping us all be better individuals, organizations and communities.