Who is Apple’s new diversity leader, Cynthia Bowman?

Apple has hired a new Head of Diversity as it struggles to become a more representative employer. It has bought in talent in the form of Cynthia Bowman, who recently held the Chief Diversity, Inclusion and Social Responsibility role at Bank of America, where she was for 17-years.

At the bank Bowman worked on the same set of challenges, which she discussed in an interview with Just Capital. Under her watch the bank achieved the Number 11 spot for workforce equity and mobility.

How Bowman works, I think

To achieve this, Bowman worked on how to break down the barriers to hiring and upward mobility that disproportionately impact some workers, particularly people of color. That work included rethinking degree requirements to career development and staff retention.

“This process starts at the top,” she said at that time. At her previous employer, that meant set goals for diversity and inclusion that extended right through the management structure, she explained.

“It’s about creating a workforce that looks like the world we live in across every level, including senior leadership,” she said in that interview. “It’s about creating an environment where people don’t feel like they need to be someone else from the time they walk into work to the time they leave.”

It’s also about equity.

“It’s about creating processes that diminish bias, allow you to promote within, generate more inclusion in our everyday practices from the time you hire, how you onboard, how you conduct calibrations, how you retain talent, how you recognize talent and how talent leads your organization.”

Apple still has work to do

Apple, we know, has been working to promote more diversity across its workforce. Bowman will now work alongside current incumbent, Barbara Whye across a transition period before Whye retires in fall. Bowman will work with groups across the company to promote diversity and will take responsibility for Apple’s $200 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative.

“We are excited that Cynthia Bowman will serve as Apple’s next Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity,” an Apple spokesperson said. “Cynthia is an accomplished leader in her field and is deeply committed to the work we’re doing to advance inclusion and diversity at Apple.”

In the eight years to 2022, the percentage of Black employees at Apple in America rose to 9% from 7%. Asian employee headcount climbed to 30% while Latinos took 15% of roles. Women make up 35% of the workforce, up from 30% in 2014. Apple published its most recent racial equity and justice report in 2023.

FYI: Cynthia Bowman speaks at the Out and Equal summit, which works on LGBTQ+ workplace equality.

All these activities reflect the true mood of the people and commitments the company made in response to the huge protests against racial injustice in response to the murder of George Floyd in the US.

“Building a more just and equitable world is urgent work that demands collaboration, commitment, and a common sense of purpose,” said Tim Cook,  Apple’s CEO.

“We are proud to partner with many extraordinary organizations that are dedicated to addressing injustice and eliminating barriers to opportunity. And we’ll continue to lead with our values as we expand our efforts to create opportunities, lift up communities, and help build a better future for all.”

Bowman’s background

Bowman has been recognized on the 2016 EBONY POWER 100 list, named one of Black Enterprise’s Top Executives in Corporate Diversity, 2017, 2018 and 2019, and received the Leadership Excellence award from the Tri-State Diversity Council. In 2017, she was named one of the 30 must-follow Diversity and Inclusion Thought Leaders by Findspark.com.

Bowman graduated from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management with an MBA in Organization Behavior and Operations. She also has a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science from Spelman College. Bowman is a member of the Board Trustees for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (Northeast Region). Bowman also sits on the board of the Forte Foundation and is also a member of the 30% club steering committee and the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) advisory board.

She is married and the mother of four children.

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