FedEx embraces diversity, equity and inclusion and team members take pride in delivering hope each day in communities around the world.
By Janas L. Jackson
Each day at FedEx, we see diversity, equity and inclusion on a giant global canvas. Because we serve a diverse world, we understand the importance of ensuring that our team looks like the world we serve and our values reflect respect and dignity for all people. We therefore actively invest in programs that attract, train, develop and promote a diverse workforce. The FedEx success story is comprised of a starring cast of 600,000 team members representing different races, ethnicities, genders, religions, sexual orientations, cultures, neighborhoods and interests.
As a company focused on the present and future, FedEx is also committed to maintaining a diverse pipeline of young talent through college internship programs which seeks to fill summer intern positions each year. These programs include recruiting Black students through events, sponsored by FedEx Services, at 16 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and career fairs at the Thurgood Marshall Leadership Conference and the National Black MBA Conference.
Our HBCU Work/Study Program, launched by FedEx Logistics, is a first-of-its kind program at Mississippi Valley State University, an HBCU, that offers professional job opportunities for students and builds a diverse talent pipeline. Through the program, FedEx opened an on-campus satellite office staffed by students. The students work part-time and gain experience while in school and have the potential for full-time employment upon graduation.
Additionally, FedEx maintains 32 employee-led resource groups across the company’s enterprise. These groups include the African American Network, Women in Leadership, Hispanic Action Network, All-Generations, Multi-Faith Network, Asian Network, LGBT & Friends, Men’s Collective, U.S. Military Veterans, enABLE Network, Growing Professionals, and others. Many of these groups are hosting virtual forums on such topics as Unconscious Bias and Accelerating Inclusion.
As a corporate neighbor, our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion extends beyond our business. It’s an investment in building more equitable communities as well. For example, we invest in nonprofit and community empowerment organizations creating greater economic opportunity and providing access to leadership, educational and employment opportunities that inspire people to succeed. Some of our relationships include: Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) where FedEx Services supports executive training for inner-city small businesses. Since 2005, ICCC alumni have created over 12,000 jobs, raised $2.23 billion in capital and grown revenues by an average of 120%.
The 800 Initiative supported by FedEx is designed to empower about 800 Black-owned businesses in Memphis that are in between start-up and full-scale phases. With significant funding from FedEx, the Initiative features technical assistance, coaching, loans and grants. The goal is to grow Memphis-based Black-owned businesses’ annual revenue by $50 million by 2023.
FedEx Express also sponsors the annual Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Summit, one of the nation’s premier business conference and networking events for African American entrepreneurs, corporate executives and professionals. Additional FedEx corporate outreach sponsorships include support for the National Urban League’s programs designed to help young people overcome barriers to employment; the NAACP; National Civil Rights Museum; Dress for Success’s job skills training for women; the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program, and the list goes on.
Additionally, our broad network of services enable us to respond rapidly to critical situations affecting our communities. From earthquakes, floods and wildfires to the COVID-19 pandemic, FedEx upholds its “FedEx Cares” commitment by working at the speed of need to help save lives. To reach underserved communities with the COVID-19 vaccine, FedEx has committed funding and in-kind transportation support to several nonprofits serving communities in the U.S. and around the world.
The work of FedEx is ongoing, internally and externally, and we are committed to being part of the solution that ends racial and economic disparities in our communities.
