Bringing "Hidden Figures" to the Forefront

The team at Lockheed Martin has been buzzing for months about the recently released Hollywood movie "Hidden Figures."

After all, part of the movie was filmed at our wind tunnel in Marietta, Georgia, where we've tested some of our most iconic aircraft. It was the perfect setting for an early scene with future NASA engineer Mary Jackson (played by actress Janelle Monáe).

Our pride for the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta is not the only reason we're excited about the film.

We're thrilled that this inspiring movie has brought an important issue to the forefront for millions of people across our country: diversity and inclusion in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math -- also known as "STEM." Promoting STEM career opportunities for women and people of color is something Lockheed Martin has championed for a long time.

The heroic and moving stories of Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan -- and their wonderful contributions to our nation's space program -- show how individual lives, entire teams and a nation's destiny can be changed by opening up opportunities in STEM.

Of course, only a few decades ago, women and minorities in the scientific field were not given the credit or opportunities they deserved. Few women chose to pursue a career in STEM because it was viewed as a "man's job."

When I joined Lockheed Martin in 1983 -- at the very same facility featured in "Hidden Figures" -- I was often the only woman on my team.

Fortunately, there were real-life heroines like Mary, Katherine and Dorothy who persevered to perform their jobs with integrity, precision and excellence.

We've made great progress since the days of the Mercury space program. However, research indicates that women and minorities are still woefully underrepresented in STEM fields.

Clearly, we can do more to bridge the gap.

But why is diversity in STEM important? At Lockheed Martin, we think about that a lot.

As a global technology company that works closely with customers such as NASA, Lockheed Martin employs the best and brightest STEM talent in the world to solve some of humanity's most complex challenges.

It's simply impossible to harness the full power of human ingenuity when members of a certain race or gender aren't fully represented. By encouraging an environment of inclusiveness, we believe we can build a stronger culture of innovation.

That's why we proactively engage underrepresented populations through innovative and award-winning STEM initiatives such as the Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference, which takes place every February. 

Lockheed Martin has sponsored BEYA since it was founded more than 30 years ago. Over that time, it has become the premier event of its kind.

The conference gives us an opportunity to recognize African-American engineers for their outstanding achievements and inspire more young people to pursue careers in STEM.

The BEYA career fair also allows us to tap into a pool of outstanding STEM graduates from America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Through the years, we've learned how important it is to reach out and help underrepresented applicants find our company when they're looking for a job.

In order to build the diverse workforce we need to maximize innovation, we seek out those "hidden figures" who may have never considered the possibility of applying their talents at a place like Lockheed Martin.

Our outreach has resulted in some outstanding people joining our team, and we appreciate the unique knowledge, skills and perspectives they bring to the table.

It's a win for our corporation and the underrepresented populations who have found new opportunities in the advanced technology industry.

As we reflect on "Hidden Figures" -- especially during Black History Month -- let's work together to honor the legacy of Mary, Katherine and Dorothy. 

Both government and industry have roles to play to expose and to encourage more women and minorities to pursue STEM skills and careers. By doing so, history proves that they will advance scientific discovery and change the world for us all.

How does your business or organization build a diverse workforce? Please share your stories in the comments section below.