A group of ZEISS colleagues of different genders and ages are standing in a lobby and talking.

Diversity and inclusion

at ZEISS in North America

At ZEISS, we welcome and value all people, regardless of their nationality, origin, age, religion, beliefs, sexual orientation and gender identity. Every individual is unique, and we support an inclusive culture which respects all our team members. Our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Program contains different aspects: awareness and communication, education and training, recruiting, as well as employee engagement. One important driver are our ZEISS Employee Networks.

Diversity and inclusion are key priorities for ZEISS. We truly believe that people should feel safe, heard, appreciated and be themselves in our company.

Florian Mezger

Head of Shared Services and Human Resources North America

ZEISS Employee Network initiative “Including You”

With the initiative, ZEISS North America aims to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with the company's strategy, values, and culture. The different groups are led and joined voluntarily by employees. So far, our Employee Networks cover topics like Veterans, LGBTQIA+, disABILITY, Women and Parents. We are always on the lookout to promote further networks and are open to all suggestions of employees.
The networks create awareness, connect people, provide support or help in personal or career development. They also support local internal activities on promoting diversity topics.

The LGBTQIA+ community recognizes the value of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Societal norms are often rattled by the diversity in the LGBTQIA+ community. This increases social progress, but members of the community often must bear unnecessary social burden. The LGBTQIA+ community is here to say you are okay just the way you are. At its core the community is about expressing oneself fully and supporting others to do the same.

The Proud@ZEISS network is lead by Torey Arnold. Torey is working as a Key Account Manager Bio-Pharma at ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions.

Torey Arnold

"I dream that everyone can share who they truly are no matter the circumstance. The goal of this network is to provide acceptance and permission to bring your full self into your daily career life… OR ELSE… we all miss out on what you have to offer!"
The balance of family life and work life is an important facet of what we do each and every day. As meetings, travel and conferences fill our schedules, with the added complexity of both in-person and virtual expectations, how do we continue balance it all? How are other parents balancing it all at ZEISS? That’s what the Parents network is about.

The Parents@ZEISS network is lead by Megan Gagliardi and David Nolan. Megan is working as Head of Marketing at ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions, David is working as Head of Device Software a ZEISS Medical Technology.

Megan Gagliardi

"It is common as a parent to feel completely on top of it all one moment, and wondering how to get it all done the next. The best hope we have for navigating it all is finding our community to lean on."

David Nolan

"One thing that really helped me through parenting is the advice and support of colleagues and friends at ZEISS. We have access to such a great network of knowledge and support here and it's a true gift to be able to tap into that to help you balance everything."
Women@ZEISS provides a platform for all women to connect, network and build a community. The aim is to support and empower all women in their professional growth by providing resources and programs for women. To raise awareness of women's challenges and facilitate discussions that move us forward.

The Women@ZEISS network is lead by Brooke Gaffney and Christina Owyang. Brooke is working as an Onboarding and Training Specialist at ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions, Christina is working as Head of Finance and Controlling for the Chronic Disease Management department at ZEISS Medical Technology.

Brooke Gaffney

"Women are many times overlooked for advancement and new opportunities despite their performance. My goal is to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to share and develop their unique gifts, strengths, and ideas."

Christina Owyang

"I sometimes find that women do not support each other – and that needs to stop. We need to all come together to encourage and empower each other. Women need to mentor each other and provide encouragement when it is needed."
Working without limits: disABILITY@ZEISS is a network which creates a safe space for employees to connect with each other and learn about how one can be successful. It is also a space for any employee to join and learn about disabilities and how they can support their colleagues.

The disABILITY@ZEISS network is lead by Zahra and Anna. Zahra is working as a HR Manager for Carl Zeiss Inc., Anna is working as a Cinema Marketing Specialist at ZEISS Consumer Markets.

Zahra Sayla

"Supporting disabilities is very important to me as the struggles one faces can be very lonely and its important to know that there are others who can relate and be there for you."

Anna Schmidt

"I am proudly neurodivergent and enjoy leveraging and sharing my own experiences to help create a more inclusive workplace in a neuronormative world."
The mission of Veterans@ZEISS is to embrace the proud community of veterans and allies who support and encourage each other through shared experiences, veteran recruitment, career development, outward engagement, professional growth, and retention. Bringing together the unique backgrounds, the network seeks to harness its strengths to better serve veterans and the community by making the 'Inclusion Intentional'.

The Veterans@ZEISS network is lead by Michael Ruggiero and Reggie Belizaire. Michael is working as a Senior Accounts Payable Specialist at Carl Zeiss Inc. He is a Navy veteran who enlisted from 1976 to 1985. His military occupational specialty was Administration & Personnel Counseling. Michael reached the rank of NC1/E6 and joined Carl Zeiss, Inc. in 2019. Reggie is working as HR Manager at Carl Zeiss Inc. He is a Marine Corps veteran who enlisted from 2000 to 2008. His military occupational specialty was Aviation Supply and Admin Support. Reggie reached the rank of Sergeant/E5 and joined Carl Zeiss, Inc. in 2014.

Michael Ruggiero

"Our Veterans are important and through the group we would like to exchange how our experiences have help make us the person we are today."

Reggie Belizaire

"Veterans are always in search of different ways to serve and I want to continue this spirit of service with my ZEISS family by building connections, providing support and information through the network."

Diversity activities

International Women's Day

The North American Women@ZEISS network invited to a keynote from Dr. Ulrike Boehm about "Gender equality, so what? – Why it matters, and what we can do." Ulrike works as an Optical Scientist & Project Team Lead at ZEISS in Oberkochen. She talked about gender equality and women's empowerment in science and why we still need to talk about these issues. She also suggested some concrete actions that everyone could do to contribute to a culture of change.
Diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging

Award-winning diversity and inclusion advocate Aisha Suleiman held a keynote on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in a corporate environment. Aisha is the founder of "The Inclusive Culture" and "The World in Her Words". She is also known for leading Amazon's Black Employee Network in the United Kingdom, building a network into an organization that now has significant impact on Amazon's diversity and inclusion strategy. In her keynote Aisha shared interesting facts, great examples and inspiring insights on diversity topics.
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

Sharing culture through food: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development on May 21 aims to bridge the gap between cultures. Multiple ZEISS sites across North America enjoyed an international lunch break and shared insights about their own culture. By putting up decorations like flags and globes as well as maps we let others know where our team is coming from. Some colleagues even wore their traditional garment!
Juneteenth

June 19 is Juneteenth, a time for reflection, creating awareness, celebrating the achievements of African Americans throughout history, and honoring their culture. In recognition of this important day, ZEISS North America invited the nonprofit organization Hip Hop For Change to the ZEISS Innovation Center California for a keynote on diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging accompanied by Hip Hop performances!
Pride Month

June is Pride Month. It's as good a time as any to recognize our LGBTQIA+ colleagues, communities and allies and celebrate diversity together and create an inclusive culture. On Pride Day, June 28, we had a presentation from our LGBTQIA+ employee network group leader Torey on "The Origins of Pride!" Of course, we also enjoyed some special (rainbow) dessert options in the offices.
Veterans

At ZEISS, we are proud to welcome everyone and unite different backgrounds in our teams. On the occasion of Veterans Day, we talked to some of our colleagues who transitioned from the active service to a corporate environment.