Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB) are foundational to our company.
To spark positive change, bolster employee resiliency, and strengthen our community, DIB is embedded across company programs. Our approach comprises investing in the next generation of diverse talent, increasing representation of our existing workforce, cultivating a culture of inclusion and belonging, and advancing and retaining employees.
We’re designing for a future of work that is boundaryless. We believe our talent and our communities are one ecosystem. If each of us is intentional about our actions, we’ll create an environment that fuels a more equitable and inclusive future.
— Linda Rogers, Chief People Officer
DIB in the Virtual World
In response to employees beginning to work virtually due to the pandemic, we created the company’s first global virtual community, Dolby Together, on Microsoft Teams, in order to continue highlighting our diversity and increase our inclusion and belonging. Over 40% of employees have joined the platform, where we host Virtual Coffee Breaks for trainings and networking, as well as asynchronous conversations and sharing resources.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan
The artwork “Sounds of Home” by Dennis Golding, a Kamilaroi and Gamilaraay artist, was commissioned by Dolby specifically for the RAP, to illustrate the way in which sound is visualized through traditional Indigenous motifs of place, culture and objects.
Dolby Australia has created a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to affirm our commitment to build strong and respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, provide a framework to be inclusive in our work, and contribute to national reconciliation. Facilitated and endorsed through Reconciliation Australia, Dolby’s RAP endcaps the “Reflect” stage of considering Dolby’s role in supporting a vision of a reconciled Australia. Starting with a commitment in September 2019, our RAP Working Group of a dozen Dolby Australia employees launched our completed RAP in November 2021. Click here to read the Reconciliation Action Plan.
According to Tim Neal, General Manager of Dolby Australia, “With this first RAP we have a particular focus on organizational learning and relationship building. We are also looking to explore two specific areas of focus in STEAM education and content creation. We are keen to encourage the next generation of First Nations scientists and technologists. Likewise, we seek to encourage the next generation of First Nations storytellers, and content creators to grow and develop in their craft so that our nation and others will benefit from hearing their voices.”
Dolby CEO’s Kevin Yeaman speaks to the importance of this work as well. “At Dolby, we recognize that what we do and how we work both matter. Through this effort and the establishment of our Indigenous Peoples employee network, we join in creating conversation around First Nations and listening and learning about the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. This is the beginning of our journey and I’m looking forward to Dolby being a part of a dialogue to create positive change."
Our communities
As a leader in technological innovation and consumer experience, we recognize our responsibility extends well beyond our office walls. We take our presence in the communities in which we live and work seriously and are continually striving to find new ways to inspire and support the next generation of diverse creators, builders, and innovators.
This past year, 93% of grant funding donated through the Dolby Cares Program served underrepresented groups including girls, women and people of color.
Our most significant efforts focus on establishing more opportunities for the talent of the future—from investing science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) education to early recruitment and hiring. We have long-standing partnerships with several community organizations in which we provide financial grants, technological support, and volunteer time to increase equity in education and opportunity.
“Time and time again, Dolby has demonstrated its commitment to advancing Women’s Audio Mission (WAM) through not only its financial contributions but also its leadership of other corporations, trust in our expertise, and willingness to think outside of the box. Much of WAM’s success in recent years has been because Dolby believed in us.”
- Terri Winston, WAM’s Founder and Executive Director
Kelsey's story
Originally from the Midwest, Kelsey arrived at the Bay Area in 2014 and quickly found a job at Dolby. "Even though my background was in accounting and economics," Kelsey shared, "I've always loved movies and music, so Dolby's mission resonated with me."
As a Senior Data Analyst in the Intellectual Property Protection group, Kelsey works to enforce Dolby's licensing compliance and protect the Dolby brand. “In other words,” she joked, “I spend a lot of time with numbers and spreadsheets.”
Kelsey has also been an active participant in many of the Employee Networks (ENs) since their founding. “It’s a great way to get to know people you might not meet otherwise and engage with Dolby’s diverse culture. Mundo, our EN for our Latinx community, hosted Spanish lessons, and PAX, our EN for our communities of Asian descent, hosted Mandarin lessons taught by a Dolby employee. And, hands down, the Lunar New Year and Diwali celebrations hosted by PAX are the most popular and anticipated EN activities of the year, so I’ve really enjoyed having the opportunity to volunteer at and be a part of those events. I appreciate that the ENs are inclusive to anyone who wants to participate, so employees have the chance to learn about cultures and perspectives outside of those they personally identify with.”
Still, Kelsey's primary involvement has been with the Women's Empowerment (WE) network—first as a member, then as part of the professional development committee, and finally, as a co-lead. "I'm on a team of mostly men, so being involved in the women's network provides a different environment for me at work," she explained. "I have the opportunity to gain new skills and experiences. I get to participate in planning and strategy for WE and be creative with events and marketing materials, all while developing my executive presence and public speaking skills. Also, it's just fun to work with such a great group of women."
As part of WE’s mission, the group strives to create a space for employees to discuss the unique challenges women face in the workplace. "It’s so important to hear from other women about their experiences and know that you're not alone," Kelsey shared. "Because it's not just at Dolby—technology, in general, is very male-dominated. Women across the industry and at other companies share and face similar challenges, so having the space to talk openly about them is crucial."
Most of WE's initiatives focus on creating professional development opportunities for female employees. "We host formal and informal discussion groups, training programs, and speakers on women's leadership, mentorship, goal setting, and confidence-building. We had a professor from Stanford come and speak about negotiations because it’s such an important topic for women to understand and address—not only in the hiring process but in negotiating raises and promotions."
The group also runs company-wide campaigns, celebrates International Women’s Day, and continues to grow its influence with Dolby leadership and expand its contribution to product design and strategy decisions.
When asked what’s next for WE, Kelsey said the group is planning to focus even more on intersectionality. "We are this dimension of diversity that spans other ENs. And we include a very diverse population within ourselves. We want to make sure we continue to include more women of color and elevate as many female voices within Dolby as possible."