At&t’s legacy of Innovation Is Secure because of Its People
At&t has thrived for almost 150 years on innovation, and At&t knows innovation can thrive only in an environment that welcomes people of all backgrounds, experiences and voices. Innovation is stunted in an echo chamber.
A leader in At&t’s innovation legacy today is 25-year veteran marachel Knight, senior vice President of engineering and operations. “People make the difference in the work environment. it’s important to be able to bring your whole self to work in order to be your best self,” Knight said. Knight joined At&t right after earning her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Florida state university and her master’s degree in information networking from Carnegie mellon university. “i’ve always had mentors, advocates, allies and team members who help me develop as a leader, who pushed me beyond my comfort zone,” Knight said. Knight, one of few high-ranking Black women in technology, is one of many at At&t who have benefited from mentoring. the company has been committed to inspiring young leaders for decades. today, At&t offers new science, technology, engineering and math (stem) hires an opportunity to broaden their understanding of the industry and develop their leadership capabilities through its technology development Program (tdP), a 30-month rotational program. And through its Aspire initiatives, At&t has invested more than $500 million to support the education and job training of stem students. Just as Knight herself benefited from mentoring opportunities at At&t, she is eager to give back – coaching and providing practical advice to the company’s next generation of leaders. Knight’s message to those seeking her counsel is one she says still guides her own career journey: “Believe in your dreams. Believe in your goals. Believe in yourself.” “We have a storied history, but the landscape today is changing rapidly,” Knight emphasized. “it’s never been more important to maintain an influx of new ideas. We achieve richer and more vibrant innovation and business results by having distinctly different perspectives at the table.”