As the Global Chief Diversity Officer & Senior Vice President, Sharon Orlopp can quickly list the major advances and achievements in diversity and inclusion she has seen at Walmart. Most notable is the significant increase in the promotion and placement of women and people of color in management positions in Walmart U.S. locations. With a passion for helping others succeed, she has designed several unique initiatives. Sharon oversees the global efforts to rollout the successful “Women in Retail” program to facilities across the world. This game changing program was initiated in Walmart Canada three years ago, aiming to create the best workplace for women at all levels. The unique component of this program is having a champion associate in each Walmart facility to promote the development and advancement of women. Believing that touching people’s heart is critical to diversity and to changing behaviors, Sharon engineered Diversity Immersion Trips. The trips involve associates visiting places with a historical context or associated with significant events concerning people of color, women, and people with disabilities.

To integrate diversity and inclusion into the company’s business DNA, this year Sharon has challenged senior leaders to develop customized diversity and inclusions plans that are linked to their respective business strategies. Plan progress will be evaluated twice a year. She oversees a diversity goals program with more than 60,000 participating associates. The program holds Walmart’s management team accountable for elevating the standards for diversity and inclusion throughout the company. The program can impact up to 15 percent of officer and senior field manager bonuses, based on their diversity goal achievements. Those achievements also account for 10 percent of annual performance evaluations for all management associates who have diversity goals.

Favorite Quote: “My life is my message.” - Mahatma Gandhi

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