Diversity and Inclusion

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01 Jun: Texas employee helps youth embrace their identities

Editor’s note: In June, Best Buy is proud to honor Pride Month and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. Read on for the story of one of our employees.

If there’s one word to best describe Sherri-Dawn’s style, it’s rainbow.

“I always have my rainbow glasses,” the Texas-based, Best Buy delivery service driver said.

Though Sherri-Dawn regularly sports her multicolored accessories and, since joining the company in 2016, has participated in events for Best Buy’s Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG). But it wasn’t until recently that she decided Pride spirit wasn’t enough.

HaloAwards blog

18 May: Best Buy recognized for partnership with PopSockets, Teen Tech Centers

We are excited to share that Best Buy was awarded a silver Halo Award by Engage for Good, an organization focused on helping companies pursuing socially responsible agendas. The Halo Awards are North America’s highest honor for corporate social impact initiatives that successfully engage consumers and/or employees. 

We were recognized in the category of Best JEDI Initiative (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) for our partnership with PopSockets, which launched during Black History Month last year. The partnership matched four teens from Best Buy Teen Tech Center® programs with mentors from PopSockets.  

TTC blog

05 May: Best Buy Teen Tech Center® teens featured in national ad campaign

Starting this month, a new nationwide Best Buy ad campaign will feature teens and the mentors that are helping them pursue their dreams.   

Mentor Moments” highlights three pairs of teens that participate in Best Buy Teen Tech Center® programs around the U.S and their relationships with their Best Buy Teen Tech Center coordinators. In the short films, New York City-based New York City-based director and documentary filmmaker Rodney Lucas and story producer Bridget Botchway Bradley focus on the power and lasting impact of mentorship.

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02 May: Making dreams a reality through Best Buy Teen Tech Center® programs

Through each music video produced, robot built, and photograph captured at Best Buy Teen Tech Center® locations, teens are getting one step closer to making their dreams come true. And now, customers can be a part of it.   

This week, we’re launching an opportunity for customers to make an impact. Best Buy customers can make a donation to the Best Buy Foundation in support of Teen Tech Centers starting May 1 when they make a purchase in stores, online at BestBuy.com

virginia manager blog

28 Apr: Virginia manager leads team with empathy, vulnerability

Editor’s note: In May, Best Buy is proud to honor Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month and celebrate our AAPI employees and communities. Read on for the story of one of our AAPI leaders.

Those who have worked with general manager Tai Ngo describe him one of two ways. First, he knows how to go out and get results. Second, Tai’s colleagues bring up his passion for his team and his ability to make employees feel heard.

Throughout his years at Best Buy, Tai’s stores have been recognized as top performers multiple times, and his leaders praise his employee-retention numbers.

Shane and Francis

19 Apr: In trying times, employees lean on one another for support

The power of community is everything for Francis Lichauco.

Every morning, he reaches out to his friends, family and Best Buy colleagues via text to share how he’s doing, quotes that motivate him and gratitude for the blessings in his life.

“I like to think it inspires people, but they also inspire me with their support and compassion,” Francis said.

An HR manager for omnichannel teams, Francis lives in California and began this morning ritual in March 2021 to connect with people during an isolating time.

Mani workplace accessibility

31 Mar: Quality assurance engineer’s journey promotes inclusion and accessibility

Manikandan “Mani” Murugesan uses his life experience to create inclusive and engaging digital experiences for customers and employees alike.

During his second year of college, Mani lost his vision. Though he struggled to complete his degree and adapt to his visual impairment, he was determined to be self-sufficient.

“I moved out of my town for training,” Mani said. “I wanted to learn how to manage with a visual impairment…The approach to everything is very different.”

In 2019, Mani joined Best Buy as a quality assurance engineer on the Accessibility Team.

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31 Mar: Best Buy Give Back event paves way for the next generation

Some of the top tech companies are coming together to help Best Buy build brighter futures for teens through technology.

We are excited to launch our first Give Back event, with sales from the event helping to bring Best Buy Teen Tech Center® programs to life. From March 31 through April 13, companies like GE Appliances, Bose, Samsung and more will be donating 10% of qualifying sales to the Best Buy Foundation in support of Teen Tech Centers.

To empower youth, Best Buy Teen Tech Center® programs provide safe, after-school spaces where teens can get hands-on experience with technology alongside mentors who give support to create, innovate and explore their interests.

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15 Mar: Best Buy named to 2022 World’s Most Ethical Companies list

Best Buy is proud to be included on Ethispheres 2022 World’s Most Ethical Companies list. We are one of only three retailers on it, and it’s our eighth time earning the honor.

The Ethisphere list recognizes companies based on culture, environmental and social practices, ethics and compliance activities, and diversity initiatives.

Here are some of the efforts that contributed to our inclusion.

  • We continued our yearly employee Code of Ethics training. This required course for all employees contains examples of real-life, everyday situations that they might face and helps guide their decision making.
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28 Feb: Determination and confidence are key to success, says Oregon manager

Editor’s note: In March, Best Buy is proud to honor Women’s History Month and celebrate our women employees. Read on for the story of one of our women leaders.

A year ago, assistant sales manager Valerie Holt was assisting a customer with a hearing disability and struggling to communicate with the customer.

Written notes and a few online searches for translations helped them navigate through the experience, but Valerie knew the customer deserved more. Following that interaction, she decided ‘never again’ and went home to learn American Sign Language (ASL).

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28 Feb: Best Buy celebrates Black culture with trap yoga

Black History Month is an annual celebration of the past, present, and future of Black people in America.  

This month, Best Buy is proud to highlight the stories of our Black employees with events like Trap Yoga, as we continue cultivating an inclusive culture.  

Throughout our company, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) have been created to provide a space for diverse employees to come together in one place, providing allyship and community within Best Buy. One of those ERGs is our Black Employee Resource Group (BERG) that is made up of more than 1,300 members.