T-Mobile Newsroom

nr-article-SievertBlog-02-19-21 | T-Mobile Newsroom

News

Posts

Community

Leading by Learning

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/_admin/uploads/2021/03/nr-article-SievertBlog-02-19-21.png

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/media-library/nr-article-sievertblog-02-19-21

twitter:card

twitter:creator

twitter:image

twitter:site

twitter:title

Women Making History: 5 Women Who Got Us to 5G

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating pioneering women who have led the charge in getting us to our 5G future, and fought for female equality along the way.

Rapper, actor, author and activist Common talks about Black excellence during Black History Month

Read This T-Mobile SVP's Advice for Women in STEM

How T-Mobile's Edwige Robinson is Reshaping the Tech World

core/paragraph

This quote has been attributed — and misattributed — to so many thinkers throughout the centuries that at this point it sounds generic. Whether it was Michelangelo, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Norman Rockwell or someone else entirely, the words express a simple yet powerful idea: Even the masters never stop growing.

The contemporary term for this openness to new ideas is growth mindset. As a theory of intelligence, the growth mindset is one where our interests, skills and aptitudes can develop over time. And hey, there’s science behind it. Studies show that when a company embraces a growth mindset, it <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/nudging-ahead/201805/3-ways-growth-mindset-benefits-companies-and-employees">can go a long way</a> toward improving employee diversity, mental health, job satisfaction and performance.

During my first full year as CEO, my goal has been to embrace a growth mindset — to continue being proactive about learning and constantly improving, for myself and for T-Mobile. To that end, I’ve been looking at the ways successful leaders do their thing, and infusing some of the resulting ideas into how I lead this company. Here’s a handful I want to share with you.

Satya Nadella: Lead with empathy. The CEO of Microsoft once described his original interview at the company as ending with a question that caught him off guard: You see a baby fall down in the street, what do you do? This was back in the ’90s, so Satya said he’d run to a phone and call 911. He wasn’t hired. Incredulous, he asked why. The interviewer told him he needed to develop empathy — to pick up and comfort the baby. From then on, Satya made a point to incorporate empathy into his <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fpulse%2Funcovering-leadership-style-satya-nadella-mekonnen-kassa%2F&data=04%7C01%7CJocelyn.Jacobson%40sprint.com%7C88447c4fccbf480b66b708d8d79d8832%7C4f8bc0acbd784bf5b55f1b31301d9adf%7C0%7C0%7C637496419354268531%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=r1jjq0iqx64REmGRM6DhBM8FOiB7XkdgDvpotyk7I%2B4%3D&reserved=0">leadership style</a>, putting himself in someone else’s shoes before making a decision that will affect them.

For me and my leadership team, that means helping employees balance health, household and work responsibilities. I recognize that there’s no one-size-fits-all model — especially while weathering a pandemic — but it starts with a simple question: How are you?

Megan Rapinoe: Embrace your individual strengths. At T-Mobile we say, “Be yourself. We like it that way,” and there’s no better embodiment of that philosophy than U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe. Few people are as willing to take a stand — <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DjDrB2IestHs&data=04%7C01%7CJocelyn.Jacobson%40sprint.com%7C88447c4fccbf480b66b708d8d79d8832%7C4f8bc0acbd784bf5b55f1b31301d9adf%7C0%7C0%7C637496419354268531%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=lQl3Fj5IMVWwt%2B9rFke8jZ1J%2FPTbIgU5sWm6gwRSxU4%3D&reserved=0">on the biggest stages in the world</a>, with purple hair, no less! — than Megan (who happens to live right across Lake Washington from me in Seattle).

Diverse perspectives and experiences help a company like T-Mobile better understand the communities we serve every day — and ways we can improve our workforce. That’s why I’m in awe of our <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/meet-the-civil-rights-leaders-joining-t-mobiles-external-diversity-and-inclusion-council">External Diversity Council</a>, a superlative group of men and women that represents the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in running a successful company, and for providing an example of this lesson just by living their lives.

The Nordstrom family: Always put the customer first. Another Pacific Northwest icon, the Nordstrom family, set the standard for customer experience. Their retail empire was born from a single store opened in downtown Seattle in 1901 and today includes 100 stores in 40 U.S. states, along with a bustling website and more than 70,000 employees. The great-grandsons of original founder John W. Nordstrom, brothers Pete and Erik Nordstrom, run the family business under the same founding principle: The customer is always first. The “Nordstrom Way” has guided them through a century of boom-and-bust shopping trends, including recent shifts in brick-and-mortar retail.

Just like the Nordstrom family, I am all about <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/why-t-mobile">customer obsession</a>. I want T-Mobile to become the best in the world at connecting customers to their world. My vision is to be #1 in customer choice and customers’ hearts.

Kizzmekia Corbett: Each one, teach one. A mentor-mentee relationship ignited Kizzmekia Corbett’s lifelong passion for scientific discovery. Now a viral immunologist and research fellow in the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, she is the lead scientist on the team that developed the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine.

Kizzmekia has followed her curiosity since becoming a scientist at 16 by constantly learning, along with seeking and encouraging feedback on her work. Now, at 35, she has adopted a mentoring philosophy from an African-American proverb that originated during slavery: “Each one, teach one.” The idea is to spread knowledge for the betterment of your community.

In addition to Kizzmekia’s role in leading the design of the vaccine and preclinical studies, she is <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-021-00338-y&data=04%7C01%7CJocelyn.Jacobson%40sprint.com%7C63baf7a2ff3b49d4186108d8f270508c%7C4f8bc0acbd784bf5b55f1b31301d9adf%7C0%7C0%7C637525912249740500%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=p4Lvx7seONWKjQB%2F0WYU%2FvLgmrgXCOikq%2FbFPiR4Lkw%3D&reserved=0">easing hesitancies about Covid-19 science</a> — often in her limited free time — in communities of color.

Kizzmekia’s example is so inspiring. Instilling a sense of self-reliance and self-improvement helps our upcoming leaders grow. It also positively impacts our business. In fact, a Korn/Ferry International study of the stock performance of 486 publicly traded companies found that companies with strong financial performance tend to have employees with <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fellevate%2F2018%2F02%2F15%2Fself-awareness-being-more-of-what-makes-you-great%2F%3Fsh%3D1a90630040dd&data=04%7C01%7CJocelyn.Jacobson%40sprint.com%7C63baf7a2ff3b49d4186108d8f270508c%7C4f8bc0acbd784bf5b55f1b31301d9adf%7C0%7C0%7C637525912249750492%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=zpUbBeLrM%2FvSq227mNyPl1lHNthbhMqA%2BFC3L5NFHWs%3D&reserved=0">higher levels of self-awareness</a> than poorly performing companies.

José Andrés: Direct your passion back to the world in the biggest way possible. After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, José Andrés took his food out of the restaurant and straight to people in need. The internationally renowned chef launched <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FWorld_Central_Kitchen&data=04%7C01%7CJocelyn.Jacobson%40sprint.com%7C88447c4fccbf480b66b708d8d79d8832%7C4f8bc0acbd784bf5b55f1b31301d9adf%7C0%7C0%7C637496419354278527%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=5u89Ya37d6KpM9QTPGHlDTZyyflr6hSz0V0Yi%2FpecS8%3D&reserved=0">World Central Kitchen</a>, a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that provides meals to people suffering through natural disasters. In 2020, José set up community kitchens across the U.S. to deliver tens of thousands of meals to people hit hard by Covid-19. Doing what he does best to make a difference for those who need it most. His big heart is matched only by his outsized impact, a combination I admire and aspire to. And now more than ever, people need someone fighting on their behalf.

Just like José, I believe in fighting for those who need a little extra support. It’s why T-Mobile launched <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/business/education/project-10-million?cmpid=TFB_RAD_P_20TENMM_OU0ZJSRRLLM0FYL758187">Project 10Million</a> this past year, an ambitious program aimed at eradicating the digital divide issue known as the “homework gap.” Education should be the great leveler in our society, but students need broadband connections in order for that to work. Our goal is simple — to connect every single child with internet access. So far, we have provided more than 2.5 million underserved students nationwide with free or highly subsidized connectivity. Directing our passion back to the world.

Greta Thunberg: We must protect the Earth for future generations, and we must do it now. Greta has changed the conversation about environmentalism at the highest levels of global leadership — and she did so before turning 18. I see her as one of the bravest leaders on the world stage today, and she quickly pivoted her movement to online and socially distanced activism during the pandemic.

I want the cleaner, safer, saner world Greta envisions, not just for my children but for everyone’s. And I’m proud to put those words into action at T-Mobile, where our <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/changemaker-challenge-2021">Changemaker Challenge program</a> celebrates creative young people who are making a difference with their innovative ideas around technology, the environment and education. I can’t wait to see what they bring to our Changemaker Lab later this year.

Colin Powell: You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn’t let someone else make yours. It’s nearly impossible to choose only one leadership lesson from former Secretary of State and four-star general Colin Powell. Throughout his broad experiences in military and civilian life, he has exemplified what it means to lead with emotional intelligence, create conditions of trust within an organization and approach life with a can-do attitude.

Of his own <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.airman.af.mil%2FPortals%2F17%2F002%2520All%2520Products%2F001%2520Book%2520Reviews%2FBook%2520Reviews%2FIt%2520Worked%2520For%2520Me--Powell%27s%252013%2520Rules.pdf%3Fver%3D2016-09-20-150915-237&data=04%7C01%7CJocelyn.Jacobson%40sprint.com%7C63baf7a2ff3b49d4186108d8f270508c%7C4f8bc0acbd784bf5b55f1b31301d9adf%7C0%7C0%7C637525912249750492%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=wnPXA%2Fz9VuuW1gMjqFa37EqbWwrZtRP64GcvxACmE4I%3D&reserved=0">13 Rules of Leadership</a>, this one about taking ultimate responsibility for the decisions you make resonates most with me. Gen. Powell used to tell his subordinate commanders and staff, “Try to convince me you are right and I am about to go down the wrong path. You owe that to me; that's why you are here. But don't be intimidated when I argue back. A moment will come when I have heard enough and I make a decision.”

I encourage my leaders at T-Mobile to listen and consider all perspectives. But ultimately, we are all responsible for our own decisions. You can’t let pressure from someone else stand in the way of making the choices you need to make (for me, being what’s best for our customers, employees and shareholders). My leadership team and I approach tough decision-making with Gen. Powell’s advice in mind: Get enough information to make an informed decision, and then trust your gut. Also, be willing to learn and grow from your mistakes.

I’m happy to take notes from such strong, empathetic individuals. This is all about embracing an optimistic view of the future — one that’s wide open to possibility. And when we keep learning, we keep improving. That’s what the growth mindset is all about. Because as good as we are, I know we can get even better. And that pursuit is what moves me and my teammates at T-Mobile.

This article first appeared in the <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2021/04/16/opinion-leadership-is-a-learning-experience.html">Puget Sound Business Journal</a>.

During his first full year as CEO of T-Mobile, Mike Sievert's goal has been to embrace a growth mindset. He's been looking at leadership lessons from successful world leaders and infusing some of the ideas at T-Mobile.

Leading by Learning | T-Mobile Newsroom

Jocelyn Jacobson

During his first full year as CEO of T-Mobile, Mike Sievert&#039;s goal has been to embrace a growth mindset. He&#039;s been looking at leadership lessons from successful world leaders and infusing some of the ideas at T-Mobile.

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/ceo-mike-sievert-growth-mindset-leadership-lessons

twitter:description

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/_admin/uploads/2021/03/ntc-SievertBlog-02-19-21-copy.png

As Women's History Month comes to a close, we look at the work five females have done for a promising future of 5G ahead.

tmobile-blocks/subhead

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating pioneering women who have led the charge in getting us to <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/business/resources/articles/future-of-5g-connectivity">our 5G future</a>, and fought for female equality along the way. From early 19th Century advancements in civil engineering to groundbreaking mobile inventions and fearless wireless leadership in the 20th Century and beyond, here are five female innovators who have changed the game in telecommunications — and will continue to for years to come.

Labor Movements and Long-Distance Communications: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Bagley" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sarah Bagley</a>

core/heading

core/image

A spectacular example of nascent feminism was seen in the beginnings of phone technology! Long before landlines, telegraphs were our primary method of long-distance communication. In 1847, just two years after the invention of the electric telegraph, the New York and Boston Magnetic Telegraph Company opened its office in Lowell, Mass. and hired Bagley as a telegraph operator. Before long, she was running the Springfield, Mass. office, and became the president of the Lowell Female Labor Reform Associations to fight for equal pay when she learned she only made three-quarters the salary of the man she replaced there. She campaigned to make ten hours of labor per day the maximum in Massachusetts and fought for healthy working conditions and women’s rights. New phone, who dis?

Hall of Famer: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlene_Harris_(inventor)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arlene Harris</a>

Mobile and Wireless Inventor, Investor and Policy Advocate

Arlene Harris began her career in the mobile and telecommunications industry at the ripe old age of 12 as a telephone switchboard operator on her way to becoming the first female inductee of the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2007. Harris founded the company Cellular Pay Phone, Inc. in 1986, where she invented the first unique application of cellular services via a patented custom designed cellular phone and management system. Harris later led the development and market introduction of the SOS phone, helped create the first prepaid cellular service and advocated for greater wireless accessibility, especially among less tech-savvy consumers like senior citizens. She also created the Wireless History Foundation to preserve and promote the field’s storied history. The holder of several patents in wireless communications, Harris has had a long career as an inventor, innovator, entrepreneur and mentor, and has helped shape the modern wireless industry.

Bossed Up: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Quist" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lucy Quist</a>

First Female CEO in the Telecommunications Industry

From starting her career as an electrical and electronic engineer at Ford Motor Company, Lucy Quist would go on to break barriers in the telecommunications world, becoming the industry’s first-ever female CEO. After Ford, Quist held a managerial position at the Royal Bank of Scotland before joining Millicom International Cellular in 2008 as a business development, sales distribution and marketing specialist. At Millicom, Quist also led the company’s wholesale and enterprise business, and went on to become the CEO of Airtel Ghana. In her executive leadership role at Airtel, Quist was an advocate for greater youth STEM participation in Ghana, and co-founded a payment platform in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Quist is widely respected as a leader in African development and the advancement of professional women.

The Policymaker: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith_Attwell_Baker" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meredith Attwell Baker</a>

President and CEO of the CTIA - The Wireless Association

Serving as the president and CEO of the national wireless communication policy and advocacy group <a href="https://www.ctia.org/about-ctia/the-ctia-team/meredith-attwell-baker">CTIA</a>, Meredith Attwell Baker is among those leading the charge in making the U.S. the dominant player in 5G worldwide. Baker, who was appointed to the Department of Commerce under President Bush and the FCC by President Obama, became CTIA president and CEO in 2014, after years of government affairs work on behalf of the organization. As a strong proponent for the advancement of 5G in the U.S., Baker has testified before Congress to push for 5G expansion, advocating for the swift rollout of networks across the country.

The American Dream Is A Phone Call Away: <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/svp-inspires-women-in-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Edwige Robinson</a>

T-Mobile’s SVP of the Central Regional Network Engineering & Operations

Edwige Robinson is the Un-carrier's self-described bridge between “business strategy, innovation and technology execution.” A native of Ivory Coast, West Africa, who came to America in her early twenties before learning to speak English, she says being a woman, an immigrant and black meant she was a “triple minority” laying new ground for those who dreamed of careers in tech but unable to find mentors and supportive allies in such a challenging field. She’s certainly paved the way during her 27-year career, having occupied leadership roles in a field dominated by men, notably in one of the few executive seats available in renowned companies like Verizon Wireless, Time Warner Cable and Comcast NBC Universal. Her expertise in 5G, IoT (Internet of Things) and narrowband-IoT meant to enable a wide range of new devices and services, artificial intelligence as well as machine learning, made her a seamless fit for her latest venture at T-Mobile, where leading the nation in wireless 5G has been a laser focus for the brand. Named by diversity research firm Aleria as one of the “<a href="https://aleria.tech/awesome-black-women">Awesome Black Women Everyone Should Know</a>” and lauded by the global women in STEM organization <a href="https://www.1mwis.com/profiles/Edwige-Robinson">Million STEM</a> as a <a href="https://www.1mwis.com/profiles/Edwige-Robinson">visible role model who inspires the next generation of girls</a>, it’s clear Robinson’s impact isn’t all data points and mechanical prowess. Listen below to hear why she believes inclusivity of all women is a key component to a company's success.

core/embed

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating pioneering women who have led the charge in getting us to our 5G future.

Women Making History: 5 Women Who Got Us to 5G | T-Mobile Newsroom

Shawna Ryan

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/_admin/uploads/2021/03/nr-hero-Women-Making-History-3-22-21.png

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/5-women-who-got-us-to-5g

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/_admin/uploads/2021/03/ntc-Women-Making-History-3-22-21.png

T-Mobile’s new Senior Vice President of the Central Regional Network Engineering & Operations shares her journey from Africa to America, overcoming adversity and seizing opportunity to pave a way for herself and blaze a trail for others.

Ask Edwige Robinson what gave her the grit to embark on a courageous career path in a field where she had no mentors and no clear path to success, and her answer may surprise you.

“I love this question because it will help many people — you see, I stumbled into the tech realm a couple of decades ago.”

As someone who says she simply “stumbled into the tech realm,” Robinson certainly turned her gate into a full stride on the way to the top over her 27-year career, having occupied leadership roles in a field dominated by men, notably in one of the few executive seats available in renowned companies like Verizon Wireless, Time Warner Cable and Comcast NBC Universal.

“For more than two decades, I have had the honor of leading diverse organizations at all levels and delivered terrific products and experiences for customers around the world,” explains Robinson, who joined T-Mobile as Senior Vice President of the Central Regional Network Engineering & Operations this past October. “I realized early on in my career that leadership is not just a job for me. Leadership is my calling and a way of moving through the world that makes others want to follow. Though authentic leadership requires sacrifice, I have found tremendous joy in igniting people to uncover their gifts and blind spots so that they can reach their highest potential and have maximum impact in their roles! It is such a privilege, and I get to do it every day.”

She is the self-described bridge between “business strategy, innovation and technology execution.” A track record of excellence with a heavy focus on superior customer experience, she’s brought drastic improvement in net promoter scores and ROI to the teams she leads. Her expertise in 5G, IoT (Internet of Things) and narrowband-IoT meant to enable a wide range of new devices and services, artificial intelligence as well as machine learning, made her a seamless fit for her latest venture at <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.t-mobile.com/">T-Mobile</a>, where leading the nation in wireless 5G has been a laser focus for the brand.

Named by diversity research firm Aleria as one of the “<a href="https://aleria.tech/awesome-black-women">Awesome Black Women Everyone Should Know</a>” and lauded by the global women in STEM organization <a href="https://www.1mwis.com/profiles/Edwige-Robinson">Million STEM</a> as a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.1mwis.com/profiles/Edwige-Robinson" target="_blank">visible role model who inspires the next generation of girls</a>, it’s clear Robinson’s impact isn’t all data points and mechanical prowess.

tmobile-blocks/pull-quote-image

A native of Ivory Coast, West Africa, who came to America in her early twenties before learning to speak English, she says being a woman, an immigrant and black meant she was a “triple minority” laying new ground for those who dreamed of careers in tech but unable to find mentors and supportive allies in such a challenging field.

“I have been committed to helping me and my family have a better life since I was 14 years old,” says Robinson. “This is why I work so hard. This is why I took the leap of faith to come to the USA — sometimes you have to be your own hero. You have to be willing to fight for yourself and others. You have to trust that you have what it takes.”

Her dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion has driven her to help organizations understand and leverage equity in that representation; all while engaging, energizing and empowering employees to excel against the challenges they face.

Here Robinson opens up about how she fell in love with STEM as a young girl, the adversity she faced, her advice to women who might not have role models they identify with in their chosen fields and why she’s most grateful for her first after-school job in America, working the graveyard shift on a motherboard manufacturing assembly line.

When did you first recognize your passion for STEM, and how did you first enter into the field? How did your upbringing in Ivory Coast influence your drive to succeed?

My initial degree was in banking and finance. However, when I arrived in the U.S. I had to find a way to make some money while going to school. One of my professors shared with us a job ad for manufacturing. The job required you to work during the third shift, also known as the graveyard hours. Back then you had to complete a paper application, so when I arrived at the location to apply, the recruiter looked at me and said, “Why are you here?” When I told him I wanted to apply for the position, he argued that I had no experience. But, I told him I was ready to learn, and two weeks later I was working on the motherboard assembly line from 3pm to 2am daily.

I learned about AC/DC, resistors and transistors, different temperatures to test hardware, how to do audits, etc. I was the only female, but I did not care — I was able to take care of myself and also send money back to the Ivory Coast to take care of my family. It was hard to go to school full-time and work 10 hours after school, but it paid better than working in department stores. So, while I entered a field to help myself financially, I quickly felt in love with troubleshooting and uncovering different ways to get things to work. It turned out to be the best launchpad I could have ever asked for. This is why I always tell people to stay open to what life has to offer. You may be wonderfully surprised of the outcome.

I am known to have a relentless perseverance and tend to be an optimist. While the Ivory Coast is a beautiful country, it is not an easy place to live, to say the least. Growing up, we did not have much — so I learned to find joy in the little things, like a great meal. I remember growing up wearing one pair of shoes for several years. I learned that you always have a choice and sometimes your choice will demand a lot of sacrifice from you. You see, life is a game of decisions. Some decisions are more complicated than others, but ultimately, we must choose. When your aspirations are more significant than your worries, life has a way of putting you in a situation where you can only say yes to the opportunity. Sometimes in life you have to be your own hero. You have to be willing to fight for yourself and others. You have to trust that you have what it takes. From that point, the mentors and advocates will come.

Despite your impressive education and career accomplishments, you’ve said that you first and foremost draw from your experience as a black woman and immigrant to America to champion and advocate for others. Can you tell us a little more about this?

I see being the only one who looks like me or speaks like me in meetings as a tremendous privilege. So, the way I look at it is this, instead of saying I am the only one here, I say I have the privilege to show what I am made of and I get to be here — I am going to do so well, that they will have no choice but to look for more people like me. If not me, whom? Being a barrier-breaker takes courage and a lot of sacrifice, because everyone is watching to see how you will do. Some people are silently praying for you to succeed, while some are just waiting to see if you will fail. So, you have to learn to encourage yourself and keep going despite the obstacles. Why? Because everything worth having comes at a cost. You have to decide what you are willing to sacrifice. I sacrificed leaving everything I knew and left it behind for a country that I didn’t know, where I was unable to speak the language. Upon arrival, I embraced it and went out each day with a spirit of wonder and curiosity.

I started at the very bottom of the ladder working that graveyard shift, from that I went back to school and took advantage of the employer educational assistance to complete my bachelor’s and master’s. It was really hard to work full-time and raise our boys. My husband was a big help. I always reminded myself if you don’t fight for you first, who will? Life is what you make it. You get one hundred-fold what you put in.

You have been recognized as a visible role model by the global women in STEM organization <a href="https://www.1mwis.com/profiles/Edwige-Robinson">Million STEM</a> and by <a href="https://tmobile.pmail5.com/PoliteMail/default.aspx?page=F2r5WivCiEO0KMGtL4NYjQ&ref_id=jrE9ZGumX0-P_Hy6pZt1OQ">Aleria</a> as one of the “Awesome Black Women Everyone Should Know.” What about these accolades mean the most to you?

For me, being a role model for young men and women is so important. It is difficult for people to become what they can’t see. As a triple minority, I take great pride in showing that it is possible to become what you dream of in secret. I want little young black girls and young men to see that their dreams are valid, too. I feel tremendous joy when I get an email or note via <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwigeatransformationalleader/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwigeatransformationalleader/">LinkedIn</a> from women who are just entering the field. “When I see you, Edwige, I see that it’s also possible for me. If someone like you can come from another country without speaking English and reach your level, I believe that one day I too can reach and exceed it. It is not a fairytale. It can be a reality for me, too.” This is why I do what I do, this is why I can execute with excellence — there is no other way to be.

T-Mobile SVP Edwige Robinson is a self described triple minority trailblazing in the technology field.

“Sometimes You Have To Be Your Own Hero” | T-Mobile Newsroom

“Sometimes You Have To Be Your Own Hero”

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/_admin/uploads/2021/02/nr-hero-EdwigeRobinson-2-24-21.png

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/svp-inspires-women-in-tech

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/_admin/uploads/2021/02/ntc-EdwigeRobinson-2-24-21.png

In celebration of Black History Month, the rapper, actor, author and activist shared his insights and experiences to help promote diverse narratives and find deeper purpose.

“Gratitude is one of the things that can keep you positive. If you think about the things that you do have and just stay in that att … I was about to say ‘attitude,’ but I didn’t want to rhyme. But, to be honest, your gratitude will change your attitude!”

Common laughed when he tried to stop himself from doing what he does best. But even when the rapper tries to downplay his talents, it seems his creative spark can’t be dimmed. Speaking via livestream to T-Mobile’s Executive Vice President of Customer Care Callie Field, as well as almost five thousand employee audience members, during the company’s virtual Talking with Trailblazers event in recognition of Black History Month, the hip-hop heavyweight’s excitement over the topic at hand was palpable through the computer screen.

“I love the thought and the mantra of ‘excellence in action,’” he said. “The more I’ve trained myself to think about keeping my mind on good things and recognizing that everything that we’ve experienced is actually there for us to be better. Excellence! In action!”

As the winner of an Academy Award and a Golden Globe in 2015 for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture for Glory, as well as numerous Grammys, the author of two memoirs admittedly knows what excellence feels like, and has dedicated himself to helping others understand its power through his social justice and advocacy work, focusing on mass incarceration, mental health and voting rights.

This Talking with Trailblazers installment is the latest in a <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/celebrating-diversity/black-history">series of companywide initiatives</a> to celebrate Black History Month and was organized with the help of the company’s Multicultural Alliance and Black Empowerment Network employee resource groups. T-Mobile also kicked off February with a <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/black-history-month-2021">$2 million investment</a> in new scholarship, recruiting and business education programs meant to continue its commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The donations focus on programs that serve students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), aspiring diverse workers in the tech and telecom industries and Black small business owners.

Common had plenty of gems of wisdom to share during the hour-long conversation, topics ranging from the importance of mental and physical health while investing in your purpose to celebrating the incredible contributions of Black writers, musicians and artists and the meaning behind the Black Lives Matter movement, and the recent work of his own nonprofit organizations the Common Ground Foundation and Imagine Justice, dedicated to leveraging the power of art to advocate for communities and fight for justice and equality.

So put on your favorite soundtrack to set the mood — May we suggest starting with the first track on this <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/66cWCIdzOlFhVSTOf5oNyC?si=5a0052157e794367">Black History Month-inspired playlist</a> created by the T-Mobile internal communications team? — and enjoy some invaluable takeaways from this important chat.

1. Gratitude will change your attitude. “Gratitude is one of the things that can keep you positive. It’s better to think about the things that you are grateful for instead of worrying about the future or living in the past. It changes your mentality, so that’s how I keep a positive outlook and surround myself with positive people and positive energy. I try not to take in things — whether it's news, food, music — that darken my energy and my spirit.”

2. Self-care is a discipline, one that trains you to maintain discipline in all areas of life. “As a young man, I really didn’t have any health awareness besides exercise. But, at a certain point, I realized that certain things weren’t good for my life. I started caring more and focusing more towards taking care of myself from a diet perspective. Applying discipline to one area of my life helped me feel more powerful. I felt like I had more control of myself. ‘Oh, I have the power to not do these things. Instead, I can use that power to create these other things.’ I recognized that going into the studio after I stopped eating certain things, my voice was clearer. Now I eat a healthier diet. I drink water. I work out. I go into the booth and make sure I do vocal exercises. I pay attention. I strive for a lifestyle of wanting to love myself and a lifestyle of wellness. If you take care of yourself, it shows up in every other aspect of your life, no matter what you’re doing.”

3. The head holds the secret to what the heart wants — mental health is as vital as physical health. “We all go through some stuff. Everybody. I don’t care how divine, how great, talented, successful, whatever attributes you have that are blessings and incredible. You still go through things. You still go through what we feel as human beings. It shows up in fears, shows up as ways that we are afraid to get close to the other individuals, or ways that we actually channel our own pain on to other individuals or even onto ourselves. Ways that we are not able to love ourselves as much. Sometimes we just don't know the reason why some of these things are happening. Sometimes we know we are doing it and still don’t know why we want to do it. My goal is to be the best human being, the best child of God, I can be, every day. That entails not only the physical things, but the mental and emotional. In fact, I don't care how physically well you are. If you’re not nurturing your mental wellness, you will never live to your full capacity and live a full, happy life. So, I made a decision when I saw myself repeating certain things. After all the great books that I’ve read, and the self-help books, and still continuing to build in my spirituality, I felt like one of the avenues to explore was therapy. If you have something going on physically, you go to the doctor. So why not have that type of support for your mental well-being? It’s proven to be one of the greatest gifts for me in this lifetime.”

4. Live a life of purpose, each and every day. "I asked myself this question the other day: If I never had to worry about money again, what things would I still do? I would still create music. I would act. I would be doing activism work. Some things within your purpose will end up being your profession, and you can express your purpose through your profession — and some won't. But things that you love to do are still in your purpose, your life’s work. The great Kahlil Gibran wrote in the book The Prophet, “Work is love made visible.” Work is love made visible. You want to make sure that you’re doing things that are aligned in that purpose. And it takes us time to discover what those things are. Write it down, think about it. What you’re doing every day, is that falling under your purpose in some way? How are you putting some time in your day towards your purpose? It’s okay if you don’t know it at this moment, but it is important to put attention and focus into finding it.”

5. Celebrate Black culture by continuing to grow its areas of prominence and influence. “Yes. I'm a Black artist and I love Black artists. I love celebrating Black art, whether it’s Amanda Gorman, or whether it’s this bass player and singer named <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thundercat_(musician)" target="_blank">Thundercat</a>. Whether it’s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.isaiahsharkey.com/" target="_blank">Isaiah Sharkey</a> or <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SZA_(singer)" target="_blank">SZA</a>. It could be <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://lsimpsonstudio.com/" target="_blank">Lorna Simpson</a>, who’s a visual artist, or <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahershala_Ali" target="_blank">Mahershala Ali</a> or <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erykah_Badu" target="_blank">Erykah Badu</a>. I celebrate Black art, and it’s not a labor to celebrate it, because it’s such beautiful work and incredible work, and work that has changed the world. It has influenced the world and it continues to evolve. Celebrating Black excellence doesn’t downgrade or diss anyone else. It’s not a slight to anyone, it's not putting any other nationality or culture down. It’s just celebrating our culture and who we’ve been in this world. It’s important that we do that. It’s important that we celebrate ourselves as individuals and celebrate where we come from. It’s very important to acknowledge those things. And not only from the artist perspective, let’s make sure we continue to have Black people and other minority groups in places of decision-making in the corporate world, too.”

In celebration of Black History Month, rapper, actor, author and activist Common shared his insights on excellence in action.

5 Tips To a “Common” Sense Approach | T-Mobile Newsroom

5 Tips To a “Common” Sense Approach

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/_admin/uploads/2021/02/nr-hero-TWT-Recap-common-2-24-21-2.png

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/5-tips-to-a-common-sense-approach

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/_admin/uploads/2021/02/ntc-TWT-Recap-common-2-24-21-1.png

The Un-carrier continues its commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by kicking off a $2 million investment in new scholarship, recruiting and business education programs

What’s the news: Inspired by advocates who created pathways to prosperity for Black Americans, T-Mobile is announcing three new programs that will give students, tech professionals and business owners access to valuable financial, educational and career-development resources: Magenta Scholars, the NextTech Diversity Program and Magenta Edge. Why it matters: Change happens when everyone has equitable access to resources, and these three programs will provide just that for Black Americans. Stats tell the story of opportunity: Students with financial support graduate at twice the rate of Black students overall. Black workers with access to career training and resources can break barriers in a network-infrastructure workforce that currently is comprised of just 10% Black technicians. Black-owned businesses will benefit from access to free workshops and advice from experts, particularly as they have been twice as likely to close permanently than white-owned businesses because of the economic impacts of COVID-19. Who it’s for: Students at historically Black colleges and universities, aspiring diverse workers in the tech and telecom industries and Black small business owners — and allies who support them.

Bellevue, Wash. — Feb. 8, 2021 —This Black History Month, T-Mobile is introducing three innovative programs with the goal of helping create more opportunities for Black communities across the nation. The initiatives — Magenta Scholars, the NextTech Diversity Program and Magenta Edge — will provide resources and support to Black students, tech workers and business owners as they build their education, careers and livelihoods. These educational and professional development programs are the Un-carrier’s latest actions to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) within T-Mobile and beyond.

“During Black History Month, T-Mobile is taking inspiration from the legacies of Black leaders as we continue doing our part to advance equity across the country,” said Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile. “The Un-carrier has long stood for diversity, equity and inclusion to better serve our customers, improve how we work together and advance our communities. With these new programs, we hope to continue to do our part in creating meaningful opportunities for Black Americans across the country and provide resources they need as they build their own legacies.”

Today’s students are tomorrow’s workforce, and by investing in their journeys T-Mobile is investing in America’s future. T-Mobile’s Magenta Scholars program will donate $500,000 to create 18 scholarships for students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The program is a partnership with the <a href="https://www.tmcf.org/">Thurgood Marshall College Fund</a>, which boasts an impressive 80-90% graduation rate among its scholars — more than double the national graduation rate for Black students overall. Scholarship recipients will also have an opportunity to join the Un-carrier's signature summer internship program and receive mentorship and professional development opportunities. The application period opens Feb. 18 and scholarships will be awarded in the fall of 2021.

Additionally, on Feb. 9, the T-Mobile Tuesdays app will give T-Mobile customers a way to support the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. For every customer that clicks on the donation option in the app, T-Mobile will donate $1 to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (up to $500,000; minimum of $250,000), contributing to gap scholarships that help students meet outstanding financial obligations in order to graduate.

NextTech Diversity Program

Black technicians make up just 10% of the telecom network-infrastructure field, an industry with tens of thousands of open positions that offer the potential for long-term, lucrative careers to those with applicable skills and certification. Over the next five years the NextTech Diversity Program aims to provide career training and placement for thousands of underrepresented candidates to take on roles as 5G network technicians. The program kicks off with nearly $1 million in funding, starting with $750,000 in initial seed funding from T-Mobile and another $150,000 from other telecommunications partners. Telecom trade school <a href="https://www.mylearningalliance.com/">The Learning Alliance</a> will oversee recruitment, training, certification and job placement of candidates as they create long-term careers in roles such as tower climber, 5G small cell and field tech. Sixty candidates will join the program in 2021, and T-Mobile is inviting all national and regional telecom partners to contract directly with The Learning Alliance to sponsor even more candidates.

Black-owned small businesses in the U.S. have suffered exponentially during the COVID-19 crisis and are about twice as likely to close their doors permanently compared to other businesses. A primary driver for this disparity is a longstanding, systemic lack of access to resources and capital, including difficulty getting business loans. Magenta Edge offers all entrepreneurs expert advice and insight on how to navigate these historically difficult times through the lens of Black-owned small business owners and their stories. Magenta Edge provides <a href="https://events.tfb.t-mobile.com/MagentaEdge?icid=TFB_TMO_P_TFBMGTAEDG_BKNKHKTFUHFODOSMR23410&utm_content=WrkshpHub&utm_medium=PR&utm_source=PR&utm_campaign=TFBMGTAEDG">free educational programming</a> on subjects such as best practices for entrepreneurs while addressing systemic barriers to Black small-business success. This is just the initial phase of Magenta Edge, which will expand to supply additional resources in the coming years.

Visit <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/business/magenta-edge?cmpid=TFB_PR_U_TFBMGTAEDG_2SO3OKOS6H42IJDPB62836">Magenta Edge</a> for updates on programming, new content and small-business support. Virtual workshops begin Feb. 11 and registration is now open.

These new programs are pieces of T-Mobile’s broader work to further diversity, equity and inclusion among the company’s customers, employees and communities it serves.

Learn more about how T-Mobile is celebrating Black History <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/celebrating-diversity/black-history">here</a>.

About T-Mobile T-Mobile U.S. Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is America’s supercharged Un-carrier, delivering an advanced 4G LTE and transformative nationwide 5G network that will offer reliable connectivity for all. T-Mobile’s customers benefit from its unmatched combination of value and quality, unwavering obsession with offering them the best possible service experience and undisputable drive for disruption that creates competition and innovation in wireless and beyond. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Sprint. For more information please visit: <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com">https://www.t-mobile.com</a>.

During Black History Month, T-Mobile Launches Programs Focused on Driving Opportunity for Students, Tech Workers and Business Owners | T-Mobile Newsroom

During Black History Month, T-Mobile Launches Programs Focused on Driving Opportunity for Students, Tech Workers and Business Owners

lisabelot

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/_admin/uploads/2021/02/nr-article-BHM-02-04-21.png

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/black-history-month-2021

core/list

BELLEVUE, Wash. — December 18, 2020 — Continuing to keep all communities connected, T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) today announced the Un-carrier has been selected to provide Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) and Captioned Telephone service (CapTel) in the state of Texas, referred to as Relay Texas. The Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUCT) gladly renewed its relationship with T-Mobile, effective December 1, 2020 after more than 30 years of history with Sprint, now part of T-Mobile. TRS communications, including Relay Texas, can be accessed by dialing 711 anywhere in the U.S. from any phone and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

"We are excited to continue our wonderful relationship with the great state of Texas, as well as working with the Public Utilities Commission and Relay Texas consumers as we endeavor to improve the quality of life for all," said Mike Ellis, who leads accessibility at T-Mobile. "T-Mobile provides a comprehensive array of accessible communication services to empower people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, Low-Vision or have a Speech Disability that provide functionally equivalent communication options.”

“The Public Utility Commission of Texas is happy to announce the new contract for Relay Services awarded to T-Mobile. The Public Utility Commission of Texas and Sprint, now part of T-Mobile has a 30 year relationship and we look forward to another four years together providing top notch relay services to the people of Texas,” said Jay Stone, Program Administrator, Public Utility Commission of Texas.

Relay services like TRS and CapTel enable people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, Low-Vision or have a Speech Disability to communicate over the phone by using a specialized text telephone and an operator to convert voice communications to text. Relay communication services are designed to accommodate the uniquely different users’ needs and capabilities.

Making Connectivity Available to All The New T-Mobile is building on more than 30 years of providing accessibility solutions under the Sprint brand. T-Mobile has been a leader in the development and advancement of telecommunications relay services and is proud to provide connectivity for all customers. As the largest provider of relay services, T-Mobile provides accessibility services to 37 state customers (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), as well as the U.S. Federal Government.

For more information on T-Mobile Accessibility’s suite of accessibility services, visit <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.t-mobile.com/accessibility" target="_blank">www.t-mobile.com/accessibility</a>.

For more information about Relay Texas, go to <a href="http://www.relaytexas.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.relaytexas.com</a>.

Follow T-Mobile’s Official Twitter Newsroom <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://twitter.com/TMobileNews" target="_blank">@TMobileNews</a> to stay up to date with the latest company news.

core/separator

About T-Mobile T-Mobile U.S. Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is America’s supercharged Un-carrier, delivering an advanced 4G LTE and transformative nationwide 5G network that will offer reliable connectivity for all. T-Mobile’s customers benefit from its unmatched combination of value and quality, unwavering obsession with offering them the best possible service experience and undisputable drive for disruption that creates competition and innovation in wireless and beyond. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Sprint. For more information please visit: https://www.t-mobile.com.

Media Contacts

tmobile-blocks/media-contact

tmobile-blocks/related-posts-interrupter

T-Mobile will provide telecommunications relay services in the state of Texas for people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, Low-Vision or have a Speech Disability, building on a 30 year legacy of service provided by Sprint (now part of T-Mobile). Connect with Relay Texas by dialing 711.

T-Mobile Selected as State of Texas Telecommunications Relay and Captioned Telephone Services Provider | T-Mobile Newsroom

T-Mobile Selected as State of Texas Telecommunications Relay and Captioned Telephone Services Provider

Stephanie Estes

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/_admin/uploads/2020/06/nr-generic-Full-Tmo-logo.png

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/business/provides-accessible-communications-for-texans

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/_admin/uploads/2020/06/nr-generic-Full-Tmo-logo-1024x650.png

T-Mobile addresses the challenges women are facing in a COVID-19 remote world with a nationwide virtual panel discussion of employees.

“We are seeing it in the chat, people saying ‘I’m drowning, I’m struggling, I’m overwhelmed.’ I’m sure we have all used that language in one way or another.”

Maxie McCoy, <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/expert-maxie-mccoy-on-how-work-will-never-be-the-same">a women’s leadership expert</a> and author of the book You’re Not Lost, took a moment to address the comments flooding in from more than one thousand people logged into T-Mobile’s new “Intersections” speaker series that was held recently. The virtual program was created by the company’s Women’s & Allies Network (WAN) as part of its latest renewed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts after its merger with Sprint earlier this year, which skyrocketed the WAN group’s membership to over 17,600.

The purpose of the event was to explore how employees’ identities (and current realities) shape their experiences at work. And the premiere topic, “Women and Working from Home: How to Prevent Downshifting,” clearly struck a chord with the audience. While the network had previously been focusing on creating career development opportunities for hundreds of employees through dozens of events nationwide, the term “downshifting” suddenly became a common obstacle after the COVID-19 pandemic forced many employees to work from home. Suddenly, it became less about being aware of available opportunities and more that they felt unable to take them.

Women have been forced to pull unsustainable double shifts since March, and it's reflected in labor numbers this year. Since February, women’s participation in the labor force <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/business/economy/women-jobs-economy-recession.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage">has been falling</a>, with <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t01.htm" target="_blank">4.5 million fewer women </a>employed in October than a year ago, compared with 4.1 million men. And with mothers being <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace">three times more likely</a> to stay home than fathers, businesses being shuttered by the pandemic isn’t the only reason for those unemployment numbers.

“These circumstances are taking an unprecedented toll on women,” said McCoy, who referenced other staggering statistics from a recent report created by McKinsey & Company called <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace">“Women In The Workplace 2020”</a> that are hard to ignore.

Downshifting can be characterized by an employee’s decision to stay in a lower-paying job, accept less prominent roles or leave their employment altogether. Historically for women it’s been the natural result of a lack of affordable childcare solutions. That reality was <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/11/daycare-world-war-rosie-riveter/415650/">noticeably paused during World War II</a> when women were needed to replace jobs left by men fighting overseas and a federally subsidized network of childcare facilities was established. It’s been a long time since that aid ended, and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/business/economy/women-jobs-economy-recession.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage">recent post-pandemic labor numbers</a> show the risk of downshifting now weighing most heavily on low-income and minority women, especially in the service industry.

And for many of those women who aren’t dropping out in other fields, like the panelists in T-Mobile’s virtual event, that downshift is revealing itself in the way they and their female colleagues show up to work — not raising their hands nor actively taking a seat at the table as a means of survival until this pandemic passes.

“There is an opportunity for those unofficial mentorship spaces,” said Nathasha Smith, a Customer Care Closed Loop Manager who moved from a call center in Virginia to working from home with a teenage son in remote school, when asked how she’s leveraging the perks of a virtual work environment to combat the risk of isolation. “There’s an opportunity to have a conversation with new people or get support from someone even if they don’t realize they’re helping me in a space I might need – that’s the allyship I see.”

“Inclusion relies on allyship and success partners in the workplace,” added Shwetha Kamala, an IT Vendor Manager. “We have regular check ins to ask how we can help each other with our own unique challenges. It helps to ask for help. It helps to say I am overwhelmed.”

The panel discussed how leaders, teammates and allies can specifically support women within T-Mobile by sharing their tactics to solve the problems they face:

If there were a motto that rang true for all the women on the panel, employees of diverse backgrounds and roles within the company, it would be that work-life balance during the pandemic is a fallacy at this point.

Many women commonly reference an <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/business/economy/women-jobs-economy-recession.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage">inequality in the household and childcare responsibilities</a>, which, when faced with the closing of childcare centers and a move to remote schooling, begets an inequality in the workplace.

Mothers are more than <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace">three times</a> as likely as fathers to be responsible for housework and caregiving during the pandemic. It’s required women to create arduous individual solutions to solve structural problems. According to the Census Bureau, a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2020/08/parents-juggle-work-and-child-care-during-pandemic.html" target="_blank">third of working women</a> suddenly unemployed in 2020 said they downshifted because of child care demands. As schools shuttered earlier in the year in an effort to flatten the curve, most families were saddled with finding affordable care for kids glued to their school’s e-learning schedules at home. When that couldn’t happen, far fewer men cited having to make the difficult decision to choose family over career. Only 12 percent of unemployed men in the same age bracket to be exact.

And the divide isn't just being widened between the genders. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90581275/why-flexibility-may-be-the-least-helpful-thing-a-company-could-offer-a-working-parent-right-now" target="_blank">Since June</a>, job growth for married women has decreased by 0.3 percent, while job growth for single women has increased by 7.6 percent.

“We as a country typically think that for some reason, individual caregiving is just a personal issue because someone decided to have a family or decided to have kids, but that is just absurd,” said McCoy. “It’s a social problem. And the health of our families and health of us directly impacts the health of an entire society.”

The panelists, who agreed that leaving their jobs would not even be a viable economic option for them, admitted the only way they feel they could maintain their lead roles in the home and the home office was to normalize the daily mixture of the personal and professional with their entire teams. There’s no hiding one from the other during neatly separated hours. They had to exist in parallels during the day.

“Interestingly, when my kindergartener was in another room when I was in a meeting or if my infant was being handled by my husband, my mind was constantly wondering what was happening,” said Kamala. “What I’ve observed is having them in the same room as me while I was working put me more at ease than having them outside. I think it’s about setting this expectation with my team that, ‘Hey, this has got to happen. These two lives are going to blend for me.’”

And if a work-life balance doesn’t exist anymore, it means things will feel off-kilter at any given moment without warning, and that can be incredibly vulnerable for anyone. The number of hours that <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90581275/why-flexibility-may-be-the-least-helpful-thing-a-company-could-offer-a-working-parent-right-now" target="_blank">parents lose each work day</a> due to stress, anxiety and caregiving is estimated at 3.1.

“It’s like a rubber band, and sometimes we need to focus more on work and sometimes more on life,” echoed Nelly Pitocco, VP of Solution Engineering and Innovation at T-Mobile for Business. “The key is not to break that rubber band.”

Not breaking the rubber band takes a lot of effort and is having a palpable toll on the mental health of other women still trudging on. All panelists agreed that if you can’t establish boundaries between work and life right now, you’ll need to find a way to create a new space that you can still control. Often that space comes in the form of practicing self-care.

“It’s taking moments for yourself and creating those new lines of separation to find a moment to breathe, like by taking a walk,” said Pitocco.

Many of the panelists admitted this was difficult for them as it might feel counterproductive to completing an already overloaded day.

“I would say that with all of this change happening, the thing I had to change was self-care,” said Smith. “It has to be intentional. Things that were just for me that I could enjoy and allowed me space to be by myself.”

One particularly concerning part of the <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace">McKinsey Report</a>, McCoy pointed out, warns that the COVID-19 crisis could set women back half a decade if companies aren’t addressing the likely underlying causes of stress and burnout.

It’s something that Pitocco says she takes very seriously. As a VP, she believes it has to start with leaders acknowledging that employees may want to follow through with their professional trajectory, but at this moment in time would be doing so at the risk of their mental and emotional wellbeing.

“I had a situation recently where I’m integrating two teams, I have the solution engineering and architect team … and with integration efforts underway, I launched a field advisory council. We sent out the call, ‘Hey, we need some volunteers to do this. It’s a stretch assignment. It’s a good opportunity to give visibility.’ And I hate to report that I didn’t have any women volunteer.”

Pitocco says she was immediately concerned. As a VP with two teenage sons in remote school under the same roof, she knew that the burnout she experienced was being felt by her female reports. Announcing a council of all men was foreboding of the risks at play in this new normal.

“I did not go back and ask them directly because I didn’t want to exert that pressure, but I checked on them,” she explained. “Every now and then I’ll just send an email or a call to one of the women on the team … just so they know that they have support and I can’t expect more from them right now because, honestly, maybe they just don’t have it to give.”

It’s a tactic that Debby Roseman, a Senior Planning Manager in Customer Care, said can make all the difference in how many women wind up leaving their jobs. It's an example of how women business leaders, many of them working mothers, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90581275/why-flexibility-may-be-the-least-helpful-thing-a-company-could-offer-a-working-parent-right-now" target="_blank">are leading the way</a> by recognizing there is no true "return to work" for women whose children are still at home. As someone who also cares for her two special needs children and octogenarian parents, Roseman says burnout is always at the doorstep.

“I’m going to be really honest,” said Roseman, “there are times when I’m just like, ‘I don't want to get out of bed today.’ I just want to stay there … but on my team I know when one person doesn’t have the strength, there are other people filling in to kind of lift them up. So, when you’re talking about reaching out to your teammates, the women on your team who might be struggling, there is nothing more important that a leader can do than to provide that understanding and the space needed and the resources needed in that moment.” 

It’s an observation supported by the hundred-plus comments that flooded the chatbox during the panel discussion, many of which pinpointed a need for support systems women say are necessary in order to navigate a difficult new normal without putting their professional roles on the back-burner.

“I am a single mother working from home with two elementary students working virtually and really struggling with the blur of work and life.”

“I am the only woman on my team, and sometimes I also feel a sense of guilt because I am the only one on my team that is obviously experiencing ‘burn out.’”

“I am so grateful for these panelists. I literally felt alone.”

“I’ve been in this meeting for like 10 minutes and I’m getting teared up.”

“Thank you all for your transparency. It helps us to know that we are not alone.”

Last year T-Mobile signed a groundbreaking, multi-year, $25 million investment and partnership with civil rights organizations to deepen its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in every aspect of its business. As part of the agreement, T-Mobile formed an external Diversity and Inclusion Council comprised of business and civil rights leaders to advise the company in their DE&I efforts. Of the more than 80,000 employees at the post-merger T-Mobile, 30,000 participate in the company’s DE&I Employee Resource Groups which focus on building inclusive and allied spaces for all employees.

And the company’s inclusion efforts are charting a path forward with panel events like this one.

“Knowing we are not alone in how we feel can be cathartic and, in this case, opened the door to supporting each other by sharing tips and strategies beyond the hour-long virtual panel and onto Slack,” said Pitocco after the event. “I hope we will continue the conversation. Sometimes lending an ear can make all the difference.”

By actively exploring ways to open up the dialogue towards understanding differences, a clearer light is shined on the ways T-Mobile says it can support people experiencing a disproportionally negative affect from this pandemic. In fact, 24 percent of the company’s Women & Allies Network are men. Take a closer look at that chatbox for the event and you’ll find them reacting as well.

“Thanks for letting me listen. I learned a lot today.”

DE&I

Leading by Learning

Women Making History: 5 Women Who Got Us to 5G

“Sometimes You Have To Be Your Own Hero”

5 Tips To a “Common” Sense Approach

During Black History Month, T‑Mobile Launches Programs Focused on Driving Opportunity for Students, Tech Workers and Business Owners

T‑Mobile Selected as State of Texas Telecommunications Relay and Captioned Telephone Services Provider

Women and Working from Home: How To Prevent Downshifting

Navigating Life as a New Military Spouse

T‑Mobile Rolls Out Apprenticeship Program Offering Industry‑Leading Career Opportunities to Nevadans–and Beyond

Diversity Equals Innovation

Trailblazer Takeaways: Rosario Dawson on the Importance of “Making a Plan to Vote”

“We Have a Proud Legacy and Our Future Is Bright!”