Daniel Dae Kim discusses anti-asian hate trends with T-Mobile during AAPI Heritage Month

Daniel Dae Kim Discusses anti-asian hate trends with T-Mobile during AAPI Heritage Month

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Daniel Dae Kim: “Pressure Makes Diamonds, and Our Community Has Been Under Pressure”

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In recognition of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the actor, producer and activist joined T-Mobile’s EVP of Advanced & Emerging Technologies John Saw as part of the company’s Talking with Trailblazers employee guest-speaker series to address the rise of Asian hate in America, and how history can help lead a path forward to a better and more equitable place for all.

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As a way to honor Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, T-Mobile teamed up with its Asia Pacific & Allies Network Employee Resource Group to sponsor events that share the personal experiences of the AAPI community. A particular highlight was the company’s most recent installment of its Talking with Trailblazers guest-speaker series with actor <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0196654/">Daniel Dae Kim</a>, who was keen to review how America’s problematic history has led to current anti-Asian events grabbing headlines, and the disturbing statistics behind them.

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Between March 2020 and February 2021, more than <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/anti-asian-racist-hate-incidents">3,795 Anti-Asian hate incidents</a> were reported. Though much of these numbers appear to be fueled by rhetoric over the COVID-19 pandemic, Kim explained to an audience of more than two thousand T-Mobile employees tuning in virtually, that history seems only to be repeating itself when it comes to the collective narrative of racism against Asians in America.

“There have been a number of events that have not only made us the perpetual foreigner in America,” he said, “but also created a number of stereotypes that lead to the issues that we face today.”

Kim, who can currently be seen starring in Netflix’s Stowaway, and who became well known for his roles in pop culture phenomena like Lost and Hawaii Five-0, has been a longtime champion of increased diversity and Asian American representation in Hollywood. He recently <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svh-H5mMz2Q">testified before ​Congress</a> about anti-Asian hate in the country, speaking before the House Judiciary Committee regarding the HR908 bill condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment in September 2020 and again in March 2021.

"There was a 169% increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans nationally from this time last year, and in New York it's a 223% rise from the same time last year," explained Kim, a longtime resident of New York. "It's emblematic of the fact that it's not just the pandemic … anti-Asian sentiment is nothing new in America. If you're a student of history, you know that from the 1800s and the first time that Asians set foot in America, there's been legislations enacted against them that's created stereotypes, and that they were the first ethnic group to ever be prevented from entering America as part of the Chinese Exclusion act in 1882."

Kim spent an hour with John Saw, T-Mobile’s EVP of Advanced & Emerging Technologies, talking about these moments in history that have impacted the AAPI community, with a focus on how both Asian Americans as well as allies can promote diversity and inclusion to combat current trends of violence.

Kim's mastery of the history and language around this subject is profound. Here are five key quotes from the event that gave us pause, along with some uplift and signs of hope ahead.

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On how the history of bigotry perpetuates stereotypes.

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"The Chinese Exclusion Act and the Page Act go hand in hand. The Page Act of 1875 excluded Asian women from coming over and so you had thousands of Chinese immigrants working on the railroads in America who no longer had hope of marrying or finding any companionship within their race. And so, the ironic thing was the reason why the government supported the Page Act because they thought the Chinese supported polygamy and prostitution, and by allowing Chinese women to come that it would only increase those industries. But by preventing Chinese women from coming over they actually stoked prostitution. So the idea of stereotyping started even then - the idea that the Chinese were dirty or untrustworthy or dumb. If you look at the portrayal of Chinese people in the news … it was very demeaning. The stereotypes start there and then in WWII you have over 120,00 Japanese Americans taken from their homes and imprisoned because they looked like the enemy in WWII, even though they were American citizens. It just perpetuates this idea that we were always foreigners, even some of those placed in Japanese Internment Camps were even third or fourth generation American. This appearance has led again in today's news with the pandemic and the violence associated with the pandemic. These are the ways in which our history has influenced our perception, and our perception influences how we are portrayed in the media."

On the importance of allyship across all communities.

"It's really important to have allyship among all communities. We need to accept allyship and be allies … I think there's a tendency in these kinds of discussions about race and representation to present it as a binary equation, that the more that some Asian Americans rise, the more it adversely affects another population. And that really isn't the way I encourage people to look at this. It's not really a matter of one race or group against another. It really is everyone against racism and everyone against bigotry. There will be people of all races and creeds who are just going to be racist. But I believe that there are more people of every race who want to create a better society and create a country where we can all live together more harmoniously. It's those people that are the most important to me right now, because I believe they exist. I believe our allies exist in the African-American community, the White community, that the Latinx community. It is a two-way street. We all need to reach outside of our home communities and think about the ways that their experiences might be different from ours and how we can seek to understand each other so that we can work together better. We can live together better. And that's why allyship is incredibly important."

On speaking up, and speaking out.

"In the ways that there is work to do, it is incumbent on me the way it's incumbent on any of us with any kind of a platform to speak out, because if we stay silent we are only perpetuating the problem. I am fortunate enough to be in that position where I can speak truth to power, so why would I not? Because if it's not me, then who else? Those of us who have been lucky enough to achieve in this country are the ones who can help the most. The message I wanted to share with Congress was that this problem persists. I came back a second time because nothing had changed. I think we need to hold our leaders accountable for progress and change. I think that's not just an Asian-American issue, that's an issue on governance in general. We elect our leaders and we must speak up for the change we want to see. We must be the change we want to see, so I wanted to remind them that we are still here. The issue still exists. In fact, it might have gotten worse - and the one thing they cannot do is continue to ignore us."

On the “White adjacent” and “model minority” myths.

"In a nutshell, the model minority myth is this notion that the most successful Asian Americans represent all Asian Americans. We see people like me, we see people who are doctors and lawyers, and we think, 'Oh, well, Asian Americans don't need our help. They're fine.' But the fact is, that Asian Americans have the largest wealth gap among all of the demographic groups in America. We have very wealthy Asian Americans, but we also have some of the poorest people in the country. In New York City, Asian Americans are the group with the most under the poverty line. 'White adjacent' means that we are so successful that we shouldn't be considered people of color. It's this idea that because Asians are perceived as successful and there's a segment of us that's very law abiding, that we are as close to White people as you can be while still being a person of color. But this notion that we're too successful to be considered people of color is an implicit assumption that White equals success.

"And the thing that we've found throughout history is that our White adjacent-ness is conditional. When things are going great, then we're kind of accepted as part of the group, and we're the model minority, but as soon as things start going bad, as they have been during the pandemic or during the American auto and steel issues in the '80s, then we are the first to be scapegoated, and then hate crimes rise against us. This idea of conditional citizenship is right alongside this idea of being White adjacent, and why it's insidious is because those two terms, along with model minority, also implies that there's a comparison between us as a minority group and African Americans and the Latinx community. We're all being compared, and therefore pitted against one another, when the fact is we all have very unique and distinct histories in the United States. To say that one has to be like the others is already a fallacy."

“Right now, I am very encouraged because there are a number of efforts being made on part of the Asian-American community to galvanize and create national organizations in ways we haven’t seen before. There's a group called the <a href="https://www.taaf.org/">Asian American Foundation</a> that just formed, that has 40 of the top law firms in the U.S. and the Asian attorneys who are in those law firms have all agreed to do pro bono work for the victims of anti-Asian violence. That is a massive movement and change as we haven’t come together in that way before. There’s an organization about to launch in May called the Asian American Foundation. This is an unprecedented movement and coming together of Asian Americans around the country to form an organization to help in these situations and to increase education and amalgamate data for these kinds of hate crimes. And this is the first effort of this kind on this scale. I think we need to continue to get the message out there and organize and come together. It’s a real inflexion point for Asian-Americans in this country. Pressure makes diamonds, and our community has been under pressure.”

Daniel Dae Kim spoke at T-Mobile Talking with Trailblazers employee guest-speaker series to address the rise of Asian hate in America.

Daniel Dae Kim: “Pressure Makes Diamonds, and Our Community Has Been Under Pressure” | T-Mobile Newsroom

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Military Appreciation Month is an opportunity to celebrate and thank the brave servicemembers that continue to do their part to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the nation. And as they do, T-Mobile will stand with them.

The Un-carrier supports the military community year-round through hiring commitments, career programs, employee resource groups, military rate plans and more. These efforts break down into four categories, each a crucial component of the strongest portfolio of military and military-family benefits in the wireless industry.

"As the Executive Sponsor for the Veterans & Allies Network, I have the opportunity to see the many ways T-Mobile's military employees take care of each other, both within the company and out in the wider world," says Jon Freier, Executive Vice President, T-Mobile Consumer. "These people come from a common background of teamwork and service, and they bring an incredible focus, work ethic and sense of camaraderie to the Un-carrier. We couldn't be who we are without them."

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Whether veterans in career transition or their spouses active in the workforce, military families add incredible value to our society during and after their service and T-Mobile is committed to providing them meaningful opportunities. Standalone T-Mobile previously made a commitment to hire 10,000 military vets and their spouses by 2023 - and now, inclusive of veterans and veteran spouses the Un-carrier brought on board with the Sprint merger, we're pleased to share we're over halfway there!

The first step on the hiring path is recruiting, and T-Mobile has been looking to Veterans themselves for ways it can improve recruiting and hiring practices from the get-go. Liv Abreu is a military partnership manager for T-Mobile's Military & Diversity Recruiting program, who arrived at the Un-carrier after spending three years as an Army parachutist in the 82nd Airborne Division. Given her personal experience transitioning from military service to retail to management and recruiting, she knows exactly how valuable military-made skills are - and how to recognize them.

"Leadership, for example, is a basic skill you gain in the military," Abreu says. "A lot of transitioning servicemembers might not be able to speak to their experience as leaders in the context of a civilian job, so it's the job of the recruiter to talk the candidate through how to better communicate that skill."

With their experience operating in cooperative teams, deploying in fast-paced environments and thinking on their feet, military people boast skillsets that are uniquely valuable to a growing workplace like T-Mobile. 

"There are soft skills that come with being trained in the military and that you acquire throughout your service, things you develop through your experiences that are 100% applicable to any job you apply for," Abreu says. "You have to be able to pivot quickly and you need to be mission ready. That agility is not just physical but mental. You have to make quick decisions - sometimes life-threatening decisions - in a short time. In addition, military talent is laser-focused on the task at hand and our work in T-Mobile requires that strategic mindset."

It’s a major Un-carrier priority to tap into this talent pool of those willing and able to contribute at all levels across the business. But the emphasis isn’t in on simply recruiting talented individuals — it’s also on retaining them and supporting them throughout their entire career trajectory with T-Mobile. With its <a href="https://livemagenta.com/l2/Featured-Services" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LiveMagenta</a> benefits package, T-Mobile offers a wide array of personal and professional development programs, from money management advisement to mental health and wellness counseling to life coaching.

Military employees of T-Mobile help one another, too. More than 12,000 have joined the Veterans & Allies Network (VAN), an employee resource group for military service members, current and otherwise, and their spouses. Members of VAN meet in local chapters and also convene in national, virtual meetups to find allyship, discuss relevant issues and volunteer for service projects in their communities.

While serving at home or abroad, during active duty, reserve or retirement, and military families need to stay connected. Not only does T-Mobile now offer all of its customers the fastest, broadest, most reliable 5G network in America, but the Un-carrier provides military <a href="https://es.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans/military-discount-plans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the best unlimited rate plans in wireless.</a>

With the T-Mobile military discount, active-duty military members, Veterans, current or former Guard or Reserve members and Gold Star Families qualify for T-Mobile's signature plan, Magenta Military. With 50% off family lines, customers can get four lines of unlimited talk, text and data for just $100 per month with AutoPay. And because 5G is included in all of T-Mobile's rate plans, customers also get access to America's largest, fastest, most reliable 5G network. PLUS free unlimited texting and 2G data in 210 foreign countries and destinations abroad, SD streaming and more. 

For $35/month/line with AutoPay, military customers can sign up for four lines T-Mobile’s Magenta Max Military plan, which includes unlimited talk, text and data that cannot slow based on usage, 4K UHD streaming on capable devices, 2X data speed and texting abroad and all the other perks of the Magenta Military plan. 

As part of our commitment to serve those who serve, T-Mobile is proud to support organizations that improve the lives of military and Veteran communities throughout every stage of life and career. For instance, T-Mobile partners with <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.hiringourheroes.org/" target="_blank">Hiring Our Heroes</a> (HOH), a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation initiative that helps servicemembers and military spouses prepare for and connect with meaningful employment.

Through this partnership the Un-carrier has access to several different pathways for sourcing military talent, including career readiness programs and recruitment fairs at bases and other official locations around the world. This year alone T-Mobile has brought in three management-level military employees, one of whom went into government affairs, another into consumer markets, and the third into emerging products. 

"The return on investment is absolutely there, but what's more impactful for us is to follow that candidate's journey and measure our impact as an organization showing up in these spaces," Abreu says. "We love our partners at HOH and they love us. Doing the work we do together is so fulfilling, especially for me as a Veteran myself." 

Additionally, since 2018, the company has <a href="https://es.t-mobile.com/news/press/va-veterans-health-administration" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/press/va-veterans-health-administration" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">partnered </a>with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide up to 70,000 lines of wireless service to doctors, nurses and hospital staff across their hospitals. The Un-carrier also worked with the VA <a href="https://www.va.gov/scsp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Secretary's Center for Strategic Partnerships</a> (SCSP) to enhance access to the VA's telehealth platform, VA Video Connect, by providing free unlimited access to online telehealth services. Most recently T-Mobile brought 5G capacity to the <a href="https://es.t-mobile.com/news/network/t-mobile-brings-ultra-capacity-5g-to-miami-u-s-department-of-veterans-affairs-va-hospital" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VA Hospital in Miami</a>, with plans to expand to more facilities in the coming months.

And the Un-carrier's VA partnership goes beyond the virtual. Earlier this year, the company brought a super-fast Ultra Capacity 5G network online at the Miami VA Medical Center. Now doctors and nurses throughout the facility can quickly access high bandwidth files such as imaging results, labs and medical charts without having to be tethered to a computer. It's a high-speed upgrade that will positively impact the thousands of military patients the Miami VA serves every year.

Whether helping to stabilize the day-to-day unpredictability of the pandemic or overcoming the massive technical challenges of the nation's largest 5G rollout, the contributions of military servicemembers are a crucial component in T-Mobile's ongoing success. The same can be said for their contributions to the nation. America owes a debt of gratitude to those who serve in our armed forces, and T-Mobile is honored to give back to those who have already given so much of themselves.

For more information about the Un-carrier’s military-friendly initiatives and services, check out <a href="https://es.t-mobile.com/responsibility/community/military" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">T-Mobile’s Military Community page</a>.

Military Plans: Verify military status for account holder within 45 days and maintain valid military line on account; otherwise plan becomes Magenta (additional cost up to $20/line per month). Magenta: During congestion, heavy data users (>100GB/mo.) may notice reduced speeds due to data prioritization. Max: Activate up to 4K UHD streaming on capable device, or video typically streams at 480p. 5G: Fastest based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 5G median download speeds for Q1 2021. Las marcas comerciales de Ookla se usan bajo licencia y se reimprimen con autorización. Capable device required & coverage not available in some areas. Para algunos usos se podría requerir un determinado plan o función; visita es.T‑Mobile.com. La más confiable según un informe de auditoría realizado por umlaut; un tercero independiente que contiene datos de colaboración abierta para experiencia del usuario, recopilados desde septiembre de 2020 hasta febrero de 2021. Full details at: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.umlaut.com/en/benchmarking/USA" target="_blank">www.umlaut.com/en/benchmarking/USA</a>

Military Appreciation Month is an opportunity to celebrate and thank the brave servicemembers that continue to do their part to ensure the safety and

A Salute to Those Who Serve: T-Mobile Continues Support for Active-Duty Military, Veterans and their Families | T-Mobile Newsroom

A Salute to Those Who Serve: T-Mobile Continues Support for Active-Duty Military, Veterans and their Families

Jess Dillon

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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://es.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://es.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://es.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://es.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

Leading by Learning

Jocelyn Jacobson

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

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For a fourth straight year, and fifth time overall, T-Mobile has been named one of FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. Here, the company’s VP of Corporate Real Estate & Facilities talks about the herculean task of beginning renovations on its expanded headquarters before the pandemic, and how they pivoted mid-stride to create a space that’s both inspiring and safe — and why, more than ever, T-Mobile is a great place to work.

If you build it, they will come. For two decades that hasn't just been a go-to movie reference for Darcey Estes, it's been her daily drumbeat. As T-Mobile's VP of Corporate Real Estate and Facilities, Estes has traveled all over the country helping the company build spaces that innovate and evolve the way it works.

"I feel really proud that I've been given the opportunity to make a difference in the workplace environment," says Estes. "What I get to do is reimagine and redesign and modernize our workplaces. I could not have a more fun job."

After the company’s merger with Sprint in 2020, T-Mobile continued the exciting process of an ambitious renovation of both its original headquarters in Bellevue, Wash. and its new HQ2 campus in Overland Park, Kan. It's the kind of opportunity that was literally 20 years in the making for Estes.

But what if you build it, and suddenly people can't come?

“As someone who’s been dedicated to creating the best workplace environment possible for our employees and our offices nationwide, when the pandemic began, making the difficult decisions to close our offices and have our people work fully remote was quite a transition.”

On Monday, April 12, for a fourth year in a row and fifth time overall, T-Mobile was named to FORTUNE’s annual list of <a href="https://fortune.com/best-companies/2021/">100 Best Companies to Work For</a>, a highly coveted list created in conjunction with <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.greatplacetowork.com/" target="_blank">Great Place to Work</a> based on employee feedback. Because the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted everyone’s lives, this year’s list heavily emphasized how companies responded. How Estes and her team pivoted and updated T-Mobile’s extensive renovation plans and ponder innovative ways to solve new challenges in our new normal is one such shining example.

Starting in February 2020 and continuing even today, Estes and her team have adjusted in real time even as renovations were well underway, putting employee safety first and foremost. After helping to coordinate a shipment of some 40,000 masks to all back-office employees in the Spring of 2020, she got to work searching for ways to mesh her goal of creating inspiring spaces that promote productivity and wellbeing with the new responsibility of creating the safest environments possible.

After finalizing original plans of incredible new co-work spaces, high tech conference rooms, creative social spaces and top of the line amenities, Estes says her team then had to make further enhancements to integrate essential COVID-19 health safety features. Even the simple new normals like social distancing signage, capacity limits, sanitation stations, contactless building features and intensified cleanings were enormous tasks unto themselves.

Then there's the HVAC systems that were upgraded to maximize fresh air exchange rates, and MERV 13 filters were installed (considered hospital-grade filtration) that meet or exceed industry standards and utilize high-tech wizardry, like a solution called needlepoint bi-polar ionization to eradicate air particles (<a href="https://www.google.com/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.google.com/">google</a> it and have your mind blown).

“I’m really proud of all of the investments we have made to keep our employees safe,” says Estes. “All of our offices, care centers and retail stores will be certified by the <a href="https://www.wellcertified.com/">International WELL Building Institute</a> with the WELL Health-Safety rating which basically says T-Mobile meets the highest standards possible for our safety operations inside all of our facilities. And so when people do come back, we’re ready.”

Here Darcey Estes walks us through a bit more of the incredible redesign of T-Mobile’s headquarters in Bellevue, Wash. and Overland Park, Kan., highlights of her own 20-plus-year career at the company and, of course, why the Un-carrier is a truly great place to work.

You've had an incredible history with T-Mobile. What's been the evolution of the company's spaces since you came on board?

I've been with T-Mobile for over 20 years. It was my first job out of college, and I started in the network engineering operations division of the company. I moved several times, from coast to coast, and always had really exciting assignments and worked with great people. Five years ago I moved to the Bellevue area to take over responsibility for the Corporate Real Estate Facilities Team. It was an exciting time to see our company shift focus to developing a long-term strategy for the workplace and reinvent our offices for employees. We decided to consider the overall workplace environment. We wanted our workplaces to be modern, full of technology and spaces that support our company culture, where our employees can celebrate and socialize and collaborate and innovate. We wanted our design to bring in lots of natural light and have ergonomic furniture and have a variety of places for people to work because everyone has different working styles, whether that's heads-down work or collaboration with other teammates. We also wanted to make sure our workplace design was inclusive. We created a lot of areas that support our diverse workforce, from mothers' rooms to multifaith rooms, wellness rooms, all-gender restrooms - and improving the overall accessibility across our campuses.

For the fifth time, and fourth year in a row, T-Mobile has been named one of FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. How does it feel knowing you’re someone whose work directly impacts employees on a daily basis?

It's really important to me that our employees have a place when they come to work that supports how they work so that they're most productive and that the overall workplace environment is one that's fun and reflects our culture and our brand. Our culture, for those who are outside of T-Mobile, is fun and inclusive. We have a lot of camaraderie and celebrations, but we also work really hard. We love coming together to innovate and ideate and I think we've made magic when you think about some of our Un-carrier history.

As someone whose career has been dedicated to creating innovative and impactful work environments, what was it like to suddenly be involved in the initiatives to, in a sense, not have a work environment, and to move employees from HQ in Bellevue and Overland Park to full remote at the start of the pandemic?

I’m proud to say as a company we did a really good job. Our focus was on keeping our employees safe and that’s remained a priority for us at T-Mobile. Since last year, we began welcoming small numbers of people back on a 100 percent voluntary basis, and our offices are safer than ever. I’m really proud of all of the investments we have made. We’ve upgraded our HVAC and air filtration systems to hospital grade. We’ve implemented extensive cleaning protocols and social distancing markers. We even sent masks to employees nationwide who are working from home. All of our offices, care centers and retail stores will be certified by the <a href="https://www.wellcertified.com/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.wellcertified.com/">International WELL Building Institute</a> with the WELL Health-Safety rating which say T-Mobile meets the highest standards possible for our safety operations inside all of our facilities. And so when people do come back, we are ready and our offices are safer than they’ve ever been.

What do you believe the renovation will do for T-Mobile employees once people begin to return to the offices? How does it help with productivity, collaboration, safety and overall employee wellbeing?

We are really proud that the workplace design that we planned for the renovation at our headquarters both in Bellevue and Overland Park really supports things that employees want most in their workplace. They want to be able to come together as a team to collaborate and innovate and we've created a variety of spaces to do that from small, medium and large conference rooms; virtual conferencing spaces; fun and casual amenity floors, as well as beautiful spaces outdoors. Giving people access to fresh air and natural light is part of a great workplace environment. We have robust technology all throughout our spaces. We're expanding our onsite food offerings and created a space for people to come together and safely socialize as well as do the amazing innovative work that's we've been known for.

How do you envision the workplace will continue to change in the future?

I definitely think the workplace will continue to evolve. When we come back, it's important that we continue to listen to our employees about what they need most and want most from the workplace. I think the next couple of years will really be important for us to continue to experiment with new ways of working and how we design the spaces and the amenities that employees value. It's important to observe and figure out what is or is not working and then continue to adapt and respond to employee feedback.

Want to see more of T-Mobile's beautiful new spaces? Check out the video and photos below!

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Darcey Estes talks about how her team pivoted during HQ renovations when the pandemic hit to create a space that’s both inspiring and safe.

Employee Spotlight: How This T-Mobile Standout Helped Make a Great Place to Work Even Greater | T-Mobile Newsroom

Employee Spotlight: How This T-Mobile Standout Helped Make a Great Place to Work Even Greater

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As T-Mobile focuses on opening new retail stores every month of 2021, hundreds of which will be in smaller markets and rural areas, more of America’s underserved communities are touting the benefits of fast and reliable 5G coverage, increased competition and greater employment opportunities.

Jon Freier may be known for playing a very big role at T-Mobile as the company’s EVP of Consumer Markets, but ask him what has motivated him to succeed in his field and he’ll tell you it’s his very small-town upbringing.

"I grew up in the vast oil fields of West Texas in a small town called Odessa," says Freier, who got his start in wireless in 1994 and has been with T-Mobile since the company formed in 2001 (astute Friday Night Lights fans may also recognize Odessa as the town from which the high school football crazed story is based on). "I've seen first-hand the economic challenges that many rural Americans are struggling with and I know how investments in technology can lead to opportunity, job creation and keeping people rooted in the communities they love."

And while serving these smaller markets and rural areas is close to this Texas native's heart, it's also an important moment in T-Mobile's commitment to small-town and rural markets, Freier notes.

"For far too long, smaller towns and rural areas across the country have been under-resourced and underserved by all wireless and internet companies," he explains. "Not many people know this, but smaller markets and rural areas throughout the United States represent the largest geographic segment of the consumer market - it's roughly 50 million consumer households, or around 130 million people!"

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Thankfully, <a href="https://es.t-mobile.com/our-story/executive-leadership-team/jon-freier" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.t-mobile.com/our-story/executive-leadership-team/jon-freier">Freier</a> and his fellow leaders at the company say they have a plan to make sure these communities are getting the service they've been long overdue.

The company recently announced <a href="https://es.t-mobile.com/news/un-carrier/t-mobiles-next-un-carrier-move-5gforall">T-Mobile Hometown</a>, with new services and investments meant to create thousands of jobs, bring billions in new investments and much needed internet connectivity — including 5G — to rural communities.

"We are committed to creating 7,500 new jobs in rural America over the next couple of years," says Freier. "5,000 of those jobs will be in the hundreds of new stores we plan to open in small towns."

This investment is already being felt by some of T-Mobile's most recent new store openings in rural areas like Brownwood, another small Texas town.

"What we're doing as a company, putting our stores in these rural areas and rural markets … it's doing a lot for the communities and for the people who are able to come and be part of our family," says Brownwood retail manager Adam Peoples. "That's one thing I'm extremely happy to be part of and excited about."

Peoples' Brownwood location is an example of the hundreds of new stores T-Mobile is focusing on opening in small towns over the next few years where the company aims to invest in the people and local businesses that make up the heart and soul of America.

"When I came to Brownwood it was easy to see that the community was really in need of additional options, some additional service providers," explains Peoples. "I remember training my staff here in the store before we opened and people kept coming and let me know immediately some of the frustrations they were having."

Peoples and his team have become very popular in Brownwood, their town of 20,000 people, and it's no surprise, really. After the store's grand opening in February, they've been introducing the company's <a href="https://es.t-mobile.com/news/business/t-mobile-analyst-day-2021">award-winning 5G network</a> to many who they say previously couldn't dream of having that kind of coverage and service.

"Brownwood is a small town here in the heart of Texas," says Mobile Expert Olithios Blaine, "but AT&T has had control basically my entire life. People were coming to our store asking when we would open because of the 5G here. I'm great with technology and even I was surprised T-Mobile brought 5G here. One thing about small towns like this is when things are good they're usually very expensive and people love how 5G is included in our plans."

For much of the company's history, T-Mobile has primarily been delivering wireless service to households and businesses in urban America, simply because it didn't have the spectrum to carry voice, text and data from one phone to the other in suburban and rural locations. But over the past seven years, T-Mobile has been on a mission to acquire more spectrum to reach all corners of the country. Culminating with the merger between T-Mobile and Sprint last year, the Un-carrier now has the largest, fastest and <a href="https://es.t-mobile.com/news/network/umlaut-most-reliable-5g">most reliable 5G network in the country</a> according to <a href="https://www.umlaut.com/en/benchmarking/USA" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.umlaut.com/en/benchmarking/USA">umlaut</a>*, covering 287 million people across 1.6 million square miles, 1.45 million of those In rural America — nearly 2.5 times the geographic coverage of AT&T and more than 4 times the rural reach of Verizon. And by the end of 2021, T-Mobile plans to cover 200 million people with its Ultra Capacity 5G network, which can deliver download speeds of around 300 Mbps and peak speeds up to 1 Gbps.

"We're bringing real choice to America," says Freier, "because when we say '5G for all,' we mean it!"

Many of the Brownwood, Texas employees say they're excited to be part of the company's decision to maintain a brick-and-mortar presence in a digital-first world. While T-Mobile has put a laser focus on creating a seamless digital experience for customers, Peoples says in small towns like Brownwood, in-person customer service has been in high demand.

"I think it's still important for customers to have an in-depth retail experience," explains Peoples, noting the current health safety guidelines the store follows, like social distancing and mask-wearing, "but the brick-and-mortar locations are the cornerstone of our business. Customers are coming into our stores because of the experience they get here."

Peoples says this push to bring more stores like his to less-served rural areas also makes him feel part of the greater plan to help those in need of better connectivity and more employment opportunities, something Freier has made a personal mission.

"These smaller towns are incredible," says Freier. "They're worth fighting for. They're worth championing. Smaller towns aren't chapters of our past … they're invaluable to our future in America."

"I definitely admire Jon Freier's story," Peoples says. "I remember him telling a story about working at a small kiosk and some of the challenges he faced being from a small town. I love the fact that at T-Mobile we get to spearhead bringing rural communities into the fold of what T-Mobile has to offer and not just from a customer perspective, but also from an employee perspective. I think what we're doing is showing people there are opportunities and you can grow in a smaller city."

And Brownwood’s local lawmakers are welcoming that investment in their community with open arms.

"With the opening of a T-Mobile location in Brownwood, it will increase jobs in the Brownwood Area," said Kim Springfield, Director of Member Services, Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce. "We are excited to have them."

Though no one is more excited than Peoples himself.

"I'm excited to help my employees whether they want to be in small cities or they want to expand their careers and go to bigger cities or whether they just want to feel like they have opportunities here for their friends, their significant others and their children," he says. "I think that T-Mobile is the beginning of what that's going to be for Brownwood, Texas."

Keep checking back for an <a href="https://es.t-mobile.com/news/_admin/uploads/2021/05/051021-New-2021-TMO-Retail-Store-Openings-List.docx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">updated list of markets for T-Mobile's new 2021 retail store openings</a>

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* La más confiable según un informe de auditoría realizado por umlaut; un tercero independiente que contiene datos de colaboración abierta para experiencia del usuario, recopilados desde septiembre de 2020 hasta febrero de 2021. Detalles completos en: <a href="http://www.umlaut.com/en/benchmarking/USA">www.umlaut.com/en/benchmarking/USA</a>. Opensignal reconoció a T-Mobile como la red 5G más veloz del país - <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https://www.opensignal.com/reports/2021/01/usa/mobile-network-experience-5g&data=04%7c01%7cDavid.Edwards83%40T-Mobile.com%7cb1e38a34a4104eac0ce008d8bf065416%7cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7c0%7c0%7c637469381180953126%7cUnknown%7cTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7c1000&sdata=T0%2BRGKNGhyknqmlIhFSv3F82H7rOFzorjkoQs9iYtVs%3D&reserved=0">Informe de experiencia de usuarios 5G en EE. UU.</a> Enero de 2021, con base en un análisis independiente de las velocidades promedio captadas en mediciones del servicio móvil durante el período del 16 de septiembre al 14 de diciembre de 2020 © 2021 Opensignal Limited. Se requiere dispositivo compatible; la cobertura no está disponible en algunas áreas. Para algunos usos se podría requerir un determinado plan o función; consulta <a href="http://es.t-mobile.com/">T-Mobile.com</a>.

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<div class="wp-block-file"><a href="https://es.t-mobile.com/news/_admin/uploads/2021/05/051021-New-2021-TMO-Retail-Store-Openings-List.docx">051021 New 2021 TMO Retail Store Openings List</a><a href="https://es.t-mobile.com/news/_admin/uploads/2021/05/051021-New-2021-TMO-Retail-Store-Openings-List.docx" class="wp-block-file__button" download>Download</a></div>

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T-Mobile focuses on opening new retail stores in 2021, including in underserved rural and small-town America such as Brownwood, TX.

T-Mobile Bets Big on Brick and Mortar | T-Mobile Newsroom

T-Mobile Bets Big on Brick and Mortar

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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://es.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.

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”

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

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