Diversity and Inclusion

What Diversity and Inclusion mean to us – and why it matters

Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) are sources of great strength and areas of high priority at Dentsply Sirona.

We provide opportunities for and encourage all employees to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to the workplace. We embrace our diversity and celebrate our differences, because we know this is one way to make our Company great. Our people feel inspired and empowered to bring their whole selves to work, which helps them do their best work, bring new ideas to the table, drive innovation and create helpful solutions for our customers.

When we work toward a diverse and inclusive environment, we go beyond. We challenge the status quo. And, as a result, we have a work environment that values every employee and nurtures their growth. 

D&I Council

 

Dentsply Sirona’s Diversity & Inclusion Council consists of diverse employees from around the world who champion Diversity and Inclusion initiatives inside our Company and in the communities where we live and work.

The Council’s top priority is to increase the awareness and impact of Dentsply Sirona’s D&I initiatives. An important part of that is enabling our leaders to discuss and be held accountable for driving sustainable and equitable outcomes for all employees.

Responsibilities of the D&I Council

Driving our D&I Priorities

Demonstrate our commitment to diverse representation across the global workforce

  • Introduce programs that develop and source diverse talent
  • Build relationships with universities to create diverse and early career pipelines

Advance the efforts of the D&I Council

  • Evaluate current policies and processes to ensure they are inclusive
  • Benchmark challenge areas
  • Promote the establishment of and participation in Employee Resource Groups

Develop awareness to foster inclusion

  • Increase D&I education for leaders, hiring managers and individual contributors
  • Coach people managers to use performance development tools to drive inclusive behaviors and practices

Provide opportunities to accelerate internal talent

  • Mentoring, sponsorship and development programs

Measure employee experience at key milestones

  • Seek opportunities for continuous improvement
  • Ensure alignment with our culture

Going BEYOND

Our D&I Goals

 

BEYOND is how we describe the way we’re taking action for a brighter world. It’s the name of our sustainability strategy and represents the way we go beyond the ordinary to improve lives around the world and create healthy smiles.

Diversity and Inclusion are woven into the fabric of our Company – BEYOND is the program that helps us turn our goals into reality. For example, we strive to:

  • Achieve global gender pay parity by 2025
  • Achieve global gender parity by 2025
  • Leverage available talent pool in all geographic markets
  • Increase female and ethnic representation at the Director level and above
  • Increase Employee Resource Group participation

Paradigm 4 Parity Partnership

In 2021, Dentsply Sirona joined the Paradigm for Parity  coalition – a movement of CEOs, senior executives, founders, board members and business academics who are committed to achieving a new norm in corporate leadership: one in which women and men have equal power, status and opportunity. Dentsply Sirona is confident that Paradigm for Parity will help drive long overdue change in the corporate world and reinforce our Company’s Diversity and Inclusion goals.

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Women in Dentistry Program

Smart Integration Award

Dentsply Sirona’s Smart Integration Award recognizes female dentists and dental technicians from around the world who are working in a smartly integrated practice or lab and who offer their patients excellent, modern treatment solutions.

Establishing an international network of women in dentistry is a key focus of the Smart Integration Award. Winners have the opportunity to join an exclusive training program and exchange ideas with international colleagues as part of the Smart Integration Network. 

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Current Internal Programs

Conversation of Understanding Program

Since 2020, our Conversation of Understanding program has been a safe space for employees to share open dialogue around topics that are important to them. Sessions are open to all employees, globally. We held 15 sessions in 2021 and have 25 sessions planned around the globe in 2022.

“Diversity & Inclusion takes real work and real effort to make progress and achieve any level of success. It is a mindset we truly embrace at Dentsply Sirona, which drives us to go beyond merely words on a page or quotes in a speech. We are not only talking about D&I, but also putting in the resources and actions as an organization to live our values and build a culture of respect for everyone, a culture where everyone is welcome and feels a sense of belonging, and a culture where everyone is safe to be their full self.”

Andreas Frank, Executive Vice President, Product Group

“Without a doubt, a focus on diversity, inclusion and equity has had a positive impact on our organization. I can see it every day. Whether it’s through our BEYOND initiative to drive ESG efforts, our commitment to gender parity in both our employees and our pay or our incredible growth of our Employee Resource Groups, D&I is a driving force in making Dentsply Sirona a great company full of amazing people. We do have to remember that we are on a journey. A journey that will continue to require a globally consistent approach to diversity as a business imperative and enabler for our broader strategy.”

Cherée Johnson, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Secretary

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Our Employee Resource Groups deepen our Diversity and Inclusion impact at Dentsply Sirona. They are voluntary support networks for employees who share similar backgrounds and interests. Any employee can join any ERG as a participant or ally – the goal being to expand our Company’s Diversity and Inclusion footprint globally and give our people access to diverse experiences and perspectives.

Since 2021, we have added seven new ERGs that have attracted 1,726 participants globally – a 35% increase in participation since our first two ERGs were established in 2020.

DS Women

DS Women supports women of Dentsply Sirona and helps them grow through allyship, mentorship, talent development and resource sharing. It’s also one of our primary advocacy groups for gender pay parity, which is a key priority and one of the flagship goals of our sustainability strategy BEYOND.

DS Able

DS Able serves individuals with different abilities and disabilities. The ERG strives to make a tangible difference in the dental and healthcare community by raising awareness of the challenges differently abled employees face. It also contributes to diverse recruiting pools for existing and open positions, and ensures our Company benefits from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

PRIDE

PRIDE is our ERG for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LBGTQ+) employees. PRIDE creates an environment that embraces and celebrates diversity in a wide range of sexual orientations, family arrangements, and gender identities. The ERG actively develops and supports its members through continuous learning, and inspires its members to reach their professional goals without fear of reprisal or discrimination of any kind. ​​

DS Emerging Talent

DS Emerging Talent is dedicated to attracting, developing and retaining early-career talent. Employees participating in emerging talent programs, recent college graduates, employees with less than three years of professional experience and allies are all welcome. The ERG helps members establish professional relationships by providing engaging experiences, cultivating connections, and promoting personal and professional growth. 

Asia Pacific Group

Asia Pacific Group grows fellowship among the Asian-Pacific community within Dentsply Sirona. The primary objective is to provide members the opportunity to celebrate their culture, discuss current events, and develop and advance their careers. 

BOLD

BOLD connects and grows a tight-knit Black community and network of allies within Dentsply Sirona globally. It celebrates the uniqueness of its members and focuses on the cultural education, recruitment, and retention of Black employees.

DS Veterans

DS Veterans helps active-duty service members and veterans transition to a civilian work environment, while focusing on camaraderie and solidarity with anyone affected by past or present service. The ERG also works with local organizations to raise awareness of career opportunities for service members.