(instrumental electronic music) >> Announcer: Live from Palo Alto, it's The Cube, covering Women Transforming Technology 2017, brought to you by VMware. (crowd) >> Welcome back to the Cube's coverage of Women Transforming Technology. I'm your host, Rebecca Knight. And I'm here at VMware, with Sindy Braun. She is the Vice President of Social Impact here at VMware. >> Hey Rebecca! >> Welcome! Thank you so much for taking the time-- >> Thank you. It's great to be here. >> To talk to us. >> So, I first of all want to commend you because this conference is fantastic. And you've really taken a Lot You've put it together. >> We did. Of course, it's a consortium, so we could not do this without the partners that we have, and, of course, the great team that is working on this. So, certainly, can't take credit for it, but it is the team has been tremendous in putting this together. >> Well, some of the feedback that I'm hearing is that this conference has a great mix of technical sessions, but then also professional career-based sessions-- >> Sindy: Um-hmm. Yeah. >> What's the balance that you're try to strike when you're putting it together. >> Sure, so this is actually part of what we were aiming at, is there are other conferences that focus on technical women, that focus on women in a certain industry. And this is where we wanted it to have that conversation, to build a community for women in tech. And I think it's the bit of a uniqueness around that, being able to create the network, the support system, the conversation that is happening and becoming even more important in today's world. And that's what we're trying to do here, is how do you create the conversation, and how do you continue the conversation. And this is our second year of doing it. Obviously, last year was such a success that coming back this year was almost a no-brainer in something that we really wanted to invest in. >> And the theme, breaking barriers-- >> Sindy: Um-hmm. >> Where did you... What was the thought behind that? >> I think it's where we're at from a diversity perspective where most companies, particularly, in Silicon Valley and in tech careers, how do we break those barriers? How do we break through? How do we take other people's stories and tell the story of breaking through, of building momentum? And we've got a lot of work to do, but this is where VMware is focused, is how are we going to pull together and make change? And for us, its always been driving it into the business, of making it a business-led initiative, as opposed to an HR-led initiative, which is where a lot of companies do this. And really making it both top down and bottom up because it's about changing consciousness. It's about changing the conversation, and it's about seeing the movement in both the diversity side, which is the numbers associated with it. And the inclusiveness side, which is how do you bring your whole self to work? How do you feel comfortable? And that's also you can see from where we're... The kind of people that are here. That's what it's about, is how do we change the face of women in technology. >> Gloria Steinem is giving the closing address. What a bold choice to choose a feminist. This is the Women Transforming Technology is the conference, and choosing a feminist icon-- >> Sindy: Um-hmm. >> To close it out-- >> Right. Talk today. We were obviously having discussions who would be the right choice and her name came up. And really it was, Wow, could we get her? (laughing) And she was available, and I think we're going to all be in for a treat this afternoon. We just got to spend some time with her, one-on-one Q and A. And it is... Runs so deep with her. She's actually pretty soft-spoken-- >> Rebecca: Um-hmm. >> But you can see that this is how she lives and breathes her life. And I'm just so excited! I can't wait to get in there and hear the keynote. >> One of your responsibilities here at VMware is being in charge of the foundation. >> Sindy: Um-hmm. >> And VMware has a very unique approach to giving. >> Sindy: Um-hmm. Yeah. >> Tell us more about that? >> So, that the approach that we've had is, again, most of what Vmware's and our culture is about is about choice, and about engaging our people, as opposed to many other sort of giving philosophies, which is really a top down approach. So, what we do is really give our employees the say in where did they want to give? How did they want to engage? And we call this Citizen Philanthropy, and we talk about it that every individual can make a difference and that's the Citizen Philanthropy. But at the end of the day, that's how we get to having a collective impact, right? And it has been phenomenal. We have done some work internally around employee engagement, what does this mean? And we're seeing phenomenal results from just how embedded this is in our culture. How proud people are of being able to give in this way. How much they value this as a culture. And we're seeing more and more of this within all of our employees. Most people talking about millennials really wanting to have their sense of purpose, but I'm seeing it across the spectrum. It's not just millennials, it's people at my age, which is much more than a millennial (laughing), all the way across, which is how do we get that sense of purpose? How do we give back? And that's essentially what the foundation approach is, how do we awaken the philanthropist in everyone? >> So, where are employees giving back? Give me some examples of how Citizen Philanthropy plays out. >> Across the board, so we invite our employees to engage, we invite our employees to... And we very generously offer 40 hours of service learning, right? I think just even that phrase, we don't call it volunteerism because really we're focusing on the being of service, and what do you learn from that, right? And I think that has a profound impact on people, and it's not just about, Oh, I'm going to do two hours here or there. It's seeing the impact this has, and then being able to apply it back to their own selves, and see how this grows them and changes their perspective of the world. When we first launched the foundation, it was under the then CEO, Paul Maritz, and he's made this comment up, Anybody who works here has won the lottery of life, alright. And it's part of who we are. And being able to give back is such a tremendous, just privilege. And people feel that and we see it. We just did a survey and we're working on our employee NPS score, which is would they recommend the company. And we found that those employees that have engaged in our foundation programs are 25% more likely to recommend the company. So, you can see how this is really embedded-- >> So, it has an effect on retention. >> And retention, be the culture, and that, in turn, has an impact on hiring because they'll recommend it to their friends, and who, again, are looking for more in a company than just-- >> Um-hmm. >> How am I going to earn my paycheck? And I think that's part of what the foundation allows us to accomplish for people. >> I think that quote from your former CEO has stayed with me, You've won the lottery of life. Do you think that is part of the culture in Silicon Valley, too? I mean, there's a humility there? Because I got to be honest-- >> I think there is-- >> It doesn't appear that way (laughing). >> There's a lot of privilege out there. And I think that's the opportunity that we have, and I think we're seeing some of this changing, with the Warren Buffet's giving away his money. >> Rebecca: Um-hmm. >> What the Gates' Foundation is doing out there. But I think there's a constant reminder of that sense of privilege that where we are in the world, and how we almost have a responsibility to give back and make a difference for others. >> Rebecca: That's great. >> So. >> Well, Sindy Braun, thank you so much for joining us! >> Thank you, this has been a pleasure. >> I'm Rebecca Knight, your host at The Cube. This is Women Transforming Technology at VMware. We'll be right back. (instrumental electronic music)