Joyce Christanio, Senior Program Manager, Supplier Diversity for T-Mobile, leads the company’s NextTech Diversity Program. T-Mobile’s NextTech Diversity Program funds career training and job placement for hundreds of candidates from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds and is a critical part of T-Mobile’s investment in building a more diverse supply chain by opening doors to meaningful employment within the telecommunications industry.

Among the many best practices, Joyce supports diverse suppliers by championing their businesses, through introductions and sharing capability statements with Sourcing Managers. Joyce also partners with community-based organizations to recommend diverse suppliers for scholarships and participation in T-Mobile’s Mentor Protégé Program in partnership with the University of Washington. She points to top management support for supplier diversity program success, saying diversity is not just recognized – it is celebrated.

As a leader of T-Mobile’s NextTech Diversity Program, Joyce manages diverse owned partners that recruits industry partners to fund the training, certification, and job placement of women, veterans, and men of color to become network technicians or network equipment drivers. T-Mobile has funded 220 candidates which included 150 in 2022, and we are proud to report that 100% of graduates received permanent job placements.

Joyce believes that supplier diversity program success fosters equal opportunity for diverse suppliers, and it takes leadership and company-wide support that drives change.

Favorite Quote: Remember to send the elevator back down to a less fortunate individual upon achieving career success. — Edith Piaf