Embracing Diversity, Creating Inclusion — One Associate at a Time

As the global leader in the home improvement industry, our ability to understand, embrace and operate in a multicultural world, where we serve a diverse array of customers, is critical to our success. In order to remain competitive, our workforce must mirror the diversity of the world we operate in.

To serve our customers, we must know our customers. To know our customers, we must reflect our customers. The greater the diversity of our people, the greater our ability to serve our customers.

Diversity Councils & Associate Resource Groups

At The Home Depot, our associates often take the lead on strengthening our diverse and inclusive workplace through our Corporate Inclusion Council, Division Councils and Associate Resource Groups.

Diversity Leadership Council

The council, made up of leaders from various functions of The Home Depot, helps to shape policy, determine key initiatives, redefine current processes and leverage inclusion as a business priority.

Division Councils

These councils include leaders from the Canadian, Southern, Northern and Western Divisions, who develop and execute diversity and inclusion initiatives in their areas.

Associate Resource Groups (ARGs)

ARGs are voluntary groups of associates who share common interests and backgrounds. Each of the seven ARGs develop and execute initiatives that align with the company’s diversity and inclusion strategy and support member development.


To ensure the successful execution of their missions, each ARG is supported by an executive sponsor and the Diversity and Inclusion organization. The seven ARGs are:

African American Pulse, whose mission is to make The Home Depot the most progressive enterprise in the world by enriching customer service and associate engagement, thereby increasing shareholder value.

Hispanics Organized for Growth and Responsibility’s (HOGAR) focus is to raise awareness of the importance of Hispanic culture and influence to overall company business objectives.

Limitless is committed to creating a work environment where there are no limits on achieving personal and professional goals. In addition, the organization advocates for full access to social, recreational and employment opportunities for associates and customers with challenges or disabilities.

Orange Shield provides support for active duty associates, deployed reservists and their families. This group also helps develop programs to integrate new-hires and associates returning from duty into The Home Depot work environment.

Pride Network’s mission and focus is to raise internal awareness and understanding of the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender customer segment and promote inclusion and respect for all associates.

Pan Asian Waves promotes programs and activities that support multicultural awareness, associate development and community outreach.

The Women’s Link connects women with opportunities and experiences, and helps increase women’s visibility in order to enhance professional growth and development. This group also supports our efforts at attracting and developing the finest talent, in order to create the best experience for our customers.

Diversity Partners

The Home Depot is proud to partner with community organizations that support our diversity initiatives or represent our diverse communities and associates. Our community partners include:

  • 100 Black Men of Atlanta

  • Atlanta Business League

  • Catalyst

  • Congressional Black Caucus

  • Congressional Hispanic Caucus

  • Executive Leadership Council

  • FraserNet

  • Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

  • Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR)

  • Human Rights Campaign

  • Latin American Association

  • National Action Network

  • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

  • National Association of Chinese Americans

  • National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA)

  • National Hispanic MBA Association

  • National Urban League

  • Rainbow PUSH Coalition

  • Trumpet Awards Foundation

  • United Negro College Fund (UNCF)

  • U.S. Pan Asian Chamber of Commerce

Supplier Diversity Program

The mission of The Home Depot’s Supplier Diversity Program is to form mutually beneficial partnerships with diverse businesses that allow us to deliver superior products and services and superb customer service, which ultimately increase shareholder value.

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Arlette Guthrie

Vice President,

Talent Management & Diversity

Arlette Decuir Guthrie serves as the Vice President, Talent Management and Diversity for The Home Depot, leading the Organizational Effectiveness, Talent Acquisition, Diversity & Inclusion, and Field Talent Management teams. In this capacity, she oversees succession planning and human resource review, executive, professional and retail staffing, associate surveys, testing and assessment centers, as well as organization design. Arlette is also responsible for developing and implementing a diversity and inclusion strategy that will enable The Home Depot to attract and retain the best talent, support an

inclusive work environment and embrace strategic community partnerships.

Arlette joined The Home Depot in 1999, and with increasing levels of responsibility, she has continued to make contributions focused on the acquisition and development of a high performing diverse workforce.

Prior to joining The Home Depot, Arlette served as the research leader for an international workplace research consortium and an assessment center consultant through the Department of Psychology at Texas A&M

University, College Station, Texas. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Dillard University, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.

Arlette is a member of the Society for Industrial Organizational Psychologists, the American Psychological Association and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

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