# Embracing Diversity as a Business Advantage: Insights from IPC President John Mitchell at Apex 2024

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2024-05-03
- Length: 7m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-03-embracing-diversity-as-a-business-advantage-insights-from-ipc-president-john-mit

## Summary

IPC President John Mitchell joins host Philip Stoughton at APEX 2024 to discuss diversity as a strategic business advantage, citing research that diverse teams drive profitability, innovation, and better cash flow. Mitchell highlights specific industry initiatives, including Microboard’s employment of neurally diverse individuals and Pride Industries’ training programs for people with physical challenges, while noting IPC’s role in standardizing ESG reporting and expanding its government-backed apprenticeship program to address the talent shortage. The conversation also covers the successful transition of the APEX conference from San Diego to Anaheim and the growing importance of sustainability standards in the electronics manufacturing sector.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-03-embracing-diversity-as-a-business-advantage-insights-from-ipc-president-john-mit#t=8) Introduction: Diversity as a Business Advantage
- [1:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-03-embracing-diversity-as-a-business-advantage-insights-from-ipc-president-john-mit#t=96) Talent Shortages and Neurodiversity Initiatives
- [2:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-03-embracing-diversity-as-a-business-advantage-insights-from-ipc-president-john-mit#t=175) IPC’s Role in Training and Apprenticeships
- [5:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-03-embracing-diversity-as-a-business-advantage-insights-from-ipc-president-john-mit#t=304) Sustainability Standards and ESG Reporting
- [6:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-03-embracing-diversity-as-a-business-advantage-insights-from-ipc-president-john-mit#t=419) APEX 2024 Conference Update

## Topics

- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- IPC (company)
- APEX 2024 (other)
- Microboard (company)
- Pride Industries (company)
- Zentech (company)
- Koh Young (company)
- Global Electronics Association (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [What to Expect at IPC APEX 2025: Standards, Innovation & Networking](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-16-what-to-expect-at-ipc-apex-2025-standards-innovation-networking) (OnTrack)
- [Diversity in the Manufacturing Sector w/ Andrew Crowe and Justin Sherman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-07-27-diversity-in-the-manufacturing-sector-w-andrew-crowe-and-justin-sherman) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Hire Diverse Talent or Risk Going Out of Business Featuring Equity Machine Works Founder Justin Sherman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-12-07-hire-diverse-talent-or-risk-going-out-of-business-featuring-equity-machine-works) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [The Critical Shift: Bridging the Generational Gap in PCB Design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-03-26-the-critical-shift-bridging-the-generational-gap-in-pcb-design) (OnTrack)
- [PCB West 2025: Electronics Industry Insights with Mike Buetow](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-10-31-pcb-west-2025-electronics-industry-insights-with-mike-buetow) (OnTrack)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-03-embracing-diversity-as-a-business-advantage-insights-from-ipc-president-john-mit. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to EMS@C-LEVEL.