TITLE: Manager of Leveraged Staffing Programs within the Americas EDUCATION: B. A. ,  Behavioral Science,  Messiah College,  1984;  M. S. ,  Career Counseling,  Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania,  1986 WITH COMPANY SINCE: October 2000 ADVICE FOR NEW GRADUATES: When you are interviewing for jobs and get to the point where you have an offer,  make sure you interview the company back!	ANDREW ADAMS

What attracted you to working for Hewlett-Packard?

The culture was a big attraction to me.  I loved the idea of working for a company that really cares deeply and passionately about the people in the communities it works in. Before I came to HP, I knew that HP was heavily involved in the community, and I wanted to work for a company that was very serious about those kinds of commitments.

What is the corporate culture like at HP?

It's very refreshing. People are not preoccupied with position, and managers at the highest levels are very accessible. The other thing about the culture is that it is very creative. People are not set in their ways, and they're not stagnant. They are thinking of new ways of doing things, and are open to new ideas.

How would you complete this sentence: People who succeed at HP are …?

They are smart, creative, straight for ward, good at influencing, open-minded, and results-oriented.

What would students find most surprising about working for Hewlett-Packard?

Students would probably be surprised by how much responsibility they'll be given quickly. It's a culture that demands individuals who want to take initiative. HP recognizes the significance of employees to its success.

HP ranks among the top 50 companies that minority students would most like to work for. Why do you think this is so?

I hope that students see our commitment to attracting, growing, and supporting top talent. In this organization, it's about your efforts and what you can do to make a difference in the company. People of diverse backgrounds are represented at all levels of the organization. In fact, HP has a global team dedicated to diversity sourcing. We also have very active employee network groups, and there are several different groups based on ethnicity and gender that work to understand and influence their work world. These groups are actively supported by senior management.

Does HP have a structured mentorship program?

HP is very strong on people having mentors. Mentoring is just part of our culture —people should have a sense of managing their own careers and managing different moves that they might make. One way to do that with wisdom is to have a mentor or two that you go to for counsel and feedback. 

How do you feel that workforce diversity relates to a company's success?

I think it relates directly. You want people focused on their jobs and not preoccupied with the negative impact of working in a certain kind of culture. If you live and work in a culture where you know you are being fully heard, respected, and trusted, and that opportunities are available to you, then you can focus on getting your job done because the other things will take care of themselves. I am proud to say that this is how it works at HP.