White Men Can Change at Rockwell Automation

Lee Tschanz, vice president for North American sales at Rockwell Automation, thought a black employee he was coaching was too timid to advance. But Tschanz was feeling pressure from his bosses to help people of color and women succeed at the Milwaukee-based industrial automation and software company.

He decided to try a different approach after learning in training about the distinct challenges faced by workers who aren’t white men.

llustration: Dan Woodger

Tschanz told the employee he wanted to better understand his experiences as a black man at work. The employee then shared that his father and grandfather had always warned him ...