"Diversity is woven into the fabric of our company."
Michael Dell
CEO

Diversity enables Dell to hear, better understand and meet customer needs. And Dell's direct-to-customer business model translates around the globe because the company's diverse skills, experiences and styles help it best appreciate and respond to customers from a variety of backgrounds.

Those were key messages Michael Dell delivered today to Hispanic MBA students and professionals during a keynote luncheon at the annual National Society of Hispanic MBA Conference and Career Expo. Mr. Dell, the company's chairman of the board and chief executive officer, said diversity is a business imperative for companies, and students entering the workforce should recognize its value.

"We think of diversity in terms of similarities and differences in thinking, leadership, skills and styles," Mr. Dell said. "We harness those perspectives in pursuit of common business goals -- to deliver the best customer experience. Diversity is woven into the fabric of our company."

Dell will receive NSHMBA's Corporate Brillante Award during the conference, which ends Saturday. The award recognizes a corporation that has significantly contributed to the mission and goals of the organization and the Hispanic community.

The NSHMBA conference is expected to draw more than 5,500 Hispanic professionals and students, and will feature a Dell Cyber Cafe with the company's desktop and notebook computers, a Dell-sponsored marketing competition and a roundtable discussion about careers at the company.