Despite an influx of more than 2.7 million industrial robots in use worldwide, humans are still needed to help produce the vast majority of goods the manufacturing industry provides. To that end, the manufacturing industry continues to struggle to fill critical jobs and more specifically, find ways to broaden its talent pipeline. To effectively fill these critical jobs, the industry must begin to address its talent acquisition needs from the perspective of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Every industry today feels the push toward greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from multiple directions in an effort to increase productivity and perpetuity. The manufacturing industry is no exception. However, it is the belief that the very same mind-set that enables the manufacturing industry to consistently evolve, is the same mindset that will create ways to recruit and retain diverse talent. Instead of focusing on the structural inequities from a societal perspective, this session will investigate the meaning of equity and the ways in which individuals can contribute to ensuring people have fair access and opportunities to thrive within the company and the manufacturing industry at large. Ultimately, this session aims to build capacity for ways in which the manufacturing industry can grow and thrive through an intentional investment in its diverse talent.