Month: March 2023

KEY TAKEAWAYS

‘Founding in Color,’ presented by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs, is a three-part docuseries exploring the candid perspectives and entrepreneurial journeys of 11 Black and Latino founders around the country.‘Founding in Color’ premiered its second season on February 16 on Peacock and Black Experience on Xfinity.‘The Road to RISE’ a Comcast RISE documentary featuring the trials and tribulations of four small business owners hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, premiered on the Comcast RISE destination on X1 on Xfinity, February 16.

PHILADELPHIA, March 8, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Comcast is excited to announce two documentaries highlighting the stories of underrepresented entrepreneurs premiering during Black History Month.

On February 16, the second season of the docuseries “Founding in Color,” presented by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs, released for audiences nationwide on Peacock and Black Experience on Xfinity. “The Road to RISE” premiered on February 16. Both documentaries feature the stories of diverse founders from around the country at different stages – from startups to small businesses – discussing their personal journeys to becoming entrepreneurs and what it takes to succeed as a founder of color in America today. This is part of Comcast’s commitment to championing, advancing, and empowering diverse voices.

“At Comcast, we are committed to amplifying the voices of diverse founders – during Black History Month and throughout the year – through various avenues,” said Loren Hudson, Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Comcast Cable. “We are proud of the work that our teams have done to produce both “Founding in Color” and “The Road to RISE.”

We are excited to share these unique and important stories with viewers across the country and inspire the next wave of game-changing entrepreneurs.

LOREN HUDSON

Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Comcast Cable

About “Founding in Color: Season Two”

Created by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs and REVOLT’s creative agency #000000, “Founding in Color” is a three-part series that dives into the entrepreneurial journeys of 11 Black and Latino founders. These entrepreneurs get candid about the challenges they face and how they’ve had to dig deep to navigate race, identity, and other complexities to survive as founders in America today.

Maisha Burt, WorkChew (Washington, DC)Ofo Ezeugwu, WhoseYourLandlord (Philadelphia, PA and Brooklyn, NY)Marcus Jimenez, Breefly (Denver, CO)Maryann Kilgallon, Pink Lotus Technologies, Inc. (Orlando, FL)Shontay Lundy, Black Girl Sunscreen (Los Angeles, CA)Dustin D. McMahon, Local Sports Network (Houston, TX)Folasadé Ogunmokun, Unskrypted (Washington, DC)Lorel Scott, Startup Starter (Los Angeles, CA)Rodney Williams, SoLo Funds (Los Angeles, CA)Brandon Winfield, iAccess Innovations (Atlanta, GA)Chris Witherspoon, PopViewers (New York, NY)

Season Two of “Founding in Color” was produced by Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs’ Aize Asowata, Senior Marketing Manager, and Jeanette Pierce, Senior Director of Marketing Communications; in addition to REVOLT’s Andre Woolery, Senior Vice President of Branded Content, and Bree Balogun, Vice President of Account Management.

About “The Road to RISE”

“The Road To RISE” is an inspiring documentary that follows the lives of four small business owners – all on a journey to achieve big dreams. From Chicago to Philly, we stop in four different cities to see how underrepresented entrepreneurs find success:

Brianna Hairlson, Bri’s Dance Place (Merrillville, IN)Stefanie Sysounthone, Pinky Swear Studio (Chicago, IL)Shawn Manley, Manley’s Notary Service (Detroit, MI)Hector Nuñez, Wooder Ice (Philadelphia, PA)

Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs brings startups and Comcast NBCUniversal together to share insights, test solutions, and develop strategic long-term partnerships. The team connects founders with leaders across Comcast NBCUniversal to explore and build next-generation technologies and products that impact our customers, employees, and communities.

In November 2020, Comcast launched Comcast RISE, a national effort to strengthen and empower local small businesses hardest hit by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic — focusing initially on small business owners of color, recognizing that these entrepreneurs were among the hardest hit. Through Comcast RISE, Comcast provided over $110 million in monetary, marketing, and technology grants to small businesses owned by people of color and women and met its goal of supporting 13,000 small businesses nationwide by the end of 2022.

For additional information on season two of “Founding in Color” and the founders featured, please visit www.foundingincolor.com. To watch season one or season two, simply say “Founding in Color” into the Xfinity Voice Remote.

For additional information and updates on Comcast RISE, please visit www.comcastrise.com. To watch the documentary, simply say “Comcast RISE” into the Xfinity Voice Remote.

Biological pheromones present a non-toxic, innovative opportunity for biological crop protection while safeguarding biodiversity and beneficial pollinators / M2i’s patented bio-sourced micro-encapsulation technology means long-lasting pheromone controls with no residues and no plastic waste / First products to provide 90 days minimum of protection in high-value fruit and vegetable crops utilizing M2i’s controlled release pheromone diffusion technologies 

MONHEIM, Germany, March 8, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Bayer announced a partnership with French company M2i Group to supply fruit and vegetable growers around the world with pheromone-based biological crop protection products. Through the agreement, Bayer will become the exclusive distributor of select M2i products targeting lepidoptera pests in crops that include stone and pome fruits, tomatoes, and grapes.

M2i Group is the leader in pheromone production in Europe and has expertise in developing, formulating, and manufacturing complex molecules. Bayer will integrate M2i’s pheromone products, including M2i’s innovative press application technology, into a complementary system of digitally enabled solutions that include pest monitoring tools to advise growers on pest pressures and application timelines, and other synthetic and biological products tailored to grower needs.

“Tailored solutions that meet growers’ demands for safe and effective products with low or no residue are an important part of Bayer’s biological portfolio,” said Jens Hartmann, Regional Head for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). “Bringing together M2i’s pheromone products with digital monitoring applications and Bayer’s existing biological portfolio will enable growers to apply the right product at the right time within a holistic approach that benefits their operations.”

M2i’s expertise in pheromone crop protection has allowed the company to utilize biomimicry to develop innovative methods that fight pests by attracting and trapping them or interrupting mating behaviors. These integrated pest management products ensure that pest populations are maintained at manageable levels.

“M2i Group is excited to work with Bayer and to bring our sustainable crop protection products to more growers around the world,” said Phillippe Guerret, CEO of M2i. “Pheromones present an efficient and economical method of crop protection, as they are selective, non-toxic, and naturally avoid the development of resistance. M2i’s patented technology leverages innovative application devices, and reliable linear release to bring the potential of pheromones to fields across the world.”

Bayer launched Vynyty Citrus®, its latest biological and pheromone-based crop protection product in 2021. Vynyty Citrus® is the first such product on the market that is formulated with pheromones and natural pyrethrum to control pests in citrus fruits. M2i’s products will continue to build on Bayer’s pheromone-based biologicals product line.

Note to editors/reporters:

Representatives from Bayer and M2i Group were attending Fruit Logistica in Berlin from February, 8-10, 2023. 

About Bayer 
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2021, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 44.1 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 5.3 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

About M2i Group 
Founded in 2012, M2i is a 100% French industrial group, expert in the synthesis, formulation and production of complex molecules. Thanks to its research laboratory in Lacq (64), associated with its Salin de Giraud plant (13) and its manufacturing center in Parnac (46), M2i designs, develops and produces organic molecules with high added value for life sciences and organic farming. It has become the European leader in biological protection of plants and crops by conceiving eco-responsible products as a substitute for conventional chemical insecticides today sold in 65 countries.

M2i, which has multiplied by 6 its workforce in 8 years, employs 185 people, including more than a quarter in R&D, and holds 30 patent families protecting its technology and innovative product lines. For more information: www.m2i-lifesciences.com.

Forward-Looking Statements 
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

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Join PNC Diversity & Inclusion for a Women’s History Month event featuring Princess Sarah Culberson, Princess of Sierra Leone, author and humanitarian. Hear Princess Sarah’s inspiring story, from being adopted to discovering her royal heritage, and learn about the importance of building community, embracing inclusion — and overcoming your fears to live your dreams.

Date: Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Time: 1:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Duration: 1 hour

Presenter:

Princess Sarah Culberson 
Princess of Sierra Leone 
Humanitarian and Author

Princess Sarah Culberson has an extraordinary journey that has been featured on CNN, GMA and BBC, among numerous other publications worldwide, which have trended #1 globally in over 60 countries. She is an internationally known thought leader, TEDx speaker, artist and educator whose work addresses biracial and cultural identity and raises awareness of issues impacting Sierra Leone.

She shared the story of reuniting with her birth father in A Princess Found: An American Family, an African Chiefdom, and the Daughter Who Connected Them All, coauthored with Tracy Trivas and published by St. Martin’s Press. A Princess Found is now being adapted into a major motion picture for Disney Studios by award-winning filmmaker Stephanie Allain. Princess Sarah has also been honored with receiving the prestigious Trumpet Impact Award.

Princess Sarah and her brother Hindo Joseph Kposowa founded the non-profit Sierra Leone Rising, which provides clean drinking water, sanitary pads for girls, education, medical attention, resources to build schools and technology centers, and more throughout Sierra Leone. Her work in business and technology has led her to create upcoming projects including an animation show with Randy Jackson as well as a Roblox game to connect and educate children about cultures around the world.

Opening Remarks: 

Amanda Agati 
Chief Investment Officer 
PNC Bank

Amanda Agati is the chief investment officer for The PNC Financial Services Group. In this role, she is responsible for the firm’s overall investment strategy, portfolio and risk management, investment solutions and the development and execution of investment policies for PNC Private Bank℠, PNC Private Bank Hawthorn℠, and PNC Institutional Asset Management®.

Amanda serves as chairman of the PNC Investment Policy Committee and is a voting member of the Portfolio Construction Committee. She is also a member of the Investment Committee for PNC’s pension fund and serves on PNC’s Corporate Diversity Council and Philadelphia/South Jersey Regional D&I Council. She is a PNC-certified Women’s Business Advocate. Prior to being named to her current position in April 2021, Amanda was the Chief Investment Strategist for PNC.

Her career began with investment banking, advisory, and equity research positions with Legg Mason and then with PNC. During her tenure at Legg Mason, she actively participated on the firm’s SRI group, focusing on environment, social, and governance issues and the use of fossil-free strategies in portfolios. Additionally, Amanda was a member of Legg Mason’s Institutional Investment Committee and led the firm’s annual “Intellectual Capital” investment conference.

She rejoined PNC in 2015 as an Institutional Investment Strategist.

Amanda graduated with a Bachelor of Science in finance and economics from Penn State University’s Schreyer Honors College. Amanda holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) designation. She is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society of Philadelphia, and sits on the boards of several nonprofit organizations.

Moderator: 

Wanda Richards 
Managing Chief Counsel Treasury Management 
PNC Bank

Wanda M. Richards serves as Managing Chief Counsel for the Treasury Management segment of Corporate and Institutional Banking at PNC Bank, National Association. In her role, Wanda manages a team responsible for executing the strategy that delivers legal services for domestic and international treasury management products and services. Wanda’s role aligns with her background as an attorney with 20+ years of experience in understanding the legal and regulatory framework that impacts federal and state chartered financial institutions.

Wanda’s impact extends deeply within PNC as she has been recognized for her leadership. She is a member of PNC’s Corporate Diversity Council and serves on the Leading Inclusively Subcommittee. Wanda has also served as the Chairperson of PNC’s Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey Regional Diversity and Inclusion Council and was the recipient of the 2019 PNC Diversity and Inclusion Regional Council Award, Individual Champion. In 2017, Wanda was selected to receive the highest form of employee recognition given by PNC, the Performance Award.Wanda is also a 2014 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow and an inaugural member of PNC’s Office of the General Counsel Diversity and Inclusion Council.

In addition, Wanda believes in supporting her community and recently served on the board of the SeniorLAW Center which focuses on protecting the rights of older Pennsylvanians. Currently, she’s a member of the Redeemer Health Audit and Compliance Workgroup and serves on the Board of the Drueding Center which focuses on providing assistance to homeless families. A graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Law, Wanda is admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania, New York and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Closing Remarks: 

Laura MacNeil 
Regional President Seattle and West Coast Territory Executive 
PNC Bank

Laura MacNeil is regional president of PNC Bank, Washington State and West Coast territory executive overseeing PNC’s regions in California, Oregon and Washington. She joined PNC in September 2020 and has served as a finance industry executive for over 28-years. She started her career in corporate finance with KPMG in Moscow, Russia and moved to Bank of America before spending the last 14 years at Wells Fargo.

Active in the community, MacNeil serves on the board of directors for the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, University of Washington Pacific Coast Banking School, The Rainier Club and the Seattle Aquarium. She has been recognized as one of Puget Sound Business Journal’s “Women of Influence” and “40 Under 40,” as well as one of Dallas Business Journal’s “Women in Business.”

MacNeil earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and European Studies from Vanderbilt University, and a Master of International Business Studies from the University of South Carolina.

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Originally published by TriplePundit

Decarbonizing the maritime industry will involve a host of clean technologies that complement each other in efficient, economical systems. It also requires stakeholders to replace a transactional business model with a more collaborative one. The U.S. maritime and logistics company, Crowley, illustrates how that can be accomplished.

One small tugboat, one big difference

A look at the Port of San Diego in California illustrates just how many pieces need to come together to reduce maritime emissions. The port includes 34 miles of shoreline that spans the cities of Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego, in addition to public parks and a sprawling maritime industry that hosts trucks, trains, cranes and other logistics equipment, including ships of all kinds.

In terms of fleet size, Crowley’s role in generating carbon emissions in the port might appear to be a small one. The company currently operates two tugboats there: the 4,400-horsepower Tioga and the 4,800-horsepower Scout, both of which are less than 100 feet long.

However, the numbers hide a bigger picture. In terms of emissions per vessel, tugboats can play an outsized role in seaport air quality. That’s because tugboats are almost constantly in motion, traditionally burning diesel fuel all the while.

As an alternative, Crowley estimates that its eWolf all-electric tugboat will replace 30,000 gallons of diesel fuel with electricity annually when it commences operation in the Port of San Diego next year. Over the span of 10 years, that savings will avoid 178 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions and 2.5 tons of airborne diesel particles, helping to significantly improve local air quality. Crowley also estimates that the eWolf could eliminate approximately 3,100 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over a 10-year period.

The eWolf is currently under construction by the firm Master Boat Builders, with the battery and electric system provided by ABB.

Electrification beyond the boat

Electrifying tugboat transport is part of a broader effort. Crowley says it has taken a holistic approach to watercraft electrification. Instead of simply zeroing out emissions from the boat itself, the company also folded the power supply chain into its decarbonization plans.

“We want to get to ports that are sustainable and off the grid,” Paul Manzi, vice president, Crowley Shipping, told TriplePundit. “It doesn’t do any good to move carbon emissions inland.”

That’s a good point. The U.S. still leans heavily on natural gas and coal for power generation. Fleet operators that can move off-grid, or shift their electricity demand to off-peak hours, can help reduce overall dependence on fossil energy.

Rather than recharging the eWolf’s 6-megawatt battery pack directly from the grid, Crowley plans to recharge the tugboat from a dockside battery installation. The 3-megawatt dockside battery will be recharged during off-peak hours, assisted by a 75-kilowatt solar array. Additional plans include expanding the solar array to 500 kilowatts, enabling the dockside battery to recharge itself off-grid.

That off-grid capability will become increasingly important as other features of the port electrify. In September, for example, the Port of San Diego received a grant for electrical upgrades related to the installation of two new all-electric cranes. The port also signed an agreement with the U.S. Navy, under which the Navy will plug into dockside power sources instead of burning fuel to run their ships’ electrical systems while at anchor.

Collaboration is key

Automakers have already discovered that electrification enables them to collaborate with other stakeholders to offer a full package of energy-related services, in terms of interacting with the grid, with off-grid resources, and with homes and other buildings.

Crowley foresees a similar evolution taking place in the maritime industry. “We are giving you a platform upon which you can grow in port electrification,” Manzi explained. “The maritime industry has been pretty independently competitive, so the big surprise in this whole area is the collaboration in new ways.”

Crowley’s work with Shell is a good example of next-level collaboration. The two companies previously worked together to design, build and operate a new bunker barge to carry liquified natural gas. Under a new memorandum of understanding, the companies will focus more intensively on electrification. That includes the new eWolf charging station at the Port of San Diego, as well as other locations.

“Shell and Crowley are continuing to look more broadly at how they can jointly develop sustainable solutions across the U.S. maritime sector, possibly including lower-emissions vessels and technology at ports across the West, Gulf and East Coast regions and electrification and net-zero solutions at terminals,” Crowley explained in an announcement earlier this year.

“Shell’s experience and expertise across the energy value chain allows our teams to draw from a deep playbook of integrated maritime solutions, from safe operations to new technology,” Maarten Poort, Shell’s General Manager for Shipping & Maritime in the Americas told TriplePundit. “Shell is working across the entire maritime ecosystem, and with leaders like Crowley, to apply innovative solutions.”

A window into the future

The eWolf incorporates intelligent operations systems that enhance the safety of the vessel and crew and leverage autonomous technology for more efficiency. Manzi adds that it foretells the next generation of technology for how vessels and crews will leverage technological advances for cleaner, more efficient and better shipping and port services, whether it’s the energy source or the control of vessels. 


As Manzi notes, sailing and rowing provided maritime power for thousands of years, until steam and diesel took over. That transition lasted only a few decades. The shift to diesel-electric took only a few years. All indications point to another rapid transition within the electrification area.

“As with all our future-focused projects, we’ll continue to explore new, better, and more sustainable ways to create and power our vessels,” Manzi said. “The methods we use to create the electricity itself, for example, will probably go through several evolutions. We’re creating solutions that aren’t fixed, but flexible.”

This article series is sponsored by Crowley and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

Press Play On Audio File Above To Hear QVC Brand Ambassador For Accessibility Selma Blair Read This Press Release (Length is 8:03)

 

WEST CHESTER, Pa. March 8, 2023 /3BL Media/ – QVC®, a world leader in live video commerce (“vCommerce”), today announced an expanded commitment to growing its accessible and adaptive assortments, streamlining how customers find and explore them, and enhancing the accessibility of its end-to-end shopping experience. As part of this journey, QVC has named actor, best-selling author and disability advocate Selma Blair as its Brand Ambassador for Accessibility. QVC is part of Qurate Retail, Inc. (NASDAQ: QRTEA, QRTEB, QRTEP). 

QVC has launched a dedicated Accessible & Adaptive category – with hundreds of products spanning fashion, home, electronics and beauty – making QVC one of the first U.S. retailers to curate the full lifestyle of accessible products into a single multicategory offering. QVC is highlighting accessible products within each category and has launched a one-stop digital storefront for these products, with solution-based navigation and options to filter by adaptive features.  

In addition, QVC has introduced “Accessible Living,” an on-air show focused on essential home products that simplify everyday tasks and promote independent living. Across all vCommerce programming, QVC is demonstrating accessibility features of products more frequently, while also representing the disability, aging, post-surgery and recovery, and caregiving communities in product presentations and photography. The retailer is also conducting a 360-degree review of all customer touchpoints – from its advertising to its vCommerce platforms, delivery processes and more – and making changes to increase accessibility and ensure a barrier-free customer experience. 

“We believe everyone deserves inclusive shopping experiences, services and products that make them feel seen, including the millions of Americans who are living with a disability; aging in place or in assisted living; recovering from a surgery, illness or injury; or supporting others as a caregiver,” said Rachel Ungaro, GMM and VP of Fashion Merchandising for QVC. “Our goal is to meet each customer where they are in the arc of life and empower them to express their own unique style. We plan to expand our offerings in our Accessible & Adaptive category by attracting new brands to QVC, widening our relationships with existing vendors, and developing proprietary products and brands.” 

QVC has a long commitment to customer inclusivity. Virtually from its launch, QVC has offered fashion in a wide range of sizes for all women, with the same pricing regardless of size. The expanded focus on accessibility reflects rising customer demand, particularly for fashion that offers more options without sacrificing style and form, and for home products that simplify day-to-day life, improve safety, and promote independent living. QVC’s live, interactive vCommerce model gives the company an exceptional level of insight into customer trends.  

“When QVC approached me, I was so impressed and grateful that they were welcoming these conversations,” said Blair. “One of the basic comforts of our life is being able to have fun shopping and to find things we find beautiful and useful. There is a more vibrant way to showcase these products, and I’m so excited to join QVC in exploring what is out there for all of us.” 

Blair became an icon of the early 2000s through breakout roles in such pop culture classics as “Cruel Intentions” and “Legally Blonde.” In 2018, she announced her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis (MS). Blair has welcomed the public into her health journey and embraced fans through social media, her acclaimed memoir, the New York Times Bestseller “Mean Baby,” and the award-winning documentary “Introducing, Selma Blair,” which chronicled Blair adapting to new ways of living after her MS diagnosis. She travels extensively speaking about disability and inclusion and is considered a changemaker on social issues. In 2017, she was named as one of Time Magazine’s People of the Year as one of their Silence Breakers. Blair collaborated with Google on its accessible marketing playbook and has appeared in ad campaigns for Chanel, Miu-Miu and Marc Jacobs. Blair recently became Chief Creative Officer at GUIDE Beauty, a cosmetics company that uses design-for-all concepts to provide options to apply makeup. Blair’s disability advocacy earned her The Hollywood Reporter’s 2021 Equity in Entertainment Award and the Media Access Awards’ 2022 SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award and 2021 Visionary Award. She was most recently seen sharing her story on “Dancing with the Stars,” for which she won The People’s Choice Award for Competition Contestant of 2022. 

QVC has also joined forces with Maura Horton, a disability diversity and inclusion consultant affecting change through education, product development, strategic partnerships and embracing global inclusion. Horton’s roots are in product design and development, as she was a trailblazer in the adaptive fashion movement. After her husband was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease, Horton pioneered the concept of adaptive clothing that prioritized function and fashion equally. She founded MagnaReady, an adaptive apparel company, then sold her company in 2019 and shifted to overall inclusion work. She continues to be a driving force of the adaptive movement, working to develop holistically inclusive designs that span digital strategies, language guides, and authentic representations in wellness, home, beauty, style and more.  

“QVC’s livestream vCommerce platforms and relationships give the company a unique opportunity to be a changemaker in this space,” said Horton. “I see QVC as the ideal retailer to curate products and tell human stories that demonstrate the arc of life. I’m pleased to help QVC create safe spaces where people can find the resources they need and feel the security of knowing they are not alone.” 

The task force leading QVC’s accessibility initiative includes team members from the disability and caregiving communities and from QVC’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team. The accessibility initiative reflects QVC’s commitment to fostering inclusive environments and touches every aspect of how the company operates. QVC has articulated commitments specific to disability inclusion as part of The Valuable 500. 

“This journey is personal for many team members,” Ungaro said. “We know this is a long-term project, with plenty to learn along the way. We are committed to listening and evolving, so we can make a lasting difference.”  

To watch the next episode of “Accessible Living,” tune in to QVC2 on March 14 at noon EST or to QVC on March 30 at 1 p.m. EST. 

### 

For media inquiries, please reach out to QVC Media Relations at: media.relations@qvc.com 

About QVC  

QVC® is a world leader in video commerce (“vCommerce”), which includes video-driven shopping across linear TV, ecommerce sites, digital streaming and social platforms. QVC empowers shoppers with knowledge and shares insights in a lively and engaging way. QVC offers an ever-changing collection of familiar brands and fresh new products – from home and fashion to beauty, electronics and jewelry – and connects shoppers to interesting personalities, engaging stories and award-winning customer service. Based in West Chester, Pa., and founded in 1986, QVC has retail operations in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Japan and Italy. Worldwide, QVC reaches more than 200 million homes via 12 TV channels, which are widely available on cable/satellite TV, free over-the-air TV, and digital livestreaming TV. The retailer also reaches millions of customers via its QVC+ and HSN+ streaming experience, websites, mobile apps and social pages. To learn more, visit corporate.qvc.com, follow @QVC on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, or follow QVC on Pinterest, YouTube or LinkedIn.   
  
Qurate Retail, Inc. (NASDAQ: QRTEA, QRTEB, QRTEP) is a Fortune 500 company that includes the Qurate Retail GroupSM portfolio of brands as well as other minority interests and green energy investments. Qurate Retail Group is the largest player in vCommerce and comprises seven leading retail brands – QVC, HSN®, Zulily®, Ballard Designs®, Frontgate®, Garnet Hill® and Grandin Road® – all dedicated to providing a more human way to shop. For more information, visit qurateretailgroup.com, follow @QurateRetailGrp on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, or follow Qurate Retail Group on YouTube or LinkedIn. QVC and Q are registered service marks of ER Marks, Inc.  

Businesses around the world have been trying to improve gender parity and invest in supporting women in the workplace. Despite recent progress, women remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) industries, making up only 28% of the workforce in these fields. As the global leader in connected technologies, we have long been committed to helping close the gender gap and help provide equal access to STEAM opportunities. Through our global cause initiative, HARMAN Inspired, we partner with leading nonprofit organizations to offer young people the opportunity to participate in relevant STEAM-building experiences and learn skills that will set them up for success in the future. 

In recognition of International Women’s Day, take a closer look at how we’re working with our longtime partner, 1,000 Dreams Fund, to help empower the next generation of female leaders…

Fueling Dreams for Women in STEAM
Over the last 6 years, HARMAN and the 1,000 Dreams Fund have worked to help level the playing field for young women pursuing their dream careers in STEAM through the New Face of Tech Challenge. Each year, STEAM leaders and aspirants are invited to share their professional goals and aspirations for the chance to win funding and mentorship from HARMAN executives. Since the first New Face of Tech Challenge in 2016, HARMAN has helped award over $16,000 in grants to more than 75 inspiring young women across the country. 

Jumpstarting Careers for Women in eSports
In 2021, 1,000 Dreams Fund and HARMAN launched the first JBL Quantum Changemakers Challenge to help amplify the voices and further the careers of women in eSports. Since launching the JBL Quantum Grant, HARMAN helped award $1,500 grants to 55 recipients, and connected select winners with JBL Ambassadors and content creators from JBL partner 100 Thieves for virtual mentorship sessions and additional pop-up opportunities. Three lucky recipients also had the opportunity to visit our HARMAN EXPLORE 2023 showcase and test out our latest additions to the JBL Quantum series: 

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is a call to action to accelerate women’s equality: #EmbraceEquity. Together with our partners, we remain committed to doing our part in addressing the gender gap in STEAM and providing equal opportunities for women to pursue their professional dreams all year around. For more information on our efforts to help future leaders realize their possibilities through the power of music, technology, and service, visit: https://www.harman.com/inspired

Originally published on GoDaddy Life

Listen to the Podcast, here! Transcription provided, below.

Janelle (Host): Hello and welcome to the Own Your Career Podcast. My name is Janelle Jordan and I’m a Program Manager on our Talent, Performance and Engagement Team and I’m so excited to be here with you. Throughout this series, you will hear inspiring interviews with everyday employees who have achieved internal growth through promotions and movement, as well as actionable tips and best practices to help implement in your career journeys here at GoDaddy. Career management is necessary for a successful journey and we hope you will walk away ready to own your career. Thank you for spending time with me today. Now let us jump into the career spotlight with our guest. I’m here today with Ebony who is a Senior Specialist in Corporate Sustainability working on inclusive entrepreneurship here at GoDaddy.

Ebony (Guest): Hey, Janelle, thanks for having me.

Janelle: Let us get to know you quickly. Can you share with us who you are and what is your story?

Ebony: Yeah. Thanks, Janelle. Again, it’s really great to be here with you today. I actually just crossed over my ten year anniversary. I started at GoDaddy in March of 2012 as an Inbound Sales and Support Guide. My friend had worked here for about six months and she really enjoyed the atmosphere and the team that she was a part of. From there, I actually became involved in various ERGs that were launching back in 2013. I started with Women in Tech and then I moved on to GDUnited when that opened. So, from those ERGs, I was able to actually come to the realization that GoDaddy was more than just a job. It was something that I could do for a career and a place that I could be for the long term. So, I started looking at other ways to be involved with items here at GoDaddy and discovered that there was this team called the Customer Development or Business Development Team, (CDT for short). And that was our Outbound Sales Team that really drove the process of helping entrepreneurs start their businesses and also bring their businesses to the next level. On that team, I was able to hone my skills. I was able to talk to people from various walks of life in various stages of business and actually really get to know them. From there, I was looking at other ways to become more involved in the overall well being of GoDaddy, and I actually became involved in the Talent Ambassador Team, which was a group of Phone Support Agents that were tasked with attending various recruiting events. That sort of soaked a passion in recruiting. Because of that, I was actually able to jump over to a stretch assignment, which would now be known as a GROW rotation in our recruiting department for 90 days and help actually recruit top talent to come work here. I was the one and only. That really stoked my passion to make sure that representation and the equality was here. I know GoDaddy is one of those companies that really talks the talk and walks the walk. That led me into Care Leadership. I had a mentor that was here for quite a while that was always on me about: “hey, you need to come over to Care Leadership. We need somebody like you, somebody that’s like the voice of the people that can really talk with the Support Agents and sort of help them along their journey and be successful and have long careers here.” So, I did jump into Care Leadership for over two years and I really enjoyed that time. I even got to help with our transition to work from home in 2020 and was really happy with the group of new hire agents that I was sort of molding their careers and I was able to actually develop them to a point where most of my team actually left me. Seems like that was a great sort of segue into maybe another aspect of my journey here and that was joining the actual Internal Communications Team for a 90 day stretch, which actually turned into a 10 month stretch. But from there, I gained a lot of various insight from the women on the Internal Communications Team about how truly to be the voice of GoDaddy, how truly to make sure that not only is your voice heard, but other voices are heard, and how to advocate for yourself. So, because of my journey, I’ve sort of been on all sides of GoDaddy, from the Care side and working directly with our customers and our entrepreneurs to working with our Agents and our Guides that are on their phones, to our Technical Corporate side, helping out and recruiting and Internal Comms. That just sort of gave me a passion to find a spot at GoDaddy that sort of combined all of that — the communication skills that I learned, the entrepreneurship lessons that I was able to learn and could teach other entrepreneurs. From there, I sort of segued into where I’m at now, which is the Corporate Sustainability Team, helping with our signature social impact program, Empower by GoDaddy and helping make sure that entrepreneurship is very inclusive for everybody, no matter where they are or who they are.

Janelle: First, Happy Anniversary!

Ebony: Thank you!

Janelle: Amazing timing for you to be sharing your story with us. And there were so many amazing things that you talked about in your journey here that led you to be so well rounded in your capabilities and your skills and your experience. From the beginning, you said there was a moment where you determined that this wasn’t where you wanted to be long term, right? So it sounded like at the very beginning of your career here at GoDaddy, you were checking in with yourself and you were gauging what you liked, what you didn’t like. You were making moves, taking stretch assignments, being flexible, being daring, being courageous, trying new things as well as just going after where you wanted to make an impact. So, that’s taking you all over! What or who has been most impactful to your career growth here at GoDaddy and why?

Ebony: When GoDaddy says “Make your Own Way”, they truly mean that. Make your own way. Whatever you want to do, you have the ability to do it. So, very beginning back in 2013, 2014, we had a VP of Inclusion Engagement, Katee Van Horn, and she was the one that spun up the Employee Resource Groups, the ERGs. Through my work with the various ERGs, I was able to get to know Katee and have a couple of meetings with her just to sort of see how her career progressed and to see how she thought long term about her career prospects. And she said to me something that was very meaningful, and she’s like, “you’ve got to advocate for yourself. You’ve got to be the one that makes the stand. When you don’t feel comfortable, when you don’t feel like you’re in the right spot, find your spot and go after it.” Another person that was really impactful to me was Jamie Pettigrew, who was my mentor in Care Leadership. I was actually on a team, and my leader was checked out, and our team was struggling. So, we went to him, although he was not the leader of our team, and said, “hey, this is what’s going on, and we really need some guidance here.” And it wasn’t very often that you would see a leader from another team, listen to some representatives that weren’t theirs, and actually take on the flag and wave that flag for them to say, “hey, something’s not right here.” And then I’ve had several great women mentors, from the Internal Comms Team to Stacy Cline, the Director of Corporate Sustainability. They’ve all really had a passion for making the world and GoDaddy a better place. So, it’s been a pleasure to work here with so many great people.

Janelle: Mentorship can be so beneficial and so impactful at every stage in our journey. And it sounds like you were able to connect with mentors who are really aligned to your own personal values. Talking about Katee, what was it about her that really inspired you, that made you want to reach out?

Ebony: Yeah. So I’ve worked for other organizations and companies, but never really one that had taken the step to have a C suite level for diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging. And that’s what Katee was. Katee was somebody that shot it straight. And so when I went to her and said, “hey, I just want fifteen minutes on your calendar. I know you’re busy.” She said yes! I knew from there that if I ever needed something or needed to run something by somebody, that she would be a voice that I could listen to or that I could bring in to any discussions that I was having. And when she told me one of the biggest things that she learned in her career was to advocate for herself, I knew right then and there that was something that I was going to not only teach myself, but also teach my kids.

Janelle: Thank you for sharing. Can you share examples of how you’ve advocated for yourself since then?

Ebony: In 2015, I actually was almost fired from GoDaddy, believe it or not, two years into my career. I was on a performance improvement plan, and I had a couple of bad sales days, and I wasn’t going to pass my improvement plan, which meant that I was going to be let go. Well, knowing that I needed to advocate for myself, I pulled up my original performance improvement paperwork and looked, and not only did I sign it, but my leader signed it. And there is a fine print in there that this was a contract between the guide and the leader that signed it. So, I actually went to my direct leader’s boss and said, “hey, I have this performance improvement plan here. Here are the things that I’ve done, (and I had them documented), and here are the things that were supposed to be done from my leaders perspective that haven’t been documented.” So, that was my first aspect of sort of advocating for myself. A lot of times, guys feel like they don’t have a voice, and if they’re told, “hey, I’m going to be writing you up for this, or you’re going to go on a performance improvement plan for this,” they don’t question that. And something that I always taught my new hires is if you feel that something isn’t sort of jiving or if you feel that things haven’t been documented appropriately — you speak up. You don’t just let it slide because that could cost you your career and you don’t want that to happen.

Janelle: Thank you for sharing. That’s such a motivational story for really everyone. And you share with us, Ebony, one of the most important lessons that you’ve learned over your career here at GoDaddy and perhaps before GoDaddy.

Ebony: Janelle, that’s a great question. One of the most important things that I’ve learned over my career is sometimes things just might not go your way. And not to let that stop you in your tracks. A lot of times over the ten years that I’ve been here, people are like, “oh, she always gets to do this and she gets to do that.” They don’t always see the negatives. So, there was a role that I had applied for that I was really excited to do back in 2019. And I went into the interview really well, prepped. And I went into the interview and wasn’t chosen for the role. Somebody else was chosen. And when I got my feedback, it really gave me some insight. I hadn’t thought about my answers for the long term. I hadn’t thought about how I could make improvements on processes that were already in place. So, that was something that I really learned from, is that although you can be prepped and ready for anything, a curveball can come in and you may not hit it. So, what I would tell anyone out there listening is that although you may have a setback, don’t let it stop you. Keep forging forward and keep working fearlessly and that right thing will come along for you.

Janelle: Really excellent advice. You talked about feedback and getting feedback after your interview. Was that something that you asked for?

Ebony: It actually was not a part of the interview process. It’s something that I’ve learned early on is to always ask for feedback in ways that you can improve no matter if you get the job or you don’t get the job. Because how are we to improve if we don’t really get that feedback? Both negative and positive feedback.

Janelle: Really sound advice for our listeners. And you tied the word feedback to insight and that’s exactly what it is. Really, thank you for sharing that advice with our listeners. So, the last question is what is a common myth about your job, your department and corporate sustainability or even just your field of expertise with inclusivity, with entrepreneurs?

Ebony: I think a lot of people aren’t aware about Empower by GoDaddy and the impact that we’ve had since its inception in 2017. We’ve helped over 5000 entrepreneurs in over 40 cities across the world as we hit our five year anniversary, we plan on doubling that impact this year alone and expanding our reach. Looking at the ways that GoDaddy is working on commerce and making commerce easy and effective for any entrepreneur out there. It really drives home the mission of empower in other ways. We do group coaching sessions and webinars. Our wonderful webinar team is putting together some excellent material that is being well received and not only helping our normal customer base, but it’s also helping these entrepreneurs and the Empower program level up. I actually just had a conversation yesterday with one of the entrepreneurs that has seen a 30% increase in their growth based off of the marketing tactics that they learned in one of the webinars. Important for people to know that the Corporate Sustainability team is just not here to help the corporate bottom line, but we truly are out there helping everyday entrepreneurs be more successful, and that leads to more success on GoDaddy’s end as well.

Janelle: So amazing, so inspiring, and so motivating. If any of our listeners are wanting to learn a little bit more about Empower, what can they do? Where can they go? Who can they reach out to?

Ebony: Yeah, definitely! They can actually email the Empower team at Empower@godaddy.com or they can reach out to me on Slack. It’s just Ebony. and I’d be happy to answer any other questions, set up a quick meeting. We have several different ways for employees to get involved with Empower, and so we’re always looking for fresh talent to help volunteer and help entrepreneurs be successful. No matter if you’re in marketing, legal, if you’re on the commerce team, if you’re on the payments team, even if you’re a guide on the phones, really help expand the knowledge base of these entrepreneurs and watch them be successful and grow their business. Please reach out.

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Implementing sustainable practices within the livestock and poultry feed industry and throughout the value chain is essential to reaching global climate targets and limiting warming to 1.5 degrees, says a new report from World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The report explains how the US animal feed industry and supply chain partners can implement changes that will decrease the environmental impacts of feed production and help lead to a more sustainable and climate-resilient global food system. WWF’s report outlines how these issues can be addressed through four critical components of a sustainable feed strategy: circularity, innovation, regenerative agriculture, and responsible sourcing.

“When we talk about building a sustainable future, a critical part of the conversation is how we supply environmentally responsible animal feed,” said Ellen Dierenfeld, lead specialist for sustainable feed innovations, WWF. “Right now there is a unique opportunity for the feed industry to leverage its influence and effect worldwide change. Collective action across the feed value chain would send market signals rippling throughout the entire agriculture sector, leading to a more sustainable food system for everyone.”

The report also includes relevant insights and examples in action shared by a diverse set of stakeholders during the recent Feed Systems Sustainability Summit, convened jointly by WWF and the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER).

“The feed sector’s sustainability efforts are influenced by many stakeholders both upstream and downstream of the industry, creating real opportunities for engagement,” said Lara Moody, executive director of IFEEDER. “Actionable solutions exist, as demonstrated by case studies in the report, but signals and support from the full feed value chain including feed stuff producers and consumer facing stakeholders are needed.”

Read the full report: Solutions to Meet the Need for Feed

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Media Contact:

Lorin Hancock, Lorin.Hancock@wwfus.org

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About World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

WWF is one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, working for 60 years in nearly 100 countries to help people and nature thrive. With the support of 1.3 million members in the United States and more than 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment, and combat the climate crisis. Visit worldwildlife.org to learn more; follow @WWFNews on Twitter to keep up with the latest conservation news; and sign up for our newsletter and news alerts here.