Tag: 3BL

Taco Bell blog

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month is celebrated annually in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. Today, celebrations include parades, picnics, parties, workshops and more – unifying millions of participants around the world for a month of solidarity. Not only is Pride Month a time to celebrate diverse backgrounds and unique experiences, but also a time to recognize the worldwide impact and accomplishments that LGBTQIA+ individuals have had and continue to have.

This year’s NYC Pride theme is “Reflect, Empower and Unite”. To honor this month and our people, we’re amplifying the voices of those in the LBGTQIA+ community who are growing their careers at Taco Bell.

Misty grew up in a non-traditional way, which led her down a path that felt like it didn’t “fit” her.

“I grew up in foster care, got married at 18 and had children. Nothing felt right; it wasn’t me. After walking away [from that relationship], I found my person, and she helped me raise my children, even though they were not biologically hers.”

Misty met her partner at a Pride event, and from their first date, they never stopped talking and have been together ever since. Then, years later, Misty’s partner ended up transitioning, becoming her husband.

“When I first got into the relationship with my partner, the people around me were not really accepting of us – so it kind of became a safety issue. It was a tough time, and I didn’t know how to take care of myself.”

That’s why Misty believes it’s so important to focus on mental health and safety when it comes to exploring one’s sexuality. One way she shares this is by telling others her story.

“It took me a long time to open up and be comfortable with sharing my past. Then I met Lori T. (a leader at Taco Bell), who supported and encouraged me through it all. I finally opened up and shared my story with others who had known me for 14 years, but never knew who I truly was.”

Since then, Misty has been able to grow and heal from her past in ways she never thought she would. From being able to speak her truth and finding a voice within her, she’s been able to foster an inclusive environment by building connections with others of a similar past or present. Now she’s a sounding board for her peers at Taco Bell.

So how’d she end up at The Bell?

“I found Taco Bell through an event I was working at as an owner and operator of another quick service restaurant brand at that time. In conversation, the employee asked me what I planned on doing when stepping out of that role. That conversation led to a meeting and the rest is history.”

Over the past 14 years, Misty has made some fond memories, including attending many recognition events like Golden Bell.

When it comes to those looking to get more involved in the LGBTQIA+ community, Misty shared that knowledge is key.

“The most valuable thing I can provide for those looking to get more involved in the community is the power of knowledge and educating yourself. The world is not always kind, nor can your family always be. It is super important to surround yourself with things that will help you in your journey. Knowing your resources and using them can be very powerful.”

In celebration of Reserves Day on June 26th and Armed Forces Day on June 29th, our employee led Military Appreciation and Assistance Business Resource Council (MAARC) joined forces with our Women in Leadership Business Resource Council in our London office where we heard from former military personnel Jeannie S and Bridget Forster. 

Our MAARC Co-Chair, David Brooks MBCI led a conversation with Jeannie and Bridget who walked our London team through their time in the British Army, exploring some of the challenges they have both faced during their careers and their top tips for navigating successful careers as senior female leaders. 

MAARC helps lead Northern Trust’s activities in support of our serving Armed Forces, Veterans, Reservists, Cadets, Military spouses/partners, and families. We are proud gold award signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and have recently been recognised as being in the top 50 employers of Veterans in the UK. 

“Armed Forces week and Reserves Day are both great opportunities for us to celebrate and take a moment to appreciate some of the sacrifices our Military service members make in the defence of our national interests. We were delighted to be joined by Bridget Forster and Jeannie Saville who walked Northern Trust colleagues through some of the fascinating experiences, challenges, and successes they faced during their time as British Army Officers.”

David Brooks

Originally published on Nielsen News Center

In April, Nielsen celebrated volunteerism and environmental action by recognizing our first-ever Global Volunteer Month, culminating in our annual Earth Day tradition on April 18, 2024.

Global Volunteer Month was an opportunity for Nielsen to encourage employees to volunteer and engage with their local communities—part of our company focus on sustainability and growth. Nielsen employees enjoy 24 hours of annual volunteer time to join in dozens of community events throughout the year. Volunteering helps to drive social and environmental impact in our communities while supporting employee engagement and team-building for our people.

More than 750 Nielsen employees across 29 countries participated in volunteer activities and educational events to clean up public parks and beaches, learn about sustainability issues including rainwater harvesting and recycling, reduce their carbon footprints by going vegan for a day, identify animals to contribute to conservation efforts, and much more.

In partnership with the Corporate Citizenship team, our Green Business Resource Group (BRG) organized events around the world, totalling almost 3,000 volunteer and engagement hours across 166 events and individual activities.

“As Wendell Berry said, ‘The Earth is what we all have in common,’ and this year, I saw everyone coming together to achieve a common goal of promoting and developing better awareness and thankfulness for Earth,” said Zohaib Ahmed Sayed, Manager, Content Solutions, Gracenote and Local Green BRG Leader for India. “I became a Green BRG leader to meet and work with people who share the same enthusiasm and interests, as well as passion and care for the environment. When I see so many like-minded people, it makes me incredibly delighted. I feel a sense of belonging and connection to something meaningful.”

In April we also celebrated the launch of a new report from Nielsen and the nonprofit Climate Central, which analyzed local U.S. television coverage of extreme weather and climate change. Report findings were presented to employees in a community conversation with the lead researchers: Jocelyn Azada, Director of Business Diversity, ESG, and Risk, Nielsen; Dana Siler, Software Engineer, Nielsen; and Kaitlyn Trudeau, Senior Research Associate, Climate Science, Climate Central. This report is the culmination of months of research and data analysis from more than a dozen Nielsen employees who contributed 1,000+ volunteer hours to the project through our Data for Good® skills-based volunteering program.

Beyond our Global Volunteer Month and Earth Day celebrations in April, Nielsen’s commitments to sustainability and community engagement extend year-round. For example, we continue to work towards our 2024 environmental and community engagement goals:

Reduce our on-premises application server footprint to 10%.Reduce our business travel spend by 25% from our 2019 pre-COVID baseline.Ensure that all of our e-waste managed through our field operations team is diverted from landfills and is recycled, refurbished or reused.Increase employee participation in community-oriented programs to 30%.

We look forward to sharing our latest progress on these goals in our 2024 ESG Report.

Originally published on Nielsen News Center

In April, Nielsen celebrated volunteerism and environmental action by recognizing our first-ever Global Volunteer Month, culminating in our annual Earth Day tradition on April 18, 2024.

Global Volunteer Month was an opportunity for Nielsen to encourage employees to volunteer and engage with their local communities—part of our company focus on sustainability and growth. Nielsen employees enjoy 24 hours of annual volunteer time to join in dozens of community events throughout the year. Volunteering helps to drive social and environmental impact in our communities while supporting employee engagement and team-building for our people.

More than 750 Nielsen employees across 29 countries participated in volunteer activities and educational events to clean up public parks and beaches, learn about sustainability issues including rainwater harvesting and recycling, reduce their carbon footprints by going vegan for a day, identify animals to contribute to conservation efforts, and much more.

In partnership with the Corporate Citizenship team, our Green Business Resource Group (BRG) organized events around the world, totalling almost 3,000 volunteer and engagement hours across 166 events and individual activities.

“As Wendell Berry said, ‘The Earth is what we all have in common,’ and this year, I saw everyone coming together to achieve a common goal of promoting and developing better awareness and thankfulness for Earth,” said Zohaib Ahmed Sayed, Manager, Content Solutions, Gracenote and Local Green BRG Leader for India. “I became a Green BRG leader to meet and work with people who share the same enthusiasm and interests, as well as passion and care for the environment. When I see so many like-minded people, it makes me incredibly delighted. I feel a sense of belonging and connection to something meaningful.”

In April we also celebrated the launch of a new report from Nielsen and the nonprofit Climate Central, which analyzed local U.S. television coverage of extreme weather and climate change. Report findings were presented to employees in a community conversation with the lead researchers: Jocelyn Azada, Director of Business Diversity, ESG, and Risk, Nielsen; Dana Siler, Software Engineer, Nielsen; and Kaitlyn Trudeau, Senior Research Associate, Climate Science, Climate Central. This report is the culmination of months of research and data analysis from more than a dozen Nielsen employees who contributed 1,000+ volunteer hours to the project through our Data for Good® skills-based volunteering program.

Beyond our Global Volunteer Month and Earth Day celebrations in April, Nielsen’s commitments to sustainability and community engagement extend year-round. For example, we continue to work towards our 2024 environmental and community engagement goals:

Reduce our on-premises application server footprint to 10%.Reduce our business travel spend by 25% from our 2019 pre-COVID baseline.Ensure that all of our e-waste managed through our field operations team is diverted from landfills and is recycled, refurbished or reused.Increase employee participation in community-oriented programs to 30%.

We look forward to sharing our latest progress on these goals in our 2024 ESG Report.

I’m excited to share my latest conversation on the Tech Talks Daily Podcast with Neil C. Hughes! We explored how social impact at Cisco leverages technology, teams, resources, and our extensive ecosystem to further our mission to power an inclusive future for all. We also discussed the immense value in social impact initiatives and how they drive positive change and benefit businesses. Share your thoughts and join the conversation!

https://techblogwriter.libsyn.com/2929-how-cisco-is-empowering-one-billion-lives-through-technology-and-social-innovation

View original content here.

I’m excited to share my latest conversation on the Tech Talks Daily Podcast with Neil C. Hughes! We explored how social impact at Cisco leverages technology, teams, resources, and our extensive ecosystem to further our mission to power an inclusive future for all. We also discussed the immense value in social impact initiatives and how they drive positive change and benefit businesses. Share your thoughts and join the conversation!

https://techblogwriter.libsyn.com/2929-how-cisco-is-empowering-one-billion-lives-through-technology-and-social-innovation

View original content here.

Feature by Susan Galer

There’s no better proving ground for the incredible power of digitalized food chains than India, one of the most populated countries worldwide. As India’s leading food agritech company, WayCool Foods has pioneered a data-driven strategy designed to close the gap between supply and demand, decreasing food waste and increasing revenue for every organization across the value chain.

“With one integrated platform that connects data from farmers through processing, warehouses, and retail, we are transforming the traditional food chain from supplier-driven to demand-driven,” said Karthik Jayaraman, co-founder and managing director at WayCool. “We selected RISE with SAP because it is a flexible, cloud-based foundation for our growing business. SAP S/4HANA provides a single source of truth company-wide and across our ecosystem, helping us produce and deliver the delicious food that consumers want on their table.”

The company has already reduced food wastage by up to 96% while improving the average income of farmers by over 13%.

Data Insights Align Food Supply with Demand

Putting predictability and farming in the same sentence might seem like a stretch in a world rocked by disruptions like extreme weather and geopolitical conflicts. However, WayCool orchestrates a groundbreaking collaborative effort. It starts with farmers who produce the fruits, vegetables, and other staples that feed the Indian population and extends to partners, warehouse operations, distribution, and retailers.

“Sharing information with our partners in procurement who run processing and warehouse facilities, along with transportation logistics and retail, we can align supply with the right pricing for greater efficiencies and governance that produces the highest quality products,” said Avinash Kasinathan, chief technology officer at WayCool. “Data transparency also means that farmers can base field production on actual market demand and consumption.”

Farmer Income Grows with Data-Driven Strategy

WayCool’s ability to trace products from farm to end consumer provides the company and its ecosystem with forecasting and planning insights based on real-time customer feedback and market demands. Using this connected data, WayCool makes recommendations to farmers on what fruits and vegetables to grow for the highest yields and uptake at the best prices.

Fourth-generation farmer Hari Prasad, located in a village called Karnataka on the outskirts of East Bangalore, is one of the over 200,000 farmers that WayCool provides with detailed cultivation plans.

“Unlike traditional farming, WayCool recommends what to plant, when, and where, letting us know up front what they’ll purchase at fair prices based on harvest time frames and factoring in staggered market demands,” he said. “We don’t have to worry about whether or not we’ll sell our yield, and we can calculate continuous earnings in a more predictable and consistent manner.”

Although farmers may have smaller yields, harvesting crops on a more consistent basis throughout the year levels out supply and demand spikes and downturns. If crop prices fall one week and rise the next, farmers can average out major risks with a steadier stream of income over time.

AI-Based Technologies Reduce Waste and Boost Crop Yields

WayCool has infused AI capabilities across its digitalized supply chain to increase quality yield and decrease waste. AI is built into the recommendation engine that tells retailers which products on their shelves will sell faster according to store location demographics. In the field, farmers use AI-based image recognition to quickly identify plant diseases and set up treatment plans. Internet of Things (IoT)-based sensors in the soil send farmers alerts on weather patterns to guide more cost-efficient and sustainable irrigation decisions. The company is exploring generative AI use cases as well.

Sustainable Agriculture Vision for the World

For WayCool and its partners, sustainable business encompasses the full range of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments. Digitalization has an important role, for example, in regenerative farming practices. Farmers can use data-driven insights to produce stronger seeds for biodiversity, growing crops that are more climate-resilient and use less water and fertilizer in healthier soil.

Looking ahead, Jayaraman is eager to bring WayCool’s digitalized business model from India to other regions such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

“The food supply chain is a huge global market, yet agribusiness is one of the least digitized industries,” said Jayaraman. “We’ve experienced how technology is revolutionizing food chains in India, and we’re excited about bringing people in other parts of the world greater access to affordable, quality food for the next generation of sustainable agriculture.”

Feature by Susan Galer

There’s no better proving ground for the incredible power of digitalized food chains than India, one of the most populated countries worldwide. As India’s leading food agritech company, WayCool Foods has pioneered a data-driven strategy designed to close the gap between supply and demand, decreasing food waste and increasing revenue for every organization across the value chain.

“With one integrated platform that connects data from farmers through processing, warehouses, and retail, we are transforming the traditional food chain from supplier-driven to demand-driven,” said Karthik Jayaraman, co-founder and managing director at WayCool. “We selected RISE with SAP because it is a flexible, cloud-based foundation for our growing business. SAP S/4HANA provides a single source of truth company-wide and across our ecosystem, helping us produce and deliver the delicious food that consumers want on their table.”

The company has already reduced food wastage by up to 96% while improving the average income of farmers by over 13%.

Data Insights Align Food Supply with Demand

Putting predictability and farming in the same sentence might seem like a stretch in a world rocked by disruptions like extreme weather and geopolitical conflicts. However, WayCool orchestrates a groundbreaking collaborative effort. It starts with farmers who produce the fruits, vegetables, and other staples that feed the Indian population and extends to partners, warehouse operations, distribution, and retailers.

“Sharing information with our partners in procurement who run processing and warehouse facilities, along with transportation logistics and retail, we can align supply with the right pricing for greater efficiencies and governance that produces the highest quality products,” said Avinash Kasinathan, chief technology officer at WayCool. “Data transparency also means that farmers can base field production on actual market demand and consumption.”

Farmer Income Grows with Data-Driven Strategy

WayCool’s ability to trace products from farm to end consumer provides the company and its ecosystem with forecasting and planning insights based on real-time customer feedback and market demands. Using this connected data, WayCool makes recommendations to farmers on what fruits and vegetables to grow for the highest yields and uptake at the best prices.

Fourth-generation farmer Hari Prasad, located in a village called Karnataka on the outskirts of East Bangalore, is one of the over 200,000 farmers that WayCool provides with detailed cultivation plans.

“Unlike traditional farming, WayCool recommends what to plant, when, and where, letting us know up front what they’ll purchase at fair prices based on harvest time frames and factoring in staggered market demands,” he said. “We don’t have to worry about whether or not we’ll sell our yield, and we can calculate continuous earnings in a more predictable and consistent manner.”

Although farmers may have smaller yields, harvesting crops on a more consistent basis throughout the year levels out supply and demand spikes and downturns. If crop prices fall one week and rise the next, farmers can average out major risks with a steadier stream of income over time.

AI-Based Technologies Reduce Waste and Boost Crop Yields

WayCool has infused AI capabilities across its digitalized supply chain to increase quality yield and decrease waste. AI is built into the recommendation engine that tells retailers which products on their shelves will sell faster according to store location demographics. In the field, farmers use AI-based image recognition to quickly identify plant diseases and set up treatment plans. Internet of Things (IoT)-based sensors in the soil send farmers alerts on weather patterns to guide more cost-efficient and sustainable irrigation decisions. The company is exploring generative AI use cases as well.

Sustainable Agriculture Vision for the World

For WayCool and its partners, sustainable business encompasses the full range of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments. Digitalization has an important role, for example, in regenerative farming practices. Farmers can use data-driven insights to produce stronger seeds for biodiversity, growing crops that are more climate-resilient and use less water and fertilizer in healthier soil.

Looking ahead, Jayaraman is eager to bring WayCool’s digitalized business model from India to other regions such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

“The food supply chain is a huge global market, yet agribusiness is one of the least digitized industries,” said Jayaraman. “We’ve experienced how technology is revolutionizing food chains in India, and we’re excited about bringing people in other parts of the world greater access to affordable, quality food for the next generation of sustainable agriculture.”

ParityLIST®2024 Best Companies for Equal Advancement Opportunity

We’re committed to building diverse teams and fostering an inclusive, equitable culture. While there’s always more work to do to deliver on that promise, we’re proud to be named once again to the Parity.Org list of Best Companies for Equal Advancement Opportunity. This recognizes the progress we’ve made leveling the playing field and ensuring all our teammates have a shot at success.

U.S. News & World Report Best Companies to Work For in 2024-25

People are at the center of everything we do, which is why we want all our teammates to feel valued, cared for and empowered to achieve their goals. Thanks to U.S. News & World Report for naming us to its list of Best Companies to Work For in 2024-25, a recognition of our continued commitment to policies that support flexibility, well-being and personal growth — critical to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive.

USA TODAY and Statista 2024 list of America’s Climate Leaders

We’re honored to be named to the USA TODAY and Statista list of America’s Climate Leaders for the second year in a row. Sustainability is not simply a tagline for us; it’s an intentional and integrated part of our IGNITE strategy. That’s why we’ve taken measurable actions to tackle our operational emissions and advance our reporting practices to enhance the well-being our planet — and in the process our long-term success as a company.

Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship 2024 Innovation Amplifier Award

The Burt’s Bees SheKeeper program, supported by its beeswax and shea ingredient suppliers and USAID, was recognized recently by Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship with its 2024 Innovation Amplifier Award. It was cited for its approach that’s transforming natural ingredient supply chains through responsible sourcing and women’s economic empowerment. The program increases biodiversity and provides crop and income diversification to Ghanaian women in shea-producing communities with the potential to scale more broadly, ultimately benefiting more than 16 million women in West Africa.

ParityLIST®2024 Best Companies for Equal Advancement Opportunity

We’re committed to building diverse teams and fostering an inclusive, equitable culture. While there’s always more work to do to deliver on that promise, we’re proud to be named once again to the Parity.Org list of Best Companies for Equal Advancement Opportunity. This recognizes the progress we’ve made leveling the playing field and ensuring all our teammates have a shot at success.

U.S. News & World Report Best Companies to Work For in 2024-25

People are at the center of everything we do, which is why we want all our teammates to feel valued, cared for and empowered to achieve their goals. Thanks to U.S. News & World Report for naming us to its list of Best Companies to Work For in 2024-25, a recognition of our continued commitment to policies that support flexibility, well-being and personal growth — critical to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive.

USA TODAY and Statista 2024 list of America’s Climate Leaders

We’re honored to be named to the USA TODAY and Statista list of America’s Climate Leaders for the second year in a row. Sustainability is not simply a tagline for us; it’s an intentional and integrated part of our IGNITE strategy. That’s why we’ve taken measurable actions to tackle our operational emissions and advance our reporting practices to enhance the well-being our planet — and in the process our long-term success as a company.

Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship 2024 Innovation Amplifier Award

The Burt’s Bees SheKeeper program, supported by its beeswax and shea ingredient suppliers and USAID, was recognized recently by Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship with its 2024 Innovation Amplifier Award. It was cited for its approach that’s transforming natural ingredient supply chains through responsible sourcing and women’s economic empowerment. The program increases biodiversity and provides crop and income diversification to Ghanaian women in shea-producing communities with the potential to scale more broadly, ultimately benefiting more than 16 million women in West Africa.