Tag: 3BL

by Craig Wichner, founder, Farmland LP

Innovation plays a pivotal role in enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability. Initiatives such as organic and high-carbon agriculture promote environmental stewardship, while mechanization of harvest, weeding, and cultivation processes improve efficiency and reduce labor costs. Emerging technologies like drones and UAVs enable precise monitoring and management of crops, while smart irrigation systems optimize water usage, mitigating the impact of water scarcity. These investment opportunities not only foster resilience in the face of changing weather patterns but also contribute to the sustainable growth of the agricultural sector.

At Farmland LP, our investment philosophy is deeply rooted in investing and understanding the challenges posed by climate change. With a portfolio of over 16,000 acres of farmland and $300 million in assets under management, we invest in regions that withstand or even benefit from these changes. Our emphasis on healthy soils, crop suitability, and water rights reflect our proactive approach. Through organic and regenerative farming practices, we can provide effective environmental stewardship while achieving robust financial returns.

Ultimately, weather’s impact on U.S. agriculture shapes investment and environmental imperatives alike. With strategic foresight, investors can harness the opportunities inherent in climate-resilient agriculture, ensuring both financial success and ecological vitality for generations to come.

Read Craig very interesting article with informative charts, all here – https://greenmoney.com/weathers-impact-on-investing-in-us-agriculture-navigating-the-new-normal

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by Craig Wichner, founder, Farmland LP

Innovation plays a pivotal role in enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability. Initiatives such as organic and high-carbon agriculture promote environmental stewardship, while mechanization of harvest, weeding, and cultivation processes improve efficiency and reduce labor costs. Emerging technologies like drones and UAVs enable precise monitoring and management of crops, while smart irrigation systems optimize water usage, mitigating the impact of water scarcity. These investment opportunities not only foster resilience in the face of changing weather patterns but also contribute to the sustainable growth of the agricultural sector.

At Farmland LP, our investment philosophy is deeply rooted in investing and understanding the challenges posed by climate change. With a portfolio of over 16,000 acres of farmland and $300 million in assets under management, we invest in regions that withstand or even benefit from these changes. Our emphasis on healthy soils, crop suitability, and water rights reflect our proactive approach. Through organic and regenerative farming practices, we can provide effective environmental stewardship while achieving robust financial returns.

Ultimately, weather’s impact on U.S. agriculture shapes investment and environmental imperatives alike. With strategic foresight, investors can harness the opportunities inherent in climate-resilient agriculture, ensuring both financial success and ecological vitality for generations to come.

Read Craig very interesting article with informative charts, all here – https://greenmoney.com/weathers-impact-on-investing-in-us-agriculture-navigating-the-new-normal

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Eastman

KINGSPORT, Tenn., May 20, 2024 /3BL/ – Pact Collective and Eastman announce they have qualified the use of clean, multicolor PET waste from Pact members and consumers as feedstock for Eastman’s methanolysis technology. This process addresses the challenge of multicolored PET received at material recovery facilities (MRF), which in some instances is unlikely to be mechanically recycled due to color variations. Eastman’s methanolysis process enables the upcycling of this material into Eastman Renew materials — high-quality copolyesters and PET for the beauty industry that offer a quality on par with virgin materials.

“Eastman’s collaboration with Pact Collective has been a journey of shared vision and commitment. Our combined efforts are ensuring a more sustainable future for the beauty industry,” said Tara Cary, Eastman cosmetics packaging segment manager. “By harnessing our methanolysis technology, we are turning challenges into opportunities and leading the way towards a future where beauty packaging waste is a valuable resource, not a burden.”

Pact Collective, a nonprofit organization, spearheads the management of beauty packaging take-back programs at retail and consumer levels. These programs play a vital role in ensuring that packaging waste is managed in an environmentally responsible way.

“Pact works to identify the highest and best use for the material we collect through our collection programs, always starting with mechanical recycling when possible. Eastman’s technology gives Pact’s material that may otherwise be destined for waste-to-energy the opportunity for a better end of life,” said Pact Executive Director Carly Snider. “Eastman may even help us keep this plastic material in circulation, creating more post-consumer recycled content that can be used in future beauty packaging.”

Eastman’s molecular recycling technologies are ideally suited to managing the complex waste collected through these take-back programs. Eastman’s methanolysis breaks down hard-to-recycle PET waste to its essential building blocks (monomers) that Eastman uses to create its high-performance materials.

Eastman and Pact are committed to validating more complex streams of beauty packaging waste for Eastman’s molecular recycling. This ongoing effort aims to reduce the dependency on less sustainable options like waste-to-energy or landfilling, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

About Eastman

Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company’s innovation-driven growth model takes advantage of world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its leading positions in attractive end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. As a globally inclusive and diverse company, Eastman employs approximately 14,000 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2023 revenue of approximately $9.2 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. For more information, visit  www.eastman.com.

About Pact Collective

Pact Collective is a nonprofit organization that unites the beauty industry to take responsibility for its packaging waste and to collaborate toward more sustainable solutions. Pact provides the most transparent solution for closing the loop on hard-to-recycle beauty packaging and uses its findings to inform the beauty industry on designing more sustainable packaging at the start of the design process.

Media contact 
Kristin Parker 
1-423-229-2526 
kristin@eastman.com

Pact Collective contact 
press@pactcollective.org

Originally published on Tork News Center

PHILADELPHIA, PA., May 20, 2024 /3BL/ – Tork, an Essity brand, was proud to once again recognize and participate in World Hand Hygiene Day on May 5th, an initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness of the importance of hand hygiene in health care and to bring people together in support of hand hygiene improvement globally. Tork, the world’s number one professional hygiene brand1, is supporting World Hand Hygiene Day through its hygiene product and training solutions for healthcare, as well as its recent commitment to advancing hygiene inclusivity in public restrooms – including hand hygiene inclusivity – by ensuring all individuals are able to pursue proper hygiene in these settings.

Safe care starts with hand hygiene

Healthcare professionals are exposed to pathogens frequently throughout the day – whether through close contact with patients or interaction with high touch surfaces such as doorknobs, bedrails, or patient bathrooms. While the importance of hand hygiene is widely understood among healthcare providers, following hand hygiene best practices can be challenging and there is a growing need to empower effective implementation of sustainable, accessible and scalable hygiene procedures.

Healthcare professionals are looking for hand hygiene knowledge and training opportunities. Tork research found that about 80% of professionals have expressed a desire to improve their hand hygiene at work. Knowledge is power, and healthcare professionals need engaging learning experiences and more interactive education opportunities to bridge the knowledge gap and maintain hand hygiene. The best way to help improve hand hygiene is by consistent, hands-on training.

However, in a fast-paced, demanding environment, it can be challenging to sustain hand hygiene adherence. Studies show that some healthcare providers practice proper hand hygiene less than half of the recommended time, which might include sanitizing hands in average 100-150 times during a 12-hour shift, depending on the patient volume and intensity of care2.

This is where Tork can help – with Tork Clean Hands training and Tork hand sanitizing systems. Tork Virtual Reality (VR) Clean Hands Training and Education is a free and interactive exercise specifically designed to make hand hygiene training more engaging than ever before. VR is not only engaging but highly effective in helping drive behavioral changes and accelerate deeper learning. According to research, we only remember 10% of what we read, 20% of what we hear and 30% of what we see. However, when doing or simulating an action like one does as a part of VR, we remember as much as 90%3.

The Tork interactive and immersive trainings help healthcare professionals effectively implement hygiene practices and improve adherence across the WHO’s 5 moments of hand hygiene. This is a key component to bridging the knowledge gap and driving sustainable hand hygiene and patient safety.

Dr. Claire Kilpatrick, Director, KSHealthcare Consulting said: “Sharing hand hygiene knowledge is important because hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to keep people safe from infection, help people understand when and how to perform hand hygiene, and achieve public health targets in a cost-effective way. When the 65 million healthcare workers around the globe train and act on hand hygiene, they help save lives – yours, a loved one’s and those most vulnerable in society.” 

For more information:

• Tork Healthcare Trainings — www.torkusa.com/hygiene/hygiene-training-and-education/all-courses/healthcare

• Tork Clean Hands Training for Care Homes – www.torkusa.com/hygiene/hygiene-training-and-education/all-courses/healthcare/clean-hands-training-care-homes/

• World Hand Hygiene Day 2024 (who.int) – www.who.int/campaigns/world-hand-hygiene-day

For additional information please contact: FHTork@fleishman.com

1*Based on 2023 global sales of Tork branded products & services for professional use.

2Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, 2020-02-25 (https://www.cdc.gov/patientsafety/features/clean-hands-count.html#:~:text=Hand%20hygiene%20is%20a%20great,patients%20on%20any%20given%20day.) 

3The Cone of Learning, 2005 (https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-cone-of-learning-Krivickas-2005_fig1_281191978)

About Tork

The Tork brand offers professional hygiene products and services to customers worldwide ranging from restaurants and healthcare facilities to offices, schools and industries. Our products include dispensers, paper towels, toilet tissues, soap, napkins and wipers, but also software solutions for data-driven cleaning. Through expertise in hygiene, functional design and sustainability, Tork has become a market leader that supports customers to think ahead so they’re always ready for business. Tork is a global brand of Essity and a committed partner to customers in more than 110 countries. To keep up with the latest Tork news and innovations, please visit Torkusa.com.

About Essity

Essity is a leading global hygiene and health company. We are dedicated to improving well-being through our products and services. Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands, such as Actimove, JOBST, Knix, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Modibodi, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, TOM Organic, Vinda and Zewa. Essity has about 48,000 employees. Net sales in 2022 amounted to approximately SEK 156bn (EUR 15bn). The company’s headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. Essity breaks barriers to well-being and contributes to a healthy, sustainable and circular society. More information at www.essity.com.

Many business owners may not realize that their bank can be a strategic partner, offering more than just a checking or savings account for their businesses. Small businesses’ banking partners are often deeply invested in their success and impact on their communities, offering services beyond financial product expertise by also providing valuable advice during uncertain times. By building a strong relationship with their bank, small business owners can gain access to customized strategies for managing cash flow, securing credit, and achieving your business goals.

KeyBank’s 2024 Small Business Survey found the top three pieces of advice owners have received are: cut costs by reducing discretionary spending (34%), establish an emergency fund (22%) and diversify revenue streams by introducing new products or services (20%). This comes at a pivotal moment, as small business owners navigate cash flow and business operations amid a challenging economic backdrop.

The good news: More than half (52%) of small business owners are confident that their banks understand their cash flow concerns! Still, almost 20% are unsure if their banks do so – pointing to an opportunity for banks and business owners to expand their relationships.

“As inflation concerns continue and interest rates rise, small business owners are seeking guidance to ensure their long-term success,” said Mike Walters, Head of Business Banking at KeyBank. “KeyBank is proud to offer resources and tools to help equip them to weather financial uncertainty and help their business run better.”

KeyBank, a top SBA lender1, has provided more than $4.5 billion in small business loans and lines of credit. Most recently, KeyBank received their 11th consecutive “Outstanding” rating from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on its most recent Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) exam.

Key’s commitment to inclusive communities is vast, encompassing a broad range of programs, initiatives, and collaborations. KeyBank is dedicated to supporting low-to-moderate income (LMI) communities as well as providing community investments to bring access to capital to local businesses. In 2023, we provided $267.7 million in small business lending to LMI communities and, in 2020 and 2021, processed 69,000 loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), providing more than $11.2 billion in critical funding to small and mid-size businesses.

Learn more about KeyBank’s opportunities and programs for your small business by visiting key.com/small-business. KeyBank offers a range of tools, including the KeyBank Small Business Check-In, KeyBank Small Business Financial Review and the Business Cash Flow Calculator.

Methodology

This survey was conducted online by Survey Monkey. 1,983 respondents, ages 18-99, located in the United States, who own or operate a small-to-medium size business with an annual gross revenue of less than $10 million, completed the survey in March 2024. Learn more about KeyBank’s opportunities and programs for your small business by visiting key.com/small-business. KeyBank offers a range of tools, including the KeyBank Small Business Check-In, KeyBank Small Business Financial Review and the Business Cash Flow Calculator.

CFMA #240508-2592782

This material is presented for informational purposes only and should not be construed as individual tax or financial advice. KeyBank does not provide legal advice. All credit products and SBA Loans are subject to approval, terms, conditions, and availability and subject to change. KeyBank Member FDIC, SBA Express Lines of Credit ARE NOT FDIC INSURED OR GUARANTEED. Key.com is a federally registered service mark of KeyCorp. ©2024 KeyCorp

1Source: Statistics released by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) October 2023 for total approved loans through the SBA’s 7(a) lending program during the federal fiscal year ending 10/2023.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 20, 2024 /3BL/ – Global end-to-end logistics services provider DP World has designed an industry-first solution based on using 53-foot intermodal containers with racking systems to transport finished vehicles by rail from Mexico to the United States and Canada.

From June 1, 2024, DP World will offer an industry-first, 53-foot intermodal container solution to transport cars via rail from Mexico. The service is based on loading finished vehicles into containers directly at the factories in Mexico or at designated stuffing yards close to the manufacturing hubs. The containers are then trucked to intermodal rail ramps and moved by rail to destinations like Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, and Toronto.

At destination, the containers are trucked from the rail ramp to designated yards where the cars are unloaded and trucked to the dealerships. Door-to-door transits range from eight to 14 days, depending on the route. It is estimated that the new service will enable an additional 30,000 finished vehicles to be transported between the trading partners in 2024.

Traditional 40-foot containers typically house a maximum of four cars, but the 53-foot-long containers can accommodate up to six vehicles, significantly enhancing efficiency whilst reducing costs for OEMs. Notably, DP World is the only logistics company currently providing the intermodal 53-foot container solution for finished vehicles.

In 2023, Mexico surpassed China to become the U.S.’s top trading partner, largely thanks to a burgeoning cross-border relationship based on Mexico’s growing manufacturing sector, particularly in automotive. This was bolstered by the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

DP World’s new “cars in containers” innovation comes as the automotive logistics industry in North America continues to face challenges caused by ro-ro and multilevel railcar capacity shortages, which are fueling the need for alternative outbound solutions.

It is estimated that DP World’s new service will enable an additional 30,000 cars to be transported between the trading partners in 2024. Since the beginning of 2024, the company has already transported over 5,000 cars across the Mexico–U.S. border for American and Japanese based OEMs with manufacturing in Mexico.

Christoph Seitz, Global Vice President Finished Vehicles at DP World said: “Our extensive experience shipping cars in containers worldwide, the large racking fleet we can deploy globally within weeks, and our expert teams and hyper focus on quality and service have enabled DP World to provide this unique solution in a challenging environment. Our initial volume shipments this year have proven concept that the 53-foot intermodal solution is a viable alternative during times when traditional capacity is tight, so we decided to officially offer the program to the wider market.”

– END –

DP World Americas Media Contact:

Melina Vissat, Head of Communications 
M: (+1) 704-605-6159 
E: melina.vissat@dpworld.com

About DP World 

Trade is the lifeblood of the global economy, creating opportunities and improving the quality of life for people around the world. DP World exists to make the world’s trade flow better, changing what’s possible for the customers and communities we serve globally.

With a dedicated, diverse and professional team of more than 108,100 employees from 161 nationalities, spanning 74 countries on six continents, DP World is pushing trade further and faster towards a seamless supply chain that’s fit for the future.

We’re rapidly transforming and integrating our businesses — Ports and Terminals, Marine Services, Logistics and Technology – and uniting our global infrastructure with local expertise to create stronger, more efficient end-to-end supply chain solutions that can change the way the world trades.

What’s more, we’re reshaping the future by investing in innovation. From intelligent delivery systems to automated warehouse stacking, we’re at the cutting edge of disruptive technology, pushing the sector towards better ways to trade, minimising disruptions from the factory floor to the customer’s door.

WE MAKE TRADE FLOW 

TO CHANGE WHAT’S POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

Southwire is an organization that is committed to leading with its values: Empowerment, Trust, Consistency and Inclusion. As part of that commitment, we partnered with Nessel to equip and modernize facilities across the organization with dedicated nursing room spaces to ensure women have an equitable, clean and private space of their own.

To view the Case Study, please click here.

Nessel, a women-owned, health-based furniture company designed by working moms for working moms, seeks to improve lives and keep communities safe and supported through innovative design and by creating the proper accommodations so that breastfeeding team members do not have to choose between work and family.

“This project represents the best of who we are and who we want to be – an industry thought leader that continues to be a catalyst for positive change and to create inclusive environments for all team members,” said Cara Herzog, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. “We are incredibly proud of the progress we have made and look forward to what the future holds for women and mothers in manufacturing.”

Southwire first learned of Nessel at a valued nonprofit partner’s, Women in Manufacturing (WiM), annual Moms in Manufacturing virtual conference in 2021. The multi-year project included key processes to ensure implementation was scalable. Southwire and Nessel set out to create a global Corporate Lactation Policy, design standard lactation rooms to enable consistent accommodations across all sites, provide leadership education about the PUMP Act, provide maintenance training for ongoing support and more.

“It is organizations like Southwire and Nessel that are leading change to drive more equitable, safe and comfortable experiences for women in the manufacturing industry,” said Allison Grealis, WiM President and Founder. “It is exciting to see their efforts turn into real impact for Southwire’s team members, and WiM is proud to have organizations like Southwire make meaningful change through opportunities we offer.”

In addition, a project plan was developed to ensure executive support, assess organizational needs, leverage a multi-phased implementation schedule and create a series of resources to prepare, manage and support implementation across all sites.

“Good companies see a problem and patch it up with immediate, short-term solutions. Great companies see a problem as an opportunity, creating programs and policies to address the underlying issues that create the problem in the first place,” said Stephanie Boms, chief executive officer at Nessel. “In that way, these companies stand-out, leading the charge with true organizational change that supports long-term, sustained success.”

This project sets Southwire apart as an industry leader that values inclusive spaces. The rooms created go beyond compliance, and lean into inclusive accommodations, which allow team members to bring their full selves to work.

“The partnership between Southwire and Nessel demonstrates our shared commitment to foster an environment where respect and inclusion are at the forefront of everything that we do,” said Guyton Cochran, chief financial officer. “Investments like our nursing mothers standard aren’t just the right thing to do, they are the smart thing to do. We want to be an Employer of Choice and create a culture of inclusivity that enables all individuals to feel supported at work.”

For more information on Southwire’s ongoing commitment to DEI, visit www.southwire.com/dei. For more Southwire news, visit www.southwire.com/newsroom.

Southwire is an organization that is committed to leading with its values: Empowerment, Trust, Consistency and Inclusion. As part of that commitment, we partnered with Nessel to equip and modernize facilities across the organization with dedicated nursing room spaces to ensure women have an equitable, clean and private space of their own.

To view the Case Study, please click here.

Nessel, a women-owned, health-based furniture company designed by working moms for working moms, seeks to improve lives and keep communities safe and supported through innovative design and by creating the proper accommodations so that breastfeeding team members do not have to choose between work and family.

“This project represents the best of who we are and who we want to be – an industry thought leader that continues to be a catalyst for positive change and to create inclusive environments for all team members,” said Cara Herzog, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. “We are incredibly proud of the progress we have made and look forward to what the future holds for women and mothers in manufacturing.”

Southwire first learned of Nessel at a valued nonprofit partner’s, Women in Manufacturing (WiM), annual Moms in Manufacturing virtual conference in 2021. The multi-year project included key processes to ensure implementation was scalable. Southwire and Nessel set out to create a global Corporate Lactation Policy, design standard lactation rooms to enable consistent accommodations across all sites, provide leadership education about the PUMP Act, provide maintenance training for ongoing support and more.

“It is organizations like Southwire and Nessel that are leading change to drive more equitable, safe and comfortable experiences for women in the manufacturing industry,” said Allison Grealis, WiM President and Founder. “It is exciting to see their efforts turn into real impact for Southwire’s team members, and WiM is proud to have organizations like Southwire make meaningful change through opportunities we offer.”

In addition, a project plan was developed to ensure executive support, assess organizational needs, leverage a multi-phased implementation schedule and create a series of resources to prepare, manage and support implementation across all sites.

“Good companies see a problem and patch it up with immediate, short-term solutions. Great companies see a problem as an opportunity, creating programs and policies to address the underlying issues that create the problem in the first place,” said Stephanie Boms, chief executive officer at Nessel. “In that way, these companies stand-out, leading the charge with true organizational change that supports long-term, sustained success.”

This project sets Southwire apart as an industry leader that values inclusive spaces. The rooms created go beyond compliance, and lean into inclusive accommodations, which allow team members to bring their full selves to work.

“The partnership between Southwire and Nessel demonstrates our shared commitment to foster an environment where respect and inclusion are at the forefront of everything that we do,” said Guyton Cochran, chief financial officer. “Investments like our nursing mothers standard aren’t just the right thing to do, they are the smart thing to do. We want to be an Employer of Choice and create a culture of inclusivity that enables all individuals to feel supported at work.”

For more information on Southwire’s ongoing commitment to DEI, visit www.southwire.com/dei. For more Southwire news, visit www.southwire.com/newsroom.

Southwire is an organization that is committed to leading with its values: Empowerment, Trust, Consistency and Inclusion. As part of that commitment, we partnered with Nessel to equip and modernize facilities across the organization with dedicated nursing room spaces to ensure women have an equitable, clean and private space of their own.

To view the Case Study, please click here.

Nessel, a women-owned, health-based furniture company designed by working moms for working moms, seeks to improve lives and keep communities safe and supported through innovative design and by creating the proper accommodations so that breastfeeding team members do not have to choose between work and family.

“This project represents the best of who we are and who we want to be – an industry thought leader that continues to be a catalyst for positive change and to create inclusive environments for all team members,” said Cara Herzog, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. “We are incredibly proud of the progress we have made and look forward to what the future holds for women and mothers in manufacturing.”

Southwire first learned of Nessel at a valued nonprofit partner’s, Women in Manufacturing (WiM), annual Moms in Manufacturing virtual conference in 2021. The multi-year project included key processes to ensure implementation was scalable. Southwire and Nessel set out to create a global Corporate Lactation Policy, design standard lactation rooms to enable consistent accommodations across all sites, provide leadership education about the PUMP Act, provide maintenance training for ongoing support and more.

“It is organizations like Southwire and Nessel that are leading change to drive more equitable, safe and comfortable experiences for women in the manufacturing industry,” said Allison Grealis, WiM President and Founder. “It is exciting to see their efforts turn into real impact for Southwire’s team members, and WiM is proud to have organizations like Southwire make meaningful change through opportunities we offer.”

In addition, a project plan was developed to ensure executive support, assess organizational needs, leverage a multi-phased implementation schedule and create a series of resources to prepare, manage and support implementation across all sites.

“Good companies see a problem and patch it up with immediate, short-term solutions. Great companies see a problem as an opportunity, creating programs and policies to address the underlying issues that create the problem in the first place,” said Stephanie Boms, chief executive officer at Nessel. “In that way, these companies stand-out, leading the charge with true organizational change that supports long-term, sustained success.”

This project sets Southwire apart as an industry leader that values inclusive spaces. The rooms created go beyond compliance, and lean into inclusive accommodations, which allow team members to bring their full selves to work.

“The partnership between Southwire and Nessel demonstrates our shared commitment to foster an environment where respect and inclusion are at the forefront of everything that we do,” said Guyton Cochran, chief financial officer. “Investments like our nursing mothers standard aren’t just the right thing to do, they are the smart thing to do. We want to be an Employer of Choice and create a culture of inclusivity that enables all individuals to feel supported at work.”

For more information on Southwire’s ongoing commitment to DEI, visit www.southwire.com/dei. For more Southwire news, visit www.southwire.com/newsroom.

Gen Blog | Community

Today’s cybersecurity professionals face their fair share of challenges. From AI and phishing attacks to remote work and mobile security, the threat landscape is constantly evolving, and studies show that there aren’t enough cybersecurity experts available to meet these threats adequately.

What’s more, the existing cybersecurity field is mostly white and male, despite data from the latest ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Survey that shows nearly 70% of cybersecurity professionals see inclusion as critical to their teams’ success. Estimates show that only 22% of the cybersecurity workforce in Europe is currently made up of women.

That’s where we come in. In April 2024, Gen signed a Pledge to the European Commission Digital Skills and Jobs Platform to help close the gender gap in the tech sector and train more women for success in cybersecurity fields. Through our longstanding partnership with Women4Cyber, we will support free mentorship to 1,000 women across Europe by April 2025. Together, we have also set a goal for 15% of each mentorship cohort to consist of women from underrepresented backgrounds.

“As a global leader in consumer Cyber Safety, Gen has a mission to create solutions that enable people to navigate their digital lives safely, privately and confidently,” said Gen CEO Vincent Pilette. “As part of this mission, we are also deeply invested in closing the cybersecurity skills and talent gap in the European Union and globally. We highly value the opportunity to join forces with other organizations through Women4Cyber to support women in improving their cybersecurity skills and the advancement of their careers at all levels.”

Empowering Women to Succeed in Cybersecurity

Gen will carry out our pledge through our exclusive sponsorship of the Women4Cyber Mentoring Programme, which is open to women of all experience levels. The program pairs mentees with Gen and other corporate mentors for a six-month training program that covers skills development and career progression. Additional features include networking opportunities, supplementary webinars and more.

Our Pledge raises the profile of our partnership with Women4Cyber, which began in 2022 and includes an investment of $150,000 annually for three years. Since the start of our work together, the organization has mentored nearly 700 European women, many of whom were mentored directly by Gen team members. Hundreds more have attended Women4Cyber events, webinars and the annual W4C Conference.

Anyone looking to sign up as a mentor or mentee should bookmark this page. The next cohort will open in the fall.

Driving Industry-Wide Change

As part of the pledge, Gen will also lead two public, virtual roundtable discussions about women in the IT sector more broadly, raising awareness of the critical need for change in the industry and the opportunities for growth that inclusion provides. This issue has long been a strategic focus for Gen, as demonstrated by our work with organizations such as Czechitas and nasscom foundation, which promote the upskilling of women with cyber skills in the Czech Republic and India, respectively.

“I’m thrilled that we are able to continue our collaboration with Gen under the banner of an official Pledge on the EU Cybersecurity Skills Academy,” said Nina Olesen, Chief Operating Officer, Women4Cyber. “With the help of experienced mentors and dedicated networking activities, women will be equipped with the tools to navigate their journey in cybersecurity while opening doors within the job market. I hope that the program will serve as a catalyst for mentorship and onboarding of young talent in cyber at scale.”

Kim Allman

HEAD OF CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AND PUBLIC POLICY

Kim Allman leads global public policy for Gen based out of Washington, D.C.