Tag: 3BL

Originally Published by Forbes

For a company to successfully create new and life-changing therapeutics for people, it must begin by establishing its own people-first and mission-driven culture. That’s the premise Bruce Cozadd set out to test when he co-founded Jazz Pharmaceuticals (NDAQ: JAZZ) in 2003.

Jazz began its life like many other biotech startups, focused on creating therapeutics for disease areas with unmet needs, such as sleep medicine. But over the past 20 years, the company’s approach evolved beyond Neuroscience to include treatment options for hematologic cancers and solid tumors. Many new pharmaceutical companies find initial success – a successful Phase 3 Clinical trial, first indication, or second indication – and quickly look for an acquirer to help them capitalize on that success. But Cozadd and Jazz have done something different, building a durable, Top 50 pharmaceutical organization, bringing over 11 therapeutics to market in the past two decades.

Continue reading here.

CLEVELAND, February 09, 2024 /3BL/ – KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment (CDLI) invested $10.2 million of 4% Federal LIHTC Equity and provided a $7.9 million construction loan to finance the development of Henrietta Homes. The development will consist of 40 lease-to-purchase (LTP) affordable single-family homes, to be built on vacant land throughout the Hough neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio.

Henrietta Homes will target family households with incomes between 30% and 60% of area median income (“AMI”). The development will be partially subsidized, of which eight homes will be supported by a 20-year Section 8 project-based vouchers (“PBV”) provided through Cuyahoga Metro Housing Authority. Additional soft funding sources include $1.6 million from City of Cleveland Housing Trust Funds, a $450,000 Cuyahoga County HOME loan, and a $1.25 million equity bridge loan through Ohio Housing Finance Agency’s Housing Development Loan program. The project is a culmination of community planning efforts and will complement investments to revitalize the Hough neighborhood.

The Famicos Foundation is the sponsor for Henrietta Homes. The Famicos Foundation is one of Northeast Ohio’s largest nonprofit community development corporations, and its mission is to improve the quality of life in greater Cleveland through neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing, and integrated social services.

Henrietta Homes new construction will consist of 36 two story three bedrooms homes with an unfinished basement and detached 1.5 car garage, as well as four three-bedroom one story homes with an attached 2-car garage (no basement level). The project will be built to meet Enterprise Green Communities standards to ensure energy and cost efficiencies for the tenant to maintain. Amenities include a private yard, full appliance package with dishwasher, washer, and dryer hook-ups, and in-unit alarms.

The homes will be available to lease during a 15 -year period, and at year 16, residents will have an opportunity to purchase the home at an affordable price. Famicos will prepare tenants to transition into homeownership by providing financial training and homeownership counseling during the 15-year leasing period.

The development is close to public transportation and within two miles from the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals main campuses. Henrietta Homes is also located near grocery stores, numerous restaurants, and schools.

Derek Reed and Kory Clark of KeyBank CDLI structured the tax credit equity and debt financing for the transaction.

About KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment

KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment (CDLI) finances projects that stabilize and revitalize communities across all 50 states. As one of the top affordable housing capital providers in the country, KeyBank’s platform brings together construction, acquisition, bridge-to-re-syndication, and preservation loans, as well as lines of credit, Agency and HUD permanent mortgage executions, and equity investments for low-income housing projects, especially Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) financing. KeyBank has earned 10 consecutive “Outstanding” ratings on the Community Reinvestment Act exam, from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, making it the first U.S. national bank among the 25 largest to do so since the Act’s passage in 1977.

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $188 billion at December 31, 2023. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications, and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

Tensie Whelan, Director of NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business, and Jackie Murphy, former Managing Director of Edelman Purpose & Impact, join co-host Andie Wood to discuss a consumer brand study the two organizations partnered on around sustainability claims, exploring impact and performance across diverse consumer groups. Listen in to learn about the best practices for creating action-backed messages and promoting sustainability effectively.

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Did you know that science is behind the making of your favorite P&G brand products? Nothing excites our award-winning scientists more than creating superior products that solve the real problems that consumers face everyday. As the maker of brands loved by women and girls around the world — like Always, Olay, Pantene and Venus — we understand the importance of inclusive teams in developing the innovations and products that meaningfully impact all the consumers we see and serve.

Women currently make up 34% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and while women have made career advances in these fields, there is room for growth. We celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11 and honor the contributions of women to P&G’s innovation — as well as to the sciences globally — as we aspire to full inclusion of girls and women in science.

Inspiring Inclusion throughout Our Herstory

For more than 185 years, P&G has served consumers with our innovative branded products to meet their needs. In doing so, we have aspired to create an inclusive culture for generations. In 1890, we opened our first analytical lab in Ivorydale, Ohio, with one of the first women in a technical role — and haven’t looked back.

P&G hired its first female Ph.D. scientist in 1926, Else Schulze, who would later head her own department and hire 37 women with science degrees. She set the path for a diverse and highly skilled STEM workforce including engineers, scientists and IT experts to provide consumers with products they need and love.

The Women Behind P&G’s Superior Innovation

Today, many women innovators at P&G continue to build on the legacy of trailblazers like Else, working on diverse, inclusive teams who are delighting consumers with products so good that they are loved and trusted by millions of households around the world.

Our ability to uniquely see and uniquely serve every consumer — over half of whom are women and girls — is strengthened by a workforce and a culture that respects and reflects all the consumers we serve.

Dr. Rolanda Wilkerson, Senior Director, Fellow of P&G Beauty Care, recently shared her career journey and P&G Beauty breakthroughs in OLAY’s Super Serum with a group of future innovators from Girl Up. She explained the breakthrough moment when the team uncovered activated niacinamide — a low-pH activated ingredient that unlocks the “supercharged” power of niacinamide. Activated niacinamide provides faster results and longer-lasting benefits for the skin, including boosting surface cell turnover, evening skin tone and tackling visible discoloration.

Learn more about OLAY Super Serum and meet more of the “super” women behind OLAY’s Super Serum technology.

In our haircare business, women innovators are helping revolutionize the way consumers experience healthy hair with the new Pantene Miracle collection. Dr. Jeni Thomas, Global Science Communications Director, P&G Hair, is part of the team behind Pantene’s Miracle Rescue Deep Repair Conditioner, which includes the superior innovation of melting Pro-V pearls to help bring damaged hair back to life. Backed by science and infused with skincare-inspired ingredients, this new Pantene hair repair product offers an extraordinary solution for damaged hair, resulting in strong and healthy strands.

Learn how Pantene’s Miracle collection is bringing luxury hair care to more people.

Through the years, our commitment to gender equality, inclusive leadership and innovation has shaped our workplace culture, inspired our people, grown our business and impacted our communities.

Inspiring the Innovators of the Future

As we celebrate the women in STEM of our past, and those of today, we also look forward to the scientific leaders of the future. Together with our gender equality partners, we are making connections for women of all generations to lead, innovate and create impact.

We collaborate with action takers and impact makers like Girl Up to support education opportunities and develop more leaders who not only strengthen P&G, but also the communities in which we live and work.

Girl Up is bridging the gender gap in the STEM fields by inspiring girl leaders to use STEM skills to create solutions to issues in their communities for social good. The program includes a STEM Bootcamp and financial grants to implement community projects.

Four girls who have a passion for STEM from Girl Up’s Cincinnati region recently spent a STEM Immersion Day at P&G headquarters and our Research & Development Center in Mason, Ohio – our largest in the world. They toured labs, heard from archivists and scientists about the career journeys of P&G’s women innovators, and learned about exciting technology breakthroughs from several of our phenomenal women scientists working on our Beauty and Home Care brands. From our time with these innovators of tomorrow, it was clear that by creating more opportunities for young leaders today, we can unlock more solutions to help us serve all consumers in a more equal future.

Learn about more P&G women scientists, their passion for STEM and how we’re supporting women and girls in science.

The Social Impact Partner Spotlight series is a new series highlighting various Cisco non-profit organization partners that are helping transform the lives of individuals and communities. This blog features Cisco’s partnership with Code.org, Darsel, Raspberry Pi Foundation, and Science Buddies, in honor of the incredible work these organizations are doing to advance education opportunities globally.

In recognition of International Day of Education today, which was created to campaign for better education reforms and celebrate and advocate for access to education for all, Cisco is proud to spotlight some of its Education-focused non-profit partners that are helping to transform the lives of students and educators globally through their education programs, tools, and platforms.

This year’s theme, learning for lasting peace, underscores the importance of education as a fundamental human right, crucial for sustainable development and innovation.

Code.org

“As we celebrate International Day of Education, let’s focus on what students need to succeed in the future. It is clear that Computer Science (CS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are not only the most engaging subjects for students, they are critical for the future workforce. Every school should be offering students exposure to CS and AI education by next year.” 
– Cameron Wilson, President of Code.org

Code.org is a nonprofit dedicated to the vision every student in every school can learn computer science in K-12. They expand access to computer science in schools, focusing on increasing participation by young women and students from other underrepresented groups.

In their first decade, they created a global movement to teach and learn computer science, leading to almost 100 million students enrolled on their platform and policies changed in 50 U.S. states and 70 countries. With AI already changing the global workforce and education, Code.org aims to drive the next wave of innovation by bringing AI and CS to over one billion students worldwide.

Code.org’s partnership with Cisco has brought its CS curriculum to millions of students, especially from underserved and underrepresented groups, by increasing the number of languages available, building technology to better integrate their platform with the IT infrastructure used by education systems, and enabling offline availability of their courses for students in classrooms with low or no Internet connectivity. Learn more about Code.org.

Darsel

“International Day of Education is an important opportunity to celebrate the progress and promise of education technology, but we must recognize that the benefits of technology remain elusive for the students who need them the most. The digital divide in education not only intensifies global inequalities in education but also impedes global economic development – and we can only overcome it by investing in solutions that are effective in low-resource settings. Our commitment to do so stems from the belief that education can and should serve as a catalyst for equality and prosperity globally.” 
– Abdulhamid Hadir, Founder, CEO Darsel

Darsel is a US-based 501c3 nonprofit organization which is focused on improving math learning outcomes in low- and middle-income countries through innovative education technology solutions that bridges the digital divide. The nonprofit’s core product is a free chatbot that allows students to practice and learn math through simple low-bandwidth channels like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. The chatbot, which has been used by over 100,000 students, combines AI and curriculum-aligned content to create an interactive and personalized learning experience for students.

Darsel partners with public school systems and works closely with math teachers to reach and motivate students. Darsel pursued this approach to reach large numbers of vulnerable students, but providing manual support to teachers quickly became a constraint to growth.

Cisco’s partnership with Darsel began in 2022 to address this bottleneck. A Global Impact Grant enabled Darsel to design and develop a teacher platform which streamlined and automated various teacher-facing functions related to data analytics and class management. The platform’s successful launch in 2023 significantly improved the scalability of Darsel’s program in Jordan and allowed it to rapidly grow from under 100 schools to over 2000.

Cisco’s collaboration with Darsel is now focused on replicating its success in other countries, including Nigeria and India where 100-school pilots are ongoing. Darsel’s goal is to meaningfully improve learning outcomes for 100 million students by 2030. Learn more about Darsel.

Science Buddies

Science Buddies reaches over 20 million students, parents, and teachers with resources that reflect the latest research in how to effectively teach science. Highly personalized, we empower students to create individualized learning paths with easy-to-use tools that provide science and engineering projects, frameworks, and guidance. Our real-world, hands-on explorations are not only the best way to teach science, but they also make the subject relevant to students, positively impacting academic achievement and nurturing student interest in science. We make science literacy possible for everyone.

Support from the Cisco Foundation has allowed Science Buddies to develop and deliver innovative new programs, content, and tools that make hands-on STEM learning more accessible for students and educators around the world. We’ve helped millions of students experience the thrill of scientific discovery and develop critical skills for future success. On this International Day of Education, we look forward to continuing to equip students around the world with the skills and knowledge required to become productive and engaged citizens. Learn more about Science Buddies.

Raspberry Pi Foundation

“Young people are growing up in a world where every aspect of life is shaped by increasingly powerful digital technologies. We need to ensure that all young people have opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge to participate in and shape their world. Through our programs and platforms like Code Club World and the Code Editor, at the Raspberry Pi Foundation we are delivering technology-based solutions which enable any young person, anywhere, to access high-quality computing education. Together with partners like the Cisco Foundation, we can enable any young person to learn in a way which is right for them.” 
– Phil Howell, Chief Technology and Product Officer, Raspberry Pi Foundation

The Raspberry Pi Foundation enables young people to realise their full potential through the power of computing and digital technologies, reaching millions of learners annually. The Foundation supports young people to build the knowledge, skills, and mindsets to explore computing, engage and create with digital technologies, and use these technologies for social good.

In partnership with Cisco, the Raspberry Pi Foundation has extended its reach to young people who are taking their first steps in learning to code. Through Code Club World, a free platform for learners as young as age 9, over 400,000 learners worldwide have engaged in block-based coding. Learning with Code Club World takes place at home, as well as in an extensive global network of Foundation-supported, free coding clubs in over 40 countries, including India, South Africa and Kenya.

To promote onward progression, Cisco is also supporting the Foundation’s development of a text-based coding tool for Python and HTML/CSS. This Code Editor is designed for young people from the ground up, and it’s optimized for use on mobile and tablet devices to increase access.

Together, Cisco and the Raspberry Pi Foundation will provide thousands of young people opportunities for the future by enabling them to progress their coding skills anywhere, and on any device. Learn more about Raspberry Pi Foundation.

To learn more about Cisco’s non-profit partnerships, please visit the Cisco Foundation web page.

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February 8, 2024 /3BL/ – Pennsylvania state and federal policymakers joined with representatives from major businesses today to share perspectives on how the Commonwealth’s public and private sectors can work together to capture the full economic potential of federal clean energy and infrastructure investments.

The event, Pennsylvania Business Roundtable: Maximize Infrastructure Investments for Our Climate, Energy, and Economy, was hosted at the Eaton Experience Center — Pittsburgh and organized by the sustainability nonprofit Ceres. Attendees emphasized how Pennsylvania can best leverage the federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 to benefit the Commonwealth’s economy, bolster its role as an energy provider and manufacturing powerhouse, and reduce costs and pollution.

A recording of the public remarks by representatives from Ceres and Eaton, as well as EPA Region 3 Administrator Adam Ortiz and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Interim Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley can be found here.

“There are important opportunities in Pennsylvania to act on climate change, while investing in infrastructure and manufacturing,” said Igor Stamenkovic, vice president and general manager, Electrical Services and Systems at Eaton. “At Eaton, our solutions are vital to energy systems everywhere. We’re making progress on our ambitious sustainability goals and investing in North American manufacturing. We look forward to continued collaboration with government agencies and businesses across Pennsylvania and beyond. Together, we’ll accelerate a stronger and more sustainable future for our communities.”

Representatives from Eaton, Hershey, Holcim, and IKEA were among the dozen private-sector leaders at the event, in-person and virtually, along with several companies that are regularly engaging with Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration on opportunities for climate action. Officials from the Shapiro administration took advantage of the opportunity to solicit input from these stakeholders about how to design a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant plan to maximize decarbonization and economic benefits. Businesses also outlined support for a series of specific policies to decarbonize the electric power, transportation, building, and industrial sectors.

“Pennsylvania was one of the birth places of the Industrial Revolution and now we have an opportunity to lead the industrial decarbonization movement,” said  Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Interim Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “Under the leadership of the Shapiro administration, DEP will continue to protect Pennsylvanians’ Constitutional right to clean air, pure water, and preservation of natural resources. Today, we are focusing on investing in cleaner air and helping communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants from all corners of the Commonwealth.”

“Holcim’s actions to reduce our carbon emissions are strengthened by a critical partnership with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We appreciate Ceres for bringing industry and government to the table to discuss how we can work together to accomplish our goals,” said Andrew Schepers, regional manager for government and public affairs, Holcim US.

“IKEA is committed to becoming climate positive and that includes achieving 100% zero-emission last-mile deliveries in the U.S. With the help of federal investments from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we can reach that goal together. We applaud the efforts of Pennsylvania policymakers to leverage these federal investments for a cleaner transportation system that benefits the Commonwealth’s businesses, residents, and economy,” said Doug Murray, public affairs leader, IKEA U.S. 

Since the IRA passed into law in the summer of 2022, Pennsylvania has already secured nearly $700 million in new clean energy projects. Today’s roundtable event celebrated this success while exploring opportunities for further policy and business action to invite even greater investment in Pennsylvania’s energy system and industrial sector.

“The Inflation Reduction Act and other federal clean energy investments have showcased an important partnership between the public and private sectors. As states compete in the global race to build an advanced, abundant, clean economy, leading businesses can provide critical industry insights to ensure federal investments are fully leveraged to bring jobs and supply chains back to places like Southwestern Pennsylvania,” said Zach Friedman, director of federal policy, Ceres. “Today’s roundtable event provided the Shapiro administration, federal officials, and Pennsylvania businesses an opportunity to learn from one another and highlight opportunities to maximize the environmental, economic, and equity benefits of these historic investments.”

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.

Media Contact: Helen Booth-Tobin, booth-tobin@ceres.org, 617-247-0700 ext. 214

CBRE

Many companies and their employees remain out of sync on the amount of time workers should be in the office, according to a CBRE and CoreNet Global survey of 235 corporate real estate professionals. This finding makes it readily apparent that companies must do a better job of aligning the anticipated benefit of the office with the employee experience and building a culture and workplace that supports that value proposition. This report’s recommendations build on previous findings from CBRE’s Spring 2023 Office Occupier Sentiment Survey.

Office Attendance Is Mission-Critical for Corporate Success

Ninety-two percent of survey respondents indicated that the office is an important part of ensuring corporate success, with half holding this belief for all job functions.

Yet, corporate leadership expectations for office attendance remain out of sync with employee behavior. Survey respondents indicated that, on average, corporate leaders want employees in the office 3.4 days per week, while the actual rate is 2.8 days. Nearly 50% of employees are in the office only one or two days per week but only 17% of corporate leaders are aligned with this cadence. If companies can boost attendance by one or two days for those coming in less than three days a week, then employee behaviors will be more aligned with expectations. To learn more on actual attendance patterns, please refer to CBRE Consulting’s U.S. Office Attendance Policy Trends Q3 2023.

Respondents indicated that, on average, corporate leaders want employees in the office 3.4 days per week, while the actual rate is 2.8 days.

Forty-one percent of respondents expect that attendance will increase from current levels. However, over half of those respondents who expect an increase do not believe their employees are aligned with leadership beliefs about the purpose of the office. More action likely is needed to influence employee behavior.

Over half of those respondents who expect an increase do not believe their employees are aligned with leadership beliefs about the purpose of the office.

Reinforcing the Value Proposition of the Office

While most respondents said they were communicating their expectations of office attendance to their employees, this alone does not appear enough to motivate employees to work in the office more frequently. Companies now are increasingly focused on communicating the value proposition of working in the office to their employees.

Two-thirds of respondents said that they have clearly defined and communicated the value proposition of being in the office to their employees. Interpersonal connections are critical to the most important values cited and therefore are difficult to foster in a virtual work environment: collaboration, knowledge sharing and relationship building. Professional development-based values such as mentorship, onboarding and learning & development are also cited by more than half of respondents. Fewer respondents indicated that the office was necessary to achieve goals that can be accomplished remotely, including productivity and innovation.

Two-thirds of respondents said that they have clearly defined and communicated the value proposition of being in the office to their employees.

Employee attendance improves when company leadership effectively communicates the value proposition of the office. Fifty-seven percent of companies that clearly communicated the value of the office reported that employees were in the office more than three days per week, while only 41% of companies that did not communicate any value propositions saw such attendance levels.

Employee attendance improves when company leadership effectively communicates the value proposition of the office.

Beyond simply communicating the benefits of office attendance, 37% of survey respondents said their companies are working on aligning the culture of the office with those benefits. Over half of those respondents employing change management strategies for greater office attendance are focused on having corporate leaders act as role models for the desired attendance rate and retraining managers to set new team standards for in-office working. Only 16% are putting employees hired during the pandemic through a reorientation process that encourages office attendance. Given that there are nearly 2 million more office-using jobs today than in 2019, such reorientation is strongly suggested.

Occupiers Continue to Match Portfolios to Future of Work

Even though the office remains mission-critical and attendance is expected to increase, 53% of respondents said they are downsizing their office footprints. Many are strategically positioning their leased and owned assets to align with their value proposition of the office and in turn help drive corporate success. To do this, almost half of respondents said they are redesigning their offices to accommodate new working patterns. One-third are experimenting with upgrading services and amenities to provide a better in-office experience and nearly one-quarter are relocating to newer buildings that have such features.

One-third of respondents also said they are measuring workplace effectiveness in helping to drive corporate success, including metrics on employee engagement, employee retention and space utilization.

Many are strategically positioning their leased and owned assets to align with their value proposition of the office and in turn help drive corporate success.

The gap between companies’ office attendance expectations and their employees’ behavior likely will close in the near-term as corporate messaging, culture and the workplace are adjusted to match the value proposition of the office.

CBRE

Many companies and their employees remain out of sync on the amount of time workers should be in the office, according to a CBRE and CoreNet Global survey of 235 corporate real estate professionals. This finding makes it readily apparent that companies must do a better job of aligning the anticipated benefit of the office with the employee experience and building a culture and workplace that supports that value proposition. This report’s recommendations build on previous findings from CBRE’s Spring 2023 Office Occupier Sentiment Survey.

Office Attendance Is Mission-Critical for Corporate Success

Ninety-two percent of survey respondents indicated that the office is an important part of ensuring corporate success, with half holding this belief for all job functions.

Yet, corporate leadership expectations for office attendance remain out of sync with employee behavior. Survey respondents indicated that, on average, corporate leaders want employees in the office 3.4 days per week, while the actual rate is 2.8 days. Nearly 50% of employees are in the office only one or two days per week but only 17% of corporate leaders are aligned with this cadence. If companies can boost attendance by one or two days for those coming in less than three days a week, then employee behaviors will be more aligned with expectations. To learn more on actual attendance patterns, please refer to CBRE Consulting’s U.S. Office Attendance Policy Trends Q3 2023.

Respondents indicated that, on average, corporate leaders want employees in the office 3.4 days per week, while the actual rate is 2.8 days.

Forty-one percent of respondents expect that attendance will increase from current levels. However, over half of those respondents who expect an increase do not believe their employees are aligned with leadership beliefs about the purpose of the office. More action likely is needed to influence employee behavior.

Over half of those respondents who expect an increase do not believe their employees are aligned with leadership beliefs about the purpose of the office.

Reinforcing the Value Proposition of the Office

While most respondents said they were communicating their expectations of office attendance to their employees, this alone does not appear enough to motivate employees to work in the office more frequently. Companies now are increasingly focused on communicating the value proposition of working in the office to their employees.

Two-thirds of respondents said that they have clearly defined and communicated the value proposition of being in the office to their employees. Interpersonal connections are critical to the most important values cited and therefore are difficult to foster in a virtual work environment: collaboration, knowledge sharing and relationship building. Professional development-based values such as mentorship, onboarding and learning & development are also cited by more than half of respondents. Fewer respondents indicated that the office was necessary to achieve goals that can be accomplished remotely, including productivity and innovation.

Two-thirds of respondents said that they have clearly defined and communicated the value proposition of being in the office to their employees.

Employee attendance improves when company leadership effectively communicates the value proposition of the office. Fifty-seven percent of companies that clearly communicated the value of the office reported that employees were in the office more than three days per week, while only 41% of companies that did not communicate any value propositions saw such attendance levels.

Employee attendance improves when company leadership effectively communicates the value proposition of the office.

Beyond simply communicating the benefits of office attendance, 37% of survey respondents said their companies are working on aligning the culture of the office with those benefits. Over half of those respondents employing change management strategies for greater office attendance are focused on having corporate leaders act as role models for the desired attendance rate and retraining managers to set new team standards for in-office working. Only 16% are putting employees hired during the pandemic through a reorientation process that encourages office attendance. Given that there are nearly 2 million more office-using jobs today than in 2019, such reorientation is strongly suggested.

Occupiers Continue to Match Portfolios to Future of Work

Even though the office remains mission-critical and attendance is expected to increase, 53% of respondents said they are downsizing their office footprints. Many are strategically positioning their leased and owned assets to align with their value proposition of the office and in turn help drive corporate success. To do this, almost half of respondents said they are redesigning their offices to accommodate new working patterns. One-third are experimenting with upgrading services and amenities to provide a better in-office experience and nearly one-quarter are relocating to newer buildings that have such features.

One-third of respondents also said they are measuring workplace effectiveness in helping to drive corporate success, including metrics on employee engagement, employee retention and space utilization.

Many are strategically positioning their leased and owned assets to align with their value proposition of the office and in turn help drive corporate success.

The gap between companies’ office attendance expectations and their employees’ behavior likely will close in the near-term as corporate messaging, culture and the workplace are adjusted to match the value proposition of the office.

Listen to the full Whiteboard Advisors webinar here

Lydia Logan, IBM VP of Global Education and Workforce Development, recently joined Whiteboard Advisors, along with other industry experts, to talk about IBM SkillsBuild, the shift towards skills-based learning across the industry, and hiring trends.

“There are a lot of people who can work, and with a degree as the bar, they are kept out of the workforce unnecessarily or are kept out of the jobs they could be performing,” said Lydia. “In the tech sector, where we have jobs going unfilled, there’s no reason why the degree should be the barrier…if you can prove through training and skills that you can perform the job. Everyone wants a strong economy, we want as many people to work. Alternate certifications –- digital credentials, short-term programs — exist that didn’t before, and we need to take advantage of those.”

IBM and many other employers recognize that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. A college degree is one in a growing mix of credentials that signify workforce readiness and competency. IBM provides free education opportunities through IBM SkillsBuild, helping learners develop valuable new skills and access career opportunities. IBM SkillsBuild offers over 1,000 courses in 20 languages on AI, sustainability, cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing, and many other technical disciplines – as well as workplace skills such as design thinking. Most importantly, participants can earn IBM-branded digital credentials recognized by the market.

To learn more about IBM SkillsBuild visit: https://skillsbuild.org/

Listen to the full Whiteboard Advisors webinar here

Lydia Logan, IBM VP of Global Education and Workforce Development, recently joined Whiteboard Advisors, along with other industry experts, to talk about IBM SkillsBuild, the shift towards skills-based learning across the industry, and hiring trends.

“There are a lot of people who can work, and with a degree as the bar, they are kept out of the workforce unnecessarily or are kept out of the jobs they could be performing,” said Lydia. “In the tech sector, where we have jobs going unfilled, there’s no reason why the degree should be the barrier…if you can prove through training and skills that you can perform the job. Everyone wants a strong economy, we want as many people to work. Alternate certifications –- digital credentials, short-term programs — exist that didn’t before, and we need to take advantage of those.”

IBM and many other employers recognize that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. A college degree is one in a growing mix of credentials that signify workforce readiness and competency. IBM provides free education opportunities through IBM SkillsBuild, helping learners develop valuable new skills and access career opportunities. IBM SkillsBuild offers over 1,000 courses in 20 languages on AI, sustainability, cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing, and many other technical disciplines – as well as workplace skills such as design thinking. Most importantly, participants can earn IBM-branded digital credentials recognized by the market.

To learn more about IBM SkillsBuild visit: https://skillsbuild.org/