Tag: 3BL

Technological innovation is increasingly focused on solving pressing, global challenges like climate change, disaster response, and accessible, preventative healthcare. Time is of the essence in finding solutions to these issues. On the global stage, the deadline for the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a framework of strategies to tackle climate change, improve health, education, and equity, and incite economic growth worldwide is rapidly approaching.

Technology is a core pillar and means of implementing the innovation, opportunities, and capabilities defined in the UN’s strategy. In the cutthroat technology space, companies who want to command and maintain strong market share must satisfy consumer demand for the latest features and these need to function flawlessly and available at competitive prices. Keeping pace in this climate means evolving the way technology providers approach challenges and finding ways to optimize all aspects of their operations.

You cannot maintain the status quo and realize any ambition, be that a business goal or solving the global climate crisis in a silo. In the post-Moore’s Law world we now inhabit, innovating something truly revolutionary is only possible through collaboration and co-innovation from across sectors and disciplines. The silos that industries have historically operated in are eroding and the result is accelerated leaps in sophisticated technologies that are transforming the way we move through daily life. Across sectors, innovators are disrupting the status quo by leveraging new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and digital twins and adopting best practices from other industries.

In this blog, we explore the way cross-disciplinary innovation is redefining the metaverse, transforming the automotive industry, augmenting communication, and improving the accessibility and quality of healthcare.

The metaverse: Closer collaboration through technology

The metaverse of 2024 is not the one that Mark Zuckerberg announced when he rebranded his social media empire. The concept has outgrown its initial definition to include a growing number of use cases for mixed-reality technology. The experiential aspect of this cyber-physical reality promises to shatter silos created by physical distance, allowing more authentic human connection in virtual spaces. This will not only allow friends and family scattered across the world to feel more intricately connected, but also allow colleagues to collaborate in real time no matter where their offices may be located.

This vision of mixed-, augmented-, and virtual reality could not be defined without the powerful capabilities of 5G and 6G communications technologies and emerging innovations in extended reality and computer-generated imagery (CGI). Combined, these technologies promise to seamlessly blend the digital space with physical reality.

To achieve this, though, researchers and standards bodies are working together to overcome several challenges. They are working to find solutions that will ensure interoperability and build a wireless infrastructure that can handle the bandwidth and extremely low latency required to allow us to truly feel physically present in virtual spaces.

Software-defined vehicles: Co-innovation is transforming transportation

The automotive industry has gone from a strictly hardware-focused industry to one that is increasingly defined by software. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers have had to adopt new approaches to create and test designs and components to ensure that the highly complex software systems used in vehicles function well and consistently. These software systems become even more intricate when they need to accommodate the sensors and decision making necessary for autonomous driving capabilities. Partnerships are critical to developing highly automated vehicles.

Currently, collaboration between companies in developing advanced sensor fusion capabilities is limited and opinions are mixed about what mix of camera and radar sensor technology is optimal for the perception and prediction models needed to steer the decision-making of fully autonomous vehicles. Data sharing will help companies understand how different systems perform and define best practices across the industry. In order to put autonomous vehicles into consumer hands, close cooperation and co-innovation between companies, regulators, and standards bodies will be necessary. Together, they must define the guard-rails that will ensure self-driving cars are safe, reliable, and comply with international standards.

Space 3.0: The final frontier

Non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) are making inroads into new areas of innovation. Historically, cellular networks leveraged strictly terrestrial network infrastructure which restricted cellular coverage to more populated areas. This had ramifications for disaster response and resulted in limited bandwidth availability at densely populated events. Advancements in satellite technology are allowing wireless communications providers to augment their service and enhance safety features, as well as provide stable coverage during travel and in remote areas. NTNs promise to eliminate these issues and establish truly global connectivity. There are a number of companies launching NTN constellations and successfully expanding coverage and bandwidth.

However, many of these companies are creating proprietary networks that are bound to one operator’s system and hardware. This limits the potential for truly universal service and interoperability. 2024 will see a growing push towards democratization of satellite connectivity and the scoping of open standards, particularly with the deployment of new 5G releases. Regulations and standards will be critical to ensuring that constellations do not overlap and encouraging companies to work together to minimize space debris and ensure public safety.

Digital healthcare: Providing personal, predictive, and preventive healthcare

The pandemic caused a crisis in the healthcare industry that resulted in practitioner burnout and left patients waiting longer to receive acute care. AI, sensor technology, and the growing wealth of available healthcare data are inciting a revolution in the healthcare industry that will lead to a system with better disease prediction, diagnostics, and treatment. Moreover, it will allow practitioners to diagnose and treat ailments more confidently and, in less time, thus easing their workloads. This will only be possible, though, when hospital systems fully embrace the capabilities that technology has to offer, and medical device manufacturers consider interoperability when designing devices.

Truly holistic medicine and diagnostics are only possible through data intersection across medical devices. Currently, companies are designing technology in silos, limiting the potential to exploit opportunities for how devices or the data they collect may be used for other applications. Moreover, there are ongoing debates between device manufacturers and regulatory bodies on how to protect sensitive patient data. HIPAA regulations silo patient data to prevent it from going beyond its intended location but does not consider the cybersecurity of wearable or implanted devices. By working together, device manufacturers, hospital networks, and regulators can address these challenges and enable a new era of preventative medicine that benefits both patients and the practitioners responsible for providing their care.

Learn more about the future of innovation

Technology has the potential to help shape a sustainable, equitable future for all, but only if existing silos are shattered and cross-disciplinary innovation is able to occur. We are more connected than ever, and technology has allowed us to expand our horizons and visit far-off locations and experience cultures that would never have been possible even 20 years ago. Achieving greater breakthroughs in technology will rely on the intersection of industries sharing their expertise and building the foundation for cooperative innovation.

Find out where innovation is headed by reading the Emerging Technologies 2024 Vision Report. This in-depth exploration of innovation includes discussions with visionaries and leaders from the wireless, automotive, space technology, and healthcare sectors. Within its pages, you will find their insights on the state of their industries, their challenges, and how emerging technologies are addressing them as well as insights and poll data from business leaders in these fields.

Technological innovation is increasingly focused on solving pressing, global challenges like climate change, disaster response, and accessible, preventative healthcare. Time is of the essence in finding solutions to these issues. On the global stage, the deadline for the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a framework of strategies to tackle climate change, improve health, education, and equity, and incite economic growth worldwide is rapidly approaching.

Technology is a core pillar and means of implementing the innovation, opportunities, and capabilities defined in the UN’s strategy. In the cutthroat technology space, companies who want to command and maintain strong market share must satisfy consumer demand for the latest features and these need to function flawlessly and available at competitive prices. Keeping pace in this climate means evolving the way technology providers approach challenges and finding ways to optimize all aspects of their operations.

You cannot maintain the status quo and realize any ambition, be that a business goal or solving the global climate crisis in a silo. In the post-Moore’s Law world we now inhabit, innovating something truly revolutionary is only possible through collaboration and co-innovation from across sectors and disciplines. The silos that industries have historically operated in are eroding and the result is accelerated leaps in sophisticated technologies that are transforming the way we move through daily life. Across sectors, innovators are disrupting the status quo by leveraging new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and digital twins and adopting best practices from other industries.

In this blog, we explore the way cross-disciplinary innovation is redefining the metaverse, transforming the automotive industry, augmenting communication, and improving the accessibility and quality of healthcare.

The metaverse: Closer collaboration through technology

The metaverse of 2024 is not the one that Mark Zuckerberg announced when he rebranded his social media empire. The concept has outgrown its initial definition to include a growing number of use cases for mixed-reality technology. The experiential aspect of this cyber-physical reality promises to shatter silos created by physical distance, allowing more authentic human connection in virtual spaces. This will not only allow friends and family scattered across the world to feel more intricately connected, but also allow colleagues to collaborate in real time no matter where their offices may be located.

This vision of mixed-, augmented-, and virtual reality could not be defined without the powerful capabilities of 5G and 6G communications technologies and emerging innovations in extended reality and computer-generated imagery (CGI). Combined, these technologies promise to seamlessly blend the digital space with physical reality.

To achieve this, though, researchers and standards bodies are working together to overcome several challenges. They are working to find solutions that will ensure interoperability and build a wireless infrastructure that can handle the bandwidth and extremely low latency required to allow us to truly feel physically present in virtual spaces.

Software-defined vehicles: Co-innovation is transforming transportation

The automotive industry has gone from a strictly hardware-focused industry to one that is increasingly defined by software. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers have had to adopt new approaches to create and test designs and components to ensure that the highly complex software systems used in vehicles function well and consistently. These software systems become even more intricate when they need to accommodate the sensors and decision making necessary for autonomous driving capabilities. Partnerships are critical to developing highly automated vehicles.

Currently, collaboration between companies in developing advanced sensor fusion capabilities is limited and opinions are mixed about what mix of camera and radar sensor technology is optimal for the perception and prediction models needed to steer the decision-making of fully autonomous vehicles. Data sharing will help companies understand how different systems perform and define best practices across the industry. In order to put autonomous vehicles into consumer hands, close cooperation and co-innovation between companies, regulators, and standards bodies will be necessary. Together, they must define the guard-rails that will ensure self-driving cars are safe, reliable, and comply with international standards.

Space 3.0: The final frontier

Non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) are making inroads into new areas of innovation. Historically, cellular networks leveraged strictly terrestrial network infrastructure which restricted cellular coverage to more populated areas. This had ramifications for disaster response and resulted in limited bandwidth availability at densely populated events. Advancements in satellite technology are allowing wireless communications providers to augment their service and enhance safety features, as well as provide stable coverage during travel and in remote areas. NTNs promise to eliminate these issues and establish truly global connectivity. There are a number of companies launching NTN constellations and successfully expanding coverage and bandwidth.

However, many of these companies are creating proprietary networks that are bound to one operator’s system and hardware. This limits the potential for truly universal service and interoperability. 2024 will see a growing push towards democratization of satellite connectivity and the scoping of open standards, particularly with the deployment of new 5G releases. Regulations and standards will be critical to ensuring that constellations do not overlap and encouraging companies to work together to minimize space debris and ensure public safety.

Digital healthcare: Providing personal, predictive, and preventive healthcare

The pandemic caused a crisis in the healthcare industry that resulted in practitioner burnout and left patients waiting longer to receive acute care. AI, sensor technology, and the growing wealth of available healthcare data are inciting a revolution in the healthcare industry that will lead to a system with better disease prediction, diagnostics, and treatment. Moreover, it will allow practitioners to diagnose and treat ailments more confidently and, in less time, thus easing their workloads. This will only be possible, though, when hospital systems fully embrace the capabilities that technology has to offer, and medical device manufacturers consider interoperability when designing devices.

Truly holistic medicine and diagnostics are only possible through data intersection across medical devices. Currently, companies are designing technology in silos, limiting the potential to exploit opportunities for how devices or the data they collect may be used for other applications. Moreover, there are ongoing debates between device manufacturers and regulatory bodies on how to protect sensitive patient data. HIPAA regulations silo patient data to prevent it from going beyond its intended location but does not consider the cybersecurity of wearable or implanted devices. By working together, device manufacturers, hospital networks, and regulators can address these challenges and enable a new era of preventative medicine that benefits both patients and the practitioners responsible for providing their care.

Learn more about the future of innovation

Technology has the potential to help shape a sustainable, equitable future for all, but only if existing silos are shattered and cross-disciplinary innovation is able to occur. We are more connected than ever, and technology has allowed us to expand our horizons and visit far-off locations and experience cultures that would never have been possible even 20 years ago. Achieving greater breakthroughs in technology will rely on the intersection of industries sharing their expertise and building the foundation for cooperative innovation.

Find out where innovation is headed by reading the Emerging Technologies 2024 Vision Report. This in-depth exploration of innovation includes discussions with visionaries and leaders from the wireless, automotive, space technology, and healthcare sectors. Within its pages, you will find their insights on the state of their industries, their challenges, and how emerging technologies are addressing them as well as insights and poll data from business leaders in these fields.

Ferdinand Morales joined Maximus in July 1999 after learning about the company through volunteering at a local nonprofit. After 24 years at Maximus, Ferdinand reflects on his time with the company and the impact giving back to his community has made in his life.

How did you first hear about the Foundation, and what drew you to get involved?

I was always aware of the Foundation. It launched around the time I joined Maximus. After becoming involved in Foundation work, I wanted to know how to expand my role and deepen the impact. When I joined the DE&I council, I came at a time of transition within the Foundation between Dr. John Boyer and Dr. Arvenita Washington Cherry. After connecting with Dr. Cherry, I learned of a few available board positions and joined the US Foundation board. Subsequently, I was later made aware of the UK Foundation and am now a member of their Board of Trustees.

With all your experiences with the Foundation and giving back, what’s been your favorite memory or moment of impact?

Oh wow, there have been so many. One of the moments that most impacted me was with our local partner and Foundation grantee partner, Junior Achievement (JA), in Albany, NY. JA invited our New York State of Health Project (NYSOH) team to a celebration to highlight our team’s impact on the organization over the years. They showed a video featuring various events we supported that genuinely moved me. This compilation of our work reminded me of how impactful the gift of time can be for a nonprofit or the community.

What’s a community engagement tradition that came out of your team, and why is it meaningful to you and your colleagues?

In 2017, the NYSOH team created the Community Partnerships Program after asking “What else can we do to support our community?” The goal was to build goodwill within our NYSOH team and support our larger community by coordinating opportunities that make a positive impact. We not only volunteer where we have our clients and do business, but more importantly, we give back to anyone in our community who needs help.

It started as an informal group with only a few participating, growing into hundreds of NYSOH team members participating year after year. In 2022, more than 950 NYSOH staff participated in the program, supporting more than 40 community initiatives, and serving more than 20 nonprofit partners. While I’m incredibly proud of those numbers, the stories shared by the staff about the impact of giving back are what has truly impacted me.

For many employees, at one point in their lives, they had to utilize services from local nonprofits during a time of need. I would hear stories such as “At one time, I stayed at this Ronald McDonald house because I needed shelter” or “I brought my child to this nonprofit that supports children with autism as I was a parent who desperately needed help.” What’s beautiful is that the Community Partnerships Program continues to grow through our employees sharing their past experiences. I would call the Community Partnership program more of a movement than a program.

If you could leave us with one final thought to share with others, what would it be?

What drives me to do this work is to break down the barrier of difference and the gift of time. We’re not all in a place to give financially, but your time, whether painting a classroom or working with students, can provide so much for someone, and we get so much in return by helping.

I love that I get to work with people who look to break down the barriers of difference that exist to separate us as people. In my ideal world, we’re all working toward breaking down barriers to create equal opportunity for everyone to thrive.

Giving back to the communities we serve

The Maximus Foundation is one of the ways Maximus employees are doing something greater together. Established by the Maximus Board of Directors in 2000, the Maximus Foundation is an independent, employee-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Employee donors pool their charitable contributions together through the Foundation, double their impact on the grantmaking program through Maximus’ dollar-for-dollar matching pledge, and make their voices heard by nominating and voting for future grantee partners. Though the Foundation focuses its giving strategy on grantmaking, it also helps coordinate corporate-wide humanitarian efforts and empowers employees to donate their time and skills to nonprofits. Their inspired giving and volunteerism help accelerate the missions of nonprofits on the front lines of the communities we serve. Learn more at maximus.com/foundation.

Ferdinand Morales joined Maximus in July 1999 after learning about the company through volunteering at a local nonprofit. After 24 years at Maximus, Ferdinand reflects on his time with the company and the impact giving back to his community has made in his life.

How did you first hear about the Foundation, and what drew you to get involved?

I was always aware of the Foundation. It launched around the time I joined Maximus. After becoming involved in Foundation work, I wanted to know how to expand my role and deepen the impact. When I joined the DE&I council, I came at a time of transition within the Foundation between Dr. John Boyer and Dr. Arvenita Washington Cherry. After connecting with Dr. Cherry, I learned of a few available board positions and joined the US Foundation board. Subsequently, I was later made aware of the UK Foundation and am now a member of their Board of Trustees.

With all your experiences with the Foundation and giving back, what’s been your favorite memory or moment of impact?

Oh wow, there have been so many. One of the moments that most impacted me was with our local partner and Foundation grantee partner, Junior Achievement (JA), in Albany, NY. JA invited our New York State of Health Project (NYSOH) team to a celebration to highlight our team’s impact on the organization over the years. They showed a video featuring various events we supported that genuinely moved me. This compilation of our work reminded me of how impactful the gift of time can be for a nonprofit or the community.

What’s a community engagement tradition that came out of your team, and why is it meaningful to you and your colleagues?

In 2017, the NYSOH team created the Community Partnerships Program after asking “What else can we do to support our community?” The goal was to build goodwill within our NYSOH team and support our larger community by coordinating opportunities that make a positive impact. We not only volunteer where we have our clients and do business, but more importantly, we give back to anyone in our community who needs help.

It started as an informal group with only a few participating, growing into hundreds of NYSOH team members participating year after year. In 2022, more than 950 NYSOH staff participated in the program, supporting more than 40 community initiatives, and serving more than 20 nonprofit partners. While I’m incredibly proud of those numbers, the stories shared by the staff about the impact of giving back are what has truly impacted me.

For many employees, at one point in their lives, they had to utilize services from local nonprofits during a time of need. I would hear stories such as “At one time, I stayed at this Ronald McDonald house because I needed shelter” or “I brought my child to this nonprofit that supports children with autism as I was a parent who desperately needed help.” What’s beautiful is that the Community Partnerships Program continues to grow through our employees sharing their past experiences. I would call the Community Partnership program more of a movement than a program.

If you could leave us with one final thought to share with others, what would it be?

What drives me to do this work is to break down the barrier of difference and the gift of time. We’re not all in a place to give financially, but your time, whether painting a classroom or working with students, can provide so much for someone, and we get so much in return by helping.

I love that I get to work with people who look to break down the barriers of difference that exist to separate us as people. In my ideal world, we’re all working toward breaking down barriers to create equal opportunity for everyone to thrive.

Giving back to the communities we serve

The Maximus Foundation is one of the ways Maximus employees are doing something greater together. Established by the Maximus Board of Directors in 2000, the Maximus Foundation is an independent, employee-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Employee donors pool their charitable contributions together through the Foundation, double their impact on the grantmaking program through Maximus’ dollar-for-dollar matching pledge, and make their voices heard by nominating and voting for future grantee partners. Though the Foundation focuses its giving strategy on grantmaking, it also helps coordinate corporate-wide humanitarian efforts and empowers employees to donate their time and skills to nonprofits. Their inspired giving and volunteerism help accelerate the missions of nonprofits on the front lines of the communities we serve. Learn more at maximus.com/foundation.

Our purpose is what unites us at Henkel North America: Pioneers at heart for the good of generations. Our pioneering spirit is reflective of the diverse backgrounds, experiences and talents of our employees and partners. They dare to make an impact for the world by collaborating to tackle challenges, find solutions and open up new perspectives.

Their contributions allow us to deliver products, services and innovations that enrich and improve everyday life. We invite you to “meet” our pioneers in our new series, “Pioneers for Good”.

Trent Keel has been with Henkel for over two years and wears several hats as an Integrated Marketing Director for Pravana, a leading professional hair care brand known for its cutting-edge colors and products. As part of the Pravana team, Trent oversees marketing campaigns to increase awareness of the brand across the salon industry.

Trent says as a company, Henkel leaders provide employees a safe space to explore. “Leadership really gives the autonomy to each of our employees to really be a pioneer, to try or invent something new,” he says. By taking away the fear of failure, Trent has found flexibility and opportunities to follow creative avenues as part of his work.

Trent has always sought outlets to be creative. He started his career as a professional dancer and singer in Los Angeles, which ultimately brought him to the beauty industry. Between performance gigs, Trent worked as a hairdresser and eventually became a hair educator–tapping into a passion for helping others express themselves and mentoring those interested in getting into the industry.

A passion for creating safe spaces

As president of Henkel’s PRIDE ERG and member of the DEI Council, Trent is focused on supporting the company’s efforts to create safe spaces for people within the workplace–whether it’s in North America or globally.

“I’ve worked at other companies in the past that have had DEI councils, and nothing really gets done outside of the meetings,” he says. “Being part of both these groups at Henkel, I see a lot of movement; it helps us better connect to leadership and it allows me to develop meaningful relationships with colleagues around the world with similar interests.”

Trent’s passion for supporting and creating safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community through new policies, programs, and events extends beyond Henkel. Since 2020, Trent has been a mentor for Out for Undergrad, a nonprofit focused on helping high-achieving LGBTQ+ undergraduates reach their full potential. Trent has spoken on panels and presented to groups but says being a mentor allows him to build a more personal connection and ask questions that get at the heart of their concerns about pursuing a career.

Being a mentor isn’t the only way Trent is filling his dance card these days. He also volunteers with OutLoud Sports, which uses team sports as another place where queer and trans youth can find community; ROMBA, where he speaks to LGBTQ+ business students; and The Trevor Project, where he is a suicide hotline volunteer.

“Being able to provide a small amount of support as people come into their own authentic selves is part of what keeps me going. It’s what being a pioneer for good is all about,” says Trent.

Related Reading

Pioneers for Good Series – Alice Cheung and Alexis Kriegl (henkel-northamerica.com)

Pioneers for Good Series – Gerhard Kummerow (henkel-northamerica.com)

Making an Impact on Tomorrow (henkel-northamerica.com)

Our purpose is what unites us at Henkel North America: Pioneers at heart for the good of generations. Our pioneering spirit is reflective of the diverse backgrounds, experiences and talents of our employees and partners. They dare to make an impact for the world by collaborating to tackle challenges, find solutions and open up new perspectives.

Their contributions allow us to deliver products, services and innovations that enrich and improve everyday life. We invite you to “meet” our pioneers in our new series, “Pioneers for Good”.

Trent Keel has been with Henkel for over two years and wears several hats as an Integrated Marketing Director for Pravana, a leading professional hair care brand known for its cutting-edge colors and products. As part of the Pravana team, Trent oversees marketing campaigns to increase awareness of the brand across the salon industry.

Trent says as a company, Henkel leaders provide employees a safe space to explore. “Leadership really gives the autonomy to each of our employees to really be a pioneer, to try or invent something new,” he says. By taking away the fear of failure, Trent has found flexibility and opportunities to follow creative avenues as part of his work.

Trent has always sought outlets to be creative. He started his career as a professional dancer and singer in Los Angeles, which ultimately brought him to the beauty industry. Between performance gigs, Trent worked as a hairdresser and eventually became a hair educator–tapping into a passion for helping others express themselves and mentoring those interested in getting into the industry.

A passion for creating safe spaces

As president of Henkel’s PRIDE ERG and member of the DEI Council, Trent is focused on supporting the company’s efforts to create safe spaces for people within the workplace–whether it’s in North America or globally.

“I’ve worked at other companies in the past that have had DEI councils, and nothing really gets done outside of the meetings,” he says. “Being part of both these groups at Henkel, I see a lot of movement; it helps us better connect to leadership and it allows me to develop meaningful relationships with colleagues around the world with similar interests.”

Trent’s passion for supporting and creating safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community through new policies, programs, and events extends beyond Henkel. Since 2020, Trent has been a mentor for Out for Undergrad, a nonprofit focused on helping high-achieving LGBTQ+ undergraduates reach their full potential. Trent has spoken on panels and presented to groups but says being a mentor allows him to build a more personal connection and ask questions that get at the heart of their concerns about pursuing a career.

Being a mentor isn’t the only way Trent is filling his dance card these days. He also volunteers with OutLoud Sports, which uses team sports as another place where queer and trans youth can find community; ROMBA, where he speaks to LGBTQ+ business students; and The Trevor Project, where he is a suicide hotline volunteer.

“Being able to provide a small amount of support as people come into their own authentic selves is part of what keeps me going. It’s what being a pioneer for good is all about,” says Trent.

Related Reading

Pioneers for Good Series – Alice Cheung and Alexis Kriegl (henkel-northamerica.com)

Pioneers for Good Series – Gerhard Kummerow (henkel-northamerica.com)

Making an Impact on Tomorrow (henkel-northamerica.com)

Originally published on bloomberg.com

Bloomberg announced that it has received seven prestigious awards and certifications for its commitment to LGBTQ+, D&I and disability hiring initiatives in Japan. The various forms of recognition were all announced within the last month and include:

The D&I Awards ‘Grand Prize’ from JobRainbowThe D&I Awards ‘Best Workplace’ from JobRainbowThe PRIDE Index Gold Certification from work with PrideRainbow Certification on the PRIDE Index from work with PrideThe Ability Advocator ACE Award and ‘Grand Prize’ from Accessibility Consortium of Enterprises (ACE)The Environment Creation ACE Award from ACE

Bloomberg received a Diversity Score of 99 from JobRainbow, which evaluates a company’s D&I framework in the areas of gender, LGBTQ+, disability, multiculturalism and childcare & caregiving. In assessing that score, JobRainbow also bestowed its highest honors on Bloomberg for the first time: its Grand Prize and Best Workplace awards.

In awarding these honors, JobRainbow cited Bloomberg’s work to address challenging topics such as intersectionality and HIV in Japanese working culture, calling Bloomberg a role model for all companies for its contribution to local communities and for its collaboration with academia on these issues.

Bloomberg also won its fourth consecutive Gold Certification in the PRIDE Index 2023 and has also been awarded the ‘Rainbow’ certification, recognizing our cross-sector collaboration in support of LGBTQ+-related initiatives.

The PRIDE Index was created by work with Pride, a foundation that supports the promotion of LGBTQ+-related initiatives within businesses in Japan. The index evaluates organizations’ LGBTQ+-related initiatives based on five criteria: policy, representation, inspiration, development, and engagement & empowerment.

The Rainbow certification is awarded to companies that satisfy three criteria: previous Gold certification in the PRIDE Index, public support for LGBTQ+ legislation in Japan, and implementing initiatives to promote the understanding and protection of LGBTQ+ rights, both within their own organization and in collaboration with other entities that transcend sectors.

Finally, Bloomberg was honored with two awards from ACE. Yasumasa Nakagomi, from Bloomberg’s data team in Tokyo, was recognized with an individual honor, receiving the ACE Ability Advocator Award as well as the ‘Grand Prize’, the latter of which is only awarded in exceptional circumstances. Yasumasa was recognized for excelling in his work by taking lessons from living with a disability and applying them as a source of competitive advantage, and in advocating for people with developmental disabilities, including proactive outreach to students with disabilities and their families to help them create robust support networks.

The Environment Creation Award, also awarded by ACE, was given to the company in recognition of Bloomberg’s efforts to foster a workplace where employees, including those with mental and developmental disabilities, can work with peace of mind.

Commenting on the various awards and certifications, Pamela Hutchinson, Bloomberg’s Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion said, “At Bloomberg, our vision is to create a workplace which is inclusive of all and exclusive of none. While these honors reflect many different aspects of diversity, the one thing they have in common is that they reflect our absolute commitment to creating safe, inclusive spaces for our employees wherever they are around the world.”

“We are deeply grateful to these organizations for the time and effort they put into D&I advocacy within Japan. We are honored to be recognized by these organizations and will continue to work tirelessly as we strive towards our D&I vision,” Hutchinson said.

For more on Bloomberg’s Diversity & Inclusion efforts, read here. You can find more information about each of these honors directly from the organizations overseeing them:

For more information about the ACE Awards, read here.For more information about the work with Pride awards and certification process, read here.For more information about JobRainbow and its Diversity Scores, read here.

Media Contact

Yuri Imaizumi DeNicola 
yimaizumi4@bloomberg.net

Originally published on Illumina News Center

The San Diego Zoo cares for the largest population of koalas outside Australia. The zoo is world renowned for its specialized veterinary care and decades-long commitment to wildlife conservation work, and one of the biggest challenges their koala population faces is koala retrovirus (KoRV). This virus is associated with numerous fatal conditions—susceptibility to bacterial infections, leukemia, lymphoma, and other cancers—and 100% of koalas in North America carry it. Research shows that 100% of wild koalas in the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales have it, and between 15% and 70% in Victoria have it, too. How is this possible?

Everyone is part virus

Viruses that are transmitted horizontally—that is, through infection—are exogenous. These are the kind we’re most familiar with. They inject their genetic code into an organism’s somatic (nonreproductive) cells, tricking them into making copies of the virus, which can then go on to infect other organisms.

However, some viruses hit the proverbial motherlode and inject their genetic code into an organism’s germline (reproductive) cells—the sperm or eggs. Once this happens, the viral DNA can become a permanent part of their host’s genome: an endogenous virus, transmitted not horizontally but vertically, from one generation to the next.

It sounds alarming, but it’s commonplace. All living organisms have accumulated retroviral DNA as part of their own. The remains of endogenous retroviruses constitute up to eight percent of the human genome. But in most species, these viral integrations transpired millions of years ago, and the DNA has degraded to the point where it can no longer infect other hosts nor cause health problems. (A virus that killed its host and also couldn’t transmit outside the body would quickly be eliminated by natural selection.)

“We don’t know what happens to the host between the time a retrovirus is exogenous and when it becomes a relatively harmless hitchhiker,” says Alex Greenwood, head of the Department of Wildlife Diseases at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research. “We also do not know how the virus changes, if at all, during this time to better adapt to the host.”

Rachael Tarlinton, associate professor of Veterinary Cellular Microbiology at the University of Nottingham, adds that “in some cases these viruses are also beneficial for their hosts, changing gene expression and introducing new genetic diversity. We just don’t know how this process happens, or how quickly the changes to host and virus take to settle down.”

Koalas at risk

KoRV is a different case. It only started endogenizing within the last 50,000 years—on an evolutionary timescale, that’s practically yesterday—so some of its subtypes are still exogenous, and none of its sharp edges have yet been sanded down, so to speak.

KoRV subtype A is endogenous: That’s the kind that 100% of the San Diego Zoo’s koalas and most wild koalas have. But subtypes B, C, and so on are still exogenous, and all subtypes are associated with serious health problems. A few years ago, the zoo briefly detected exogenous subtypes in its koalas using PCR tests, and they were able to change their care and breeding practices to keep these subtypes from spreading.

It helps that koalas are naturally solitary and sleep up to 20 hours a day—they don’t breed freely in large social groups like some animals do. Instead, the zoo’s wildlife care specialists manage their genetic diversity using careful records of mean kinship, which keep track of how closely the animals are related. For each female, they maintain a list of the most suitable males, and introduce them to her one at a time until she accepts one to mate with.

A female koala becomes sexually mature at two years old and typically lives 12 to 14 years. In that time she can have eight to 10 babies (called “joeys”), but among wild koalas, chlamydia is a widespread and pernicious cause of infertility. Thankfully, it’s easily detectable, and the zoo’s careful breeding management keeps their population free of it.

However, all koalas remain at high risk for cancer. Cora Singleton, senior veterinarian for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, describes its occurrence as sudden and heartbreaking: “Koalas are very good at hiding early stages of some cancers. They may appear normal one day, then show a subtle behavior change the next day. We check the blood and bone marrow and find that they have late-stage cancer, which progresses rapidly.” Sadly, there’s no known treatment for the koalas at that point.

KoRV is associated with these health issues and widely hypothesized to be what’s causing them, but more genomic research is needed to bridge that gap. “It’s difficult to prove that causative link,” says Damien Higgins, professor of wildlife health and pathobiology at the University of Sydney. “We see a whole range of conditions in koalas that often occur with immune suppression or dysfunction, and we see association of higher levels of koala retrovirus in those animals, but it’s a bit of a chicken-or-egg situation.”

The iConserve koala retrovirus sequencing project

In 2021, Greenwood, Tarlinton, Singleton, Higgins, and David Alquezar, manager of the Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics at the Australian Museum, hosted the Second Koala Retrovirus Workshop to facilitate multidisciplinary discussions about KoRV and koala management.

One of that workshop’s ultimate recommendations recognized a need for longitudinal studies, across multiple generations, to investigate the genetic causation of these health conditions—and in 2023, Singleton contacted iConserve, a community program at Illumina, to begin just such a study with the cooperation of her workshop colleagues.

The San Diego Zoo preserves genetic samples of most koalas in their care, including many from former generations dating all the way back to the current population’s founders in the 1970s—and Illumina performed whole-genome sequencing on all of them. This data, spanning five generations, was uniquely valuable. “It’s a closed system whose pedigree we understand, which would not be possible from a population in the wild,” Alquezar explains. “It’s a longitudinal study that’s really relevant in this particular case. We’ve never had this type of information before.” Ultimately, the project will represent the largest pedigree of any koala genomic database to date.

The study will compare the known causes of death in the zoo’s pedigree with any KoRV integration patterns revealed in the sequencing data, to see how strongly particular integration sites associate with negative health outcomes. For example, Singleton explains, “If we see that specific KoRV integration patterns are associated with certain cancers in koalas from the past, we may be able to predict which koalas in the future will be at higher risk of developing these cancers.” Information like this would be critical to take into account when, for example, the wildlife care specialists plan which pairs would be best for breeding.

This knowledge will also inform management decisions for koalas in the wild. The marsupials’ natural habitat range has drastically fragmented in recent years, due in part to the terrible bushfires that struck Australia in 2019 and 2020. Disconnected populations lead to lower genetic diversity and lower resistance to disease. Conservation workers can translocate specific animals from one group to another to increase genetic diversity, and can avoid introducing a new subtype of KoRV to a population where it didn’t previously exist.

Discovering whether retroviral integration sites are associated with immunological genes would be a huge boon to research. “There are very few examples of such a virus that is currently endogenizing,” Alquezar says. “So for us to be able to understand those mechanisms of endogenization, how it might actually cause disease, is very interesting. We’re able to decipher that using this particular model. This has implications on koala health and may be an important factor in their conservation.”

To intervene or not to intervene

Considering how ubiquitous retroviral DNA is in animal genomes, the scientific community has raised the question of whether humans should intervene at all in the slow and likely inevitable process of KoRV endogenization. But those involved in this iConserve study recognize our collective responsibility in this case.

“Yes, it is a natural process,” Higgins says, “but it’s going on in an unnatural environment and context that humans are causing. It’s up to us to create an environment where that natural process can unfold. From an evolutionary perspective, it’s hard to adapt to something if you’ve got all these other pressures. We’re identifying which populations are most at risk and focusing on removing other risks to allow them to cope.”

Singleton agrees. “Over time, we expect the koala to adapt to this endogenizing virus. Until this happens, koalas are threatened by KoRV as well as by habitat loss and fragmentation. We can’t eliminate KoRV from koalas, but we can preserve and protect the healthy ecosystems that they need to survive.”

As of this writing, the sequencing phase of the project is complete, and Guilherme Neumann, a postdoctoral bioinformatician at the Leibniz Institute, has already identified over 1500 KoRV insertions across the 91 animals sequenced. As expected for a relatively small zoo population, these koalas generally share more KoRV integration sites than their wild counterparts do. “The interesting part now,” Greenwood says, “will be to see if the shared integrations are generally in parts of the genome where they do less harm—and if so, to focus on the ones that are less widely shared, which may contain the more problematic KoRV integrations. Those might end up being targets for potential management.”

In the meantime, Singleton is optimistic that this research could be a turning point for koala conservation. “We’ve known for many years that we have something really special in the data from the North American koala population, but we haven’t been able to access the technology to analyze it,” she says. “Through our partnership with Illumina, we are achieving research objectives that seemed unreachable back in 2021. Bringing together this international team, learning from our koala population to help koalas in their native range, is a career pinnacle for me as a zoo veterinarian.”

The problem with being a picky eater

Koalas eat only eucalyptus, a leaf that’s toxic to other animals. They’ve evolved special metabolic and gut microbiome adaptations specifically for digesting it, giving them exclusive access to a food that other species have learned to avoid. Ironically, this may be one reason it’s so difficult to treat some diseases in koalas. “In order to eat eucalyptus, the koala is very good at degrading plant toxins,” Singleton says. “Similarly, koalas are able to degrade many medications to the point that they become ineffective.

Aramark volunteers around the world give their time and talent to their local communities throughout the year, but their generosity showed no limits during the 2023 season of giving. With more than 90 volunteer projects happening from November to December, we’re highlighting some of the projects where our volunteers truly shined in support of their local communities.

“Every year, I’m in awe of hospitality and selflessness our volunteers exhibit during the holiday season. In a time when they’re faced with end of year deadlines, responsibilities to their families, and so much more, they find it within themselves to dig a little bit deeper to find time to give back to those that need it most,” said Jami Leveen, VP of Community Partnerships at Aramark. “These volunteers live Aramark’s mission each day, and I thank them for continuing to do great things for our people, our partners, and our communities.”

Supporting Food Pantries at Their Busiest Time

The Sunshine Hub of Aramark’s women’s focused employee resource group (ERG), EMPOWER, joined with Feeding Tampa Bay at Tampa Convention Center for an incredible dual-team bonding and volunteer project. Sunshine Hub members also joined colleagues from across the state for a “Holiday Day of Service” at Feeding South Florida, where they sorted, packed, and shipped 15,000 pounds of food, enough food for 12,500 meals.

“Our EMPOWER ERG hosts volunteer projects and partners with Aramark’s South Florida Star Team throughout the year, but supporting local food pantries during the holidays is especially meaningful to members because it provides the extra hands required to support the increase in need. It also gives our volunteers the chance to connect with one another and work together on one final project before the start of the New Year. It’s amazing to see the collaboration between all our lines of business to support the community,” said Linda DeMaria, General Manager and EMPOWER Sunshine Hub Leader.

A team of volunteers from Aramark’s Austin Star Team provided holiday meals and led activities with senior residents of Foundation Communities, a local nonprofit which empowers residents and neighbors to achieve educational success, financial stability, and healthier lifestyles. The volunteers prepared and served holiday breakfast to 50 senior residents, and facilitated games and holiday activities, including BINGO.

The Miami Star Team collected nearly 500 pounds of food and toys to support Kids In Distress (KID, Inc.), a shelter for the youngest victims of child abuse in the greater Fort Lauderdale area.

“Our experience with Aramark volunteers was outstanding. There was great communication and volunteers went above and beyond for the children and families we serve,” said Yolanda Watson-Brown, Donor Engagement & Database Manager, KID, Inc.

Bringing Joy Through Holiday Meal Service

Throughout the month, volunteers from Aramark’s interfaith ERG, Synergy, and members from Aramark’s Corporate Affairs team visited Philadelphia’s Broad Street Ministry, an organization that helps Philadelphians living in deep poverty stabilize their lives through a variety of social services, to serve lunch, sort mail, and assemble hygiene kits for guests.

In Toronto, Canada, volunteers distributed 50 cases of soup and provided 200 meals for the food program at Working Women Centre, as part of Aramark’s year-round support providing “Wellness Wednesday” lunches.

Aramark’s Boston volunteers worked alongside Community Servings’ kitchen staff to help prepare and package medically tailored meal kits for chronically and critically ill individuals and their families, while employees from across the region collected over 100 toys for Toys for Tots and 500 pounds of healthy food.

Collecting Toys and Warm Weather Items

The Aramark Philadelphia Star Team hosted a holiday wrapping party at Aramark headquarters, where volunteers wrapped holiday gifts that were donated to local families. The group also hosted a Holiday Donation Drive to bring joy to local families. Over 800 toys and comfort items were collected and donated to four Philadelphia community-based nonprofit organizations.

Volunteers in Alberta, Canada, collected dozens of toys and comfort items to fulfill wish lists for students from Hull Services.

Following a leadership retreat to LEGOLAND, Aramark employees donated LEGO kits to support law enforcement families through the Casey Doolin Memorial Fund. The fund aids law enforcement families, siblings, and caregivers with children who have cancer or other life-threatening illnesses. dozens of boxes of LEGOS will be distributed to patients at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

Giving Back to Those Who Serve

Aramark is proud to employ service members, veterans, and military spouses in a wide variety of roles and positions across the company. Aramark also works with a network of organizations to help attract and engage military-connected talent with a passion for service. These connections provide Aramark volunteers with a great opportunity to give back to those that serve. Read about the work volunteers did for this community during the holiday season.

“Serving others is a cornerstone of Aramark’s hospitality culture and the holiday season provides an incredible opportunity for our employees to come together to support the causes that mean the most to them,” said Abigail Charpentier, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Aramark. “It’s become a tradition for me and my family to participate in the Wreaths Across America event. It is rewarding to see our dedicated volunteers return to the projects they hold near and dear to their hearts, to make a difference in their communities.”

Marathon Petroleum is bringing the Truckers Against Trafficking program to drivers and leaders in its Transport and Rail organization.  Truckers Against Trafficking is a nonprofit organization focused on educating others about human trafficking, how to identify it and how to report suspicious activity.  Marathon Petroleum has already certified nearly 500 employees through the training program.  

Marathon Petroleum’s Transport and Rail organization has rolled out a training program from Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), a nonprofit organization focused on educating members of the truck, bus and energy industries about the realities of human trafficking and how they can combat it. Marathon Petroleum has started training transport drivers, company leaders and other employees to identify human trafficking situations on the road and how to report suspicious activity. 

“We are trying to get as many of our employees certified as possible,” said Robert Leipheimer, Transport Operations Senior Manager with Marathon Petroleum. “We have an opportunity to take an extremely active role in fighting this and stopping it when we see it.” 

Marathon Petroleum has more than 1,000 truck drivers across the country. The TAT training is voluntary, and leaders are encouraged by the interest so far. Nearly 500 Marathon Petroleum employees have been trained to recognize and report human trafficking through the TAT program. 

John Miracle was an over-the-road truck driver for 20 years before becoming a transport manager at Marathon Petroleum. He was visibly upset after watching the Truckers Against Trafficking training video in November. He shared with the group of leaders in his training session that he didn’t realize that he had witnessed human trafficking situations in the past and didn’t recognize what it was. 

“I remember seeing some of the ‘red flags’ of human trafficking when I was an over-the-road truck driver, but I didn’t recognize them at the time,” said Miracle. “This is really eye opening and a great opportunity for our drivers to help put a stop to it.” 

John Brosnan, a Transport Driver in Niles, Michigan, was one of the first drivers certified through the TAT program at Marathon Petroleum.  

“I feel like this is an appropriate responsibility for our fleets, and we’ll definitely be able to make a difference,” said Brosnan. “They’ve given us tools to respond when we see something so proper authorities can respond in time. It doesn’t take people long to move on, so the sooner we can alert authorities, the better.” 

Human Trafficking Red Flags – What to Look for:  

Any time you see a minor engage in a commercial sex act Any time you believe you are witnessing someone under the control of a pimp, regardless of the age or gender of the victim If a passenger vehicle pulls into the truck parking area of a rest area or truck stop and multiple people (usually females) get out of the vehicle and begin going from truck to truck Any time you hear a suspected victim mentioning that he/she has to make a quota People that seem to have a lack of knowledge of their surroundings or area Someone that appears to have restricted or controlled communication or is unable to speak for her/himself Suspected victims that have signs of branding (tattooing that would indicate ownership of a particular trafficker) 

Reporting human trafficking 

Call 911 if it is an emergency or you are witnessing a crime in progress. Call National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888 to make an anonymous report. Never approach a trafficker. Allow law enforcement to deal with traffickers and recover victims. Have description of vehicle, description of people. 

Source: Truckers Against Trafficking