Tag: 3BL

Energized by Edison

By Erika Potter ENERGIZED by Edison Writer

It’s not unusual to find the Straub family volunteering on a Saturday morning. Ron, Nicole, Kyle and Tristian, all Southern California Edison employees, regularly participate in Edison International volunteer events, including this year’s 18th annual National Family Volunteer Day hosted by the Community Action Partnership of Orange County.

“It’s amazing how volunteering brings our family even closer,” said Nicole Straub. “Working together to support our community strengthens our family bond and fills us with a sense of pride and purpose. It’s a unique opportunity to make a positive impact while creating special moments with my family.”

At this year’s Orange County Food Bank event, 240 employees, friends and family volunteers worked together to pack 4,937 boxes of food, stuffed with juice, non-dairy milk, rice, beans, cereal, peanut butter, canned fruit and vegetables.

This event is crucial to supporting the food bank’s efforts during the holiday season. It addresses the persistent issue of food insecurity, ensuring that many families have access to nutritious meals. National Family Volunteer Day is not just a local event, but a global day of service celebrating the power of families working together to support their communities.

“This is one of Edison’s signature events that we eagerly anticipate in each year. It’s a pleasure to meet team members, their families and friends,” said Caroline Choi, Edison International and SCE senior vice president of Corporate Affairs. “Ultimately, it’s not just about the number of boxes packed, but about the people we’re supporting and the community we’re strengthening.”

Edison International also contributed $20,000 to the Community Action Partnership of Orange County, continuing a tradition of support that has been a cornerstone of their partnership since 2004. In addition to Family Volunteer Day, Edison supports CAP-OC’s Kindergarten to College STEM program, a workforce development program that focuses on preparing high school students and young adults for college and the workforce.

Alexandra Bodenhoefer, an SCE senior specialist in Planning, attends annually with her husband, family and friends, where they enjoy adding a little bit of friendly competition to support the serious issue of food insecurity in the region.

“We come to win,” Bodenhoefer said. “We want to show our support for families in need, while also defending our title for most boxes packed. Our goal is to set the bar high and beat our record from the previous year.”

For more information on SCE’s volunteer efforts, visit edison.com/community.

Above are photos from the event.

WASHINGTON, December 14, 2023 /3BL/ – Fairtrade America, the world’s most recognized label for social justice and sustainability is pleased to announce that Katie Kowalski has joined the organization as director of commercial partnerships. Kowalski comes to Fairtrade America with a decade of experience developing corporate partnerships for consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands in the U.S. Kowalski also brings a passion for global equality having worked on microfinance and international development initiatives across the globe.

In her new position, Kowalski will serve as a leader at Fairtrade America as the organization enters an exciting chapter of growth marked by increased consumer awareness of the Fairtrade Mark and the impact it has on farming communities worldwide. The 2023 biennial Fairtrade America Consumer Insights report conducted by GlobeScan found that:

U.S. consumer awareness of the Fairtrade Mark has seen a 2x growth in just four years.85 percent of U.S. shoppers said that carrying the Fairtrade label would make a positive impact on their impressions of a brand.2 in 3 shoppers familiar with Fairtrade prefer to shop at retailers that carry certified products.

Kowalski’s new role combines her passion for global equality and extensive corporate partnership experience. From growing brands like Tropicana, Naked Juice and KeVita during her time at PepsiCo to leading complex sales teams, she brings both strong strategic vision and a thoughtful sales ethos to the organization. Kowalski has leveraged her business savvy through pro-bono initiatives around the world – from working with jewelry artisans in Kenya to supporting rural development in Honduras to microfinance consulting in Thailand. Her understanding of context and real-world experience supporting different aspects of global supply chains give her a strong and holistic perspective to grow the impact of Fairtrade in the U.S. market.

As Kowalski shared, “I believe people want to do good, but sometimes in the hustle of everyday life, we trade the virtuous option for the convenient one. I believe that Fairtrade makes the virtuous option the convenient one. We make it easy for brands, retailers and consumers to have a positive impact on the world we live in, just by paying attention to a small logo.”

As director of commercial partnerships, Kowalski will help create an ecosystem where people-centered supply chains are the norm and companies are proactively supporting the farmers and workers they rely on through a fairer deal. She is excited to accelerate growth in the U.S, and ultimately create more impact for the over 2 million Fairtrade farmers and workers around the globe through this pivotal market.

Fairtrade America is the U.S. chapter of Fairtrade International, which has 30 years of experience in promoting fairer trading conditions, and in turn promoting gender equality, building resilience to climate change and supporting worker’s rights. Over 1,800 farming organizations in 70+ countries follow the Fairtrade Standards. Now more than ever, it is critical to rebalance our trade systems so they prioritize both people and the planet.

In addition to Kowalski’s professional achievements, she also serves as a mentor for Naturally Chicago in her hometown, where she advises Chicago-based food and beverage startups on growing their businesses. She is also an alumna of University of South Carolina Darla Moore Business School and Padua Academy.

About Fairtrade America

Fairtrade America works to rebalance trade, making it a system rooted in partnership and mutual respect rather than exploitation. It’s about businesses, shoppers, farmers and workers all working together so we can all experience the benefits of trade. Fairtrade America is the U.S. branch of Fairtrade International, the original and global leader in fair trade certification with more than 30 years of experience working for fair trading practices in more than 30 countries across the globe. A non-profit 501(c)3 organization, Fairtrade America is part of the world’s largest and most recognized fair trade certification program —part of a global movement for change. Learn more at fairtradeamerica.org, and by connecting with Fairtrade America on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Over 200 in-person attendees joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), for the second edition of its Manufacturer Forum, on December 4, 2023 in Bangalore, India. Building on the theme, Catalysts for Change, the event brought together business leaders and stakeholders to discuss the future of sustainability, supply chain compliance, verification, policy alignment, and more.

“The use of the Higg Index tools is just one step of many that we must take to solve the most complex sustainability challenges for the sector,” said Jeremy Lardeau, vice president Higg index at the SAC. “This is why we do not stop at delivering data and tools, but also develop programs and events like Manufacturer Forums, where stakeholders can come together and take collective action for industry progress.”

Dr. Vidhura Ralapanawe, executive vice president at Epic Group and an SAC board director delivered a thoughtful keynote, calling for urgent action to combat climate change. “How much we do, and how fast we work to decarbonize, and how much we aspire to achieve is on us. Because climate change is not happening in 2030 or 2050, it’s happening now. This is our chance, our choice,” Ralapanawe said.

Dr. Laxmikant Jawale, regional lead for South Asia & Southeast Asia at the Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), and Erlinda Lee, director of global membership development from the SAC, delved into a discussion that explored the dynamic collaboration between the SAC and Aii. The session allowed attendees to gain a deeper understanding of the mission, purpose, and collaborative efforts of both organizations to propel the industry forward. It also provided valuable knowledge on how to leverage programs offered through the partnership to effectively tackle the challenges associated with decarbonization and how manufacturers can get involved

Later that day, sessions explored critical issues including climate change, how policy and legislation impacts manufacturers, and the evolving landscape of sustainability verification.

Ringo Yu, manager of the SAC’s Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP) highlighted the compounding impact of climate change, such as how extreme heat waves, torrential rain, and flooding impacts India’s community, natural environment, and economy. He shared that there’s currently a low level of science-based target adoption in the apparel, footwear, and textile sector. He shared insights on the newly launched program and how the SAC is spearheading and amplifying industry initiatives for combating climate change. The program aims to accelerate the number of manufacturers at corporate level to set science-aligned targets for scope 1 and 2, enhance their understanding on climate change related risks, and explore opportunities to take climate actions. “It is important to pursue a leadership mindset first and take action individually to drive change collectively by participating in programs such as the MCAP,” Yu said.

Gauri Sharma, assistant general manager of communications and sustainability innovation at Shahi Exports Pvt Ltd. joined Mousumi Sarang, country manager for India at the Fair Wear Foundation to discuss the intricacies of current and future policy challenges in the textile industry. ”Legislations built and shaped in the Global North have a deep cascading effect in the supply chain, Sharma said. “Hence in the Global South, it is important to develop an understanding of what these means for manufacturers.”

Angela Ng, director of Higg Facility Tools at the SAC, Janne Koopmans, head of collaboration at ZDHC, and Yashinth Wijerathne, manager of environmental sustainability at Hirdaramani Apparel, discussed the recently launched Higg FEM 4.0 and its vital role in standardized measurement and accurate reporting. “The Higg FEM 4.0 allows manufacturers to see what is really important and evolve from there,” Ng said.

Dhawal Mane, director of training and verification at the SAC, and Jeremy Lardeau, SAC vice president of Higg Index, presented on the evolving landscape of sustainability verification within the industry. “Higg FEM verification growth over the past 5 years has demonstrated the collaboration of SAC members on a shared environmental assessment. It is time to simultaneously invest in value through evolving our approach for verification. Our Core verification approach this year is the first step in that direction,” Mane said.

Attendees also received training to support their Higg FEM 4.0 self-assessment, get certified in setting Science-Based Targets, and develop plans for health and safety remediation and workers rights.

The SAC announced the return of Manufacturer Forums earlier this year, with the first in-person event taking place in Shenzhen, China on July 25 at Sheraton Shenzhen Futian Hotel. This was the first in-person Manufacturer Forum the SAC had hosted since 2019.

The Bangalore Manufacturer Forum online photo gallery is available here. Manufacturers who are interested in participating in an upcoming Manufacturer Forum can click here to subscribe for updates.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve productivity, boost creativity and enhance the human experience. Although AI may create a sense of uncertainty about the future, we strive to create AI technologies that bring positive change to society. We’ve compiled below a few areas where we think AI can contribute to a better world.

1. Advancing science 

AI-driven simulations and modeling can help solve complex problems in fields like climate science, drug discovery and engineering. These simulations enable scientists and researchers to explore various scenarios and optimize solutions without costly and slow physical experiments.

For example, NASA and IBM Research built and released a geospatial AI foundation model for Earth observation using NASA’s Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) dataset. The new foundation model can be used to track changes in land use, monitoring natural disasters and predicting crop yields.

AI can simulate the effects of climate change, the behavior of financial markets, the 3D structure of a protein or the spread of diseases. With environmental research, AI can analyze climate data and model scenarios to help address issues related to climate change and resource conservation. It can also find new chemical structures and compounds that can help advance fields such as materials science and pharmaceuticals.

Another inspiring example is the use of AI for the restoration of coral reefs. For the reduction of carbon footprint, AI optimization algorithms can be used to optimize energy consumption, reduce emissions and enhance environmental monitoring. In agriculture, AI-powered precision farming techniques can enhance crop yield, reduce pesticide use and reduce environmental impact.

2. Creativity and accessibility

Using generative AI, we can supercharge creativity by quickly generating text, art or music. While not replacing human creativity, AI can be a valuable tool for brainstorming ideas, creating prototypes or providing inspiration. Accelerating the generation of literature, art and music enhances the lives of both the creators and the audience.

Tools like AI-powered video editing can streamline content creation for filmmakers and content producers. This ability to synthesize images, videos, dialog, characters and settings using AI can help virtually anyone blossom as a filmmaker, and expand the ability of individuals to express themselves. AI has the ability to enhance human creativity and because AI is built on the synthesis of human inputs, the results are still human inspired.

The collaboration between humans and AI can lead to more innovative results.

For many years people have been trying to develop low-code or no-code programming models. With AI, that can become an achievable goal. A programmer can use natural language through voice or text to describe what they want to achieve to a code assistant powered by a large language model (LLM). The code assistant will understand the programmer’s intent and then help generate appropriate code to complete the task.

Maintaining a code base can be monotonous work — AI can automate it. For example, finding common business-oriented language (COBOL) programmers today to maintain legacy code is very hard — AI can either help generate new COBOL code or modernize the application by helping to convert the old code into a more modern language, such as Java.

3. Automation and productivity

It will be possible to automate routine and time-consuming tasks using AI. In doing so, the improvements to productivity through AI can be immense by automating repetitive tasks and eliminating the drudgery of work. In addition, turning routine tasks over to AI-based assistants frees people to focus on higher-value activities. In industries like manufacturing and logistics, AI-driven robotics and automation systems can optimize workflows, increase efficiency and reduce errors.

For example, farmers can already supervise multiple AI-enabled John Deere tractors that are working in multiple fields and performing diverse tasks such as plowing, seeding, weeding and harvesting — all from their home office over a cellular connection.

AI can process large volumes of data quickly, extracting valuable insights and trends.

This helps organizations make data-driven decisions more efficiently. AI’s data analysis capabilities can also uncover hidden patterns and correlations that were previously unidentified, aiding in the solution of complex problems. AI-driven analytics tools can identify patterns, trends and anomalies that humans may overlook, leading to more informed decision-making.

For example, major cities including Singapore, Los Angeles and Barcelona are already using AI video surveillance in traffic and transportation management to manage traffic flow and improve safety.

Natural Language Processing (NLP) is greatly enhanced by AI. It can process and analyze large volumes of text data, aiding in sentiment analysis, content summarization, document classification and data extraction, which can be valuable for decision-making and for finding new discoveries by sorting through large and historic research collections.

NLP-enabled and generative AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can handle customer inquiries, troubleshoot issues and perform tasks like automatically scheduling appointments or setting reminders. These AI-enhanced activities improve productivity in customer service and administrative functions.

AI has massive potential for good

AI’s ability to collect and process vast amounts of data, make predictions and automate tasks makes it a valuable tool for improving productivity, enhancing creativity, as well as tackling complex problems across many fields.

AI-driven predictive analytics can forecast future events and trends, enabling proactive problem-solving and decision-making. This is valuable across fields from finance, healthcare and marketing to climate science and drug discovery. These are just a few examples of how AI can improve our lives and our world.

Learn about the new era of possibility with on-device AI

Sign up for our What’s Next in AI and Computing newsletter

SEATTLE, December 14, 2023 /3BL/ — KeyBank has made a $150,000 grant to Girl Scouts of Western Washington (GSWW) to support their diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. The funds will be used to help facilitate participation by historically excluded communities in Girl Scout programming and camp opportunities, fostering inclusiveness and helping enhance accessibility for youth throughout Western Washington.

“A culture of diversity, equity and inclusion is a part of KeyBank’s corporate fabric and is reflected in everything Key does, including the ways we invest in our communities,” said Matt Hill, KeyBank’s Market President and Commercial Banking Sales Leader for the Seattle Cascades. “We are proud to support Girl Scouts of Western Washington as they engage a broad spectrum of youth and introduce them to skills and activities – from entrepreneurship and money management to goal setting and decision making – that will help them grow into accomplished, confident leaders.”

“Girl Scouts of Western Washington is committed to working for diversity, equity, and inclusion across our region so that all Girl Scouts feel a sense of belonging”, says Andrea Anderson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Western Washington. “We are grateful to our longtime partner KeyBank for highlighting the importance of this work and for investing in it. Our partnership will help eliminate financial barriers for approximately 20% or 3000 Girl Scouts across the Puget Sound region, ensuring they can participate in troops, camps, events, and more. Together, with KeyBank, we can ensure the Girl Scout experience is accessible to those who have been historically left out of our programming, so that Girl Scouts can continue to be an instrument of change, promoting equitable outcomes for all.”

About Girl Scouts of Western Washington

Girl Scouts of Western Washington is consistently and unapologetically committed to providing safe spaces for all girls and gender-expansive youth to belong. Girl Scouting builds youth of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Founded in 1912, our organization has been committed to meeting the needs of our youth members for over a century. We uplift all Girl Scouts in a supportive environment where they can discover their strengths, rise to meet new challenges, and become the changemakers our world needs. They are the future leaders paving the way toward a brighter tomorrow. Visit girlscoutsww.org to learn more.

About KeyBank

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 September 30, 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.

VANCOUVER, Canada, December 14, 2023 /3BL/ – DP World, a global leader in integrated supply chain solutions, has endorsed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at establishing an international green shipping corridor linking Canada’s West Coast with ports in Asia and the Middle East. The MOU was signed by Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, as part of the company’s activities at COP28 in Dubai, UAE.

“Green shipping corridors” are maritime trade routes that showcase low- and zero-emission fuels and technologies between ports, to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and support sector-wide decarbonization. 

The MOU involves multiple ports and jurisdictions, including Prince Rupert, Vancouver, and Edmonton. As the largest port operator in Canada, with a total of five terminal locations (Fraser Surrey, Nanaimo, Prince Rupert, Saint John and Vancouver), DP World is on a mission to become carbon neutral by 2040 and net zero by 2050.

The MOU has garnered extensive backing from an array of stakeholders, including Transport Canada, First Nations Climate Initiative, Canadian National Railway, Prince Rupert Port Authority, Edmonton International Airport, Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association, A.P. Moller Maersk, and other critical entities. The collaboration extends to Indigenous groups, shippers, shipbuilders, ports and terminal operators, clean fuel producers, and clean technology companies.

Green shipping corridors play a vital role in curbing emissions across the entire range of marine transport activities. The new corridor will feature the shortest route between North America and Asia, and will leverage new innovations in ship technology, such as state-of-the-art sprinter ships; the adoption of low- and zero-emission fuels such as hydrogen; and the use of renewable energy, shore power, and other low-carbon technologies in port operations.

This endeavour is bolstered by a substantial $165.4 million investment to promote eco-friendly practices in marine transport corridors across Canada’s East and West coasts, the Great Lakes, and the St. Lawrence Seaway.

“Endorsing this MOU marks a pivotal moment in the journey towards sustainable maritime trade. Establishing this green shipping corridor along the West Coast is a significant leap forward in aligning the Canadian maritime industry with the urgent need for environmental stewardship,” said Doug Smith, chief executive officer of DP World Canada. 

“This collaboration with various stakeholders underscores our commitment to innovation and our relentless pursuit of a greener maritime sector. We will continue to lead by example in the pursuit of a cleaner, more sustainable future for global trade,” Smith added.

– END –

DP WORLD AMERICAS MEDIA CONTACT:

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

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

With a dedicated, diverse and professional team of more than 103,000 employees spanning 75 countries on six continents, DP World is pushing trade further and faster towards a seamless supply chain that’s fit for the future. 

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

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

WE MAKE TRADE FLOW TO CHANGE WHAT’S POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

Follow DP World on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The Transformational Tech series highlights Cisco’s grant recipients that use technology to help transform the lives of individuals and communities. This blog features Cisco’s partnership with CareerVillage.org, a nonprofit organization based in the United States that helps students get career advice online from real-world professionals. If you are interested in a deep dive on this partnership, please contact Kyle Thornton.

Every child deserves opportunities for success. But socioeconomic factors can play a huge role in children’s development that can disrupt their education and life progression. According to the American Community Survey, about 17% (more than 10 million) of all U.S. children under 18 live below the poverty line and are considered at-risk.

An essay from the Washington Center for Equitable Growth highlights that children from low-income families are more likely to start school with limited language skills, have less parental support with homework, and deal with more emotional and social problems that interfere with learning. CareerVillage.org is helping to change the systemic equation by democratizing access to career information and advice for underrepresented youth. This is done in part by crowdsourcing the answers to questions from students about careers that any online learner can access anytime, anywhere.

Having reached over 7 million individuals and mobilized more than 150,000 volunteers across 190 countries worldwide, CareerVillage.org aspires to be the universally trusted source for career information that youth can turn to, and a place where they find the encouragement they need to persist in the face of adversity. And with recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, they are expanding their reach and accessibility with Coach, an AI-powered career prep platform that tailors advice to an individual student’s goals, learning from each interaction.

CareerVillage.org’s Founder and Executive Director Jared Chung and Special Projects Senior Manager Rebecca Gitomer share the non-profit’s technology evolution and how its partnership with Cisco has led to crucial, high-impact, replicable and scalable partnerships in the education industry.

Cisco invests in nonprofits to increase their impact through replication and scale, how has this influenced CareerVillage.org’s strategy?

For us, scale is extremely important and always top of mind. Career development is a challenge that affects young people all over the world, and there is a real lack of investment and overall support, especially in underserved communities. Cisco has been aligned with our scalability mission from the beginning of our partnership in 2017, and what began as volunteer opportunities for Cisco employees to participate in has evolved into crucial funding from Cisco to help us unlock high-impact partnerships that have allowed us to scale across classrooms in the U.S.

An example of this is in 2020 when we piloted our first district partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) that was supported by the Cisco Foundation. This relationship remains today with educators and students across SFUSD schools still using CareerVillage.org in their classrooms. The empowerment Cisco provided us to begin our K12 district partnerships allowed for important learning lessons to replicate similar partnerships across the country. Our work testing with educators and students in classrooms and the learnings from these experiences have led to dramatic growth in educators using CareerVillage.org and helping them meet the needs of their districts. Since 2020 our educator reach has doubled.

What are some key areas Cisco is helping with to transform your technology?

There have been several improvements and enhancements to our technology, partnerships, and core team that have enabled this change, which would not have been possible without Cisco’s continued support for our mission. We see Cisco as a uniquely aligned partner in this work for a few reasons:

We prioritize scalable technology-based solutions that impact underserved populations.We share ambitious global social impact goals.We have visions to transform K12 education.

We also believe that the movement we’ve created is laying the foundation for a transformative nationwide college access and career readiness program and the Cisco Foundation has been fundamental to this work.

Most recently Cisco funding has gone towards supporting our latest innovative technology the AI Career Coach. We’re incredibly grateful for supporters like Cisco who are early believers in our work with cutting edge technology, and thousands of Cisco employees have advised students through our platforms impacting millions of learners around the world.

What is Coach, who is it geared to, and how is it a differentiator for people that use it?

This is a natural next step for CareerVillage.org, which has reached over 7 million people over the past decade. For years we’ve been mobilizing huge online communities to give career advice, and now, we have this opportunity to use AI to scale up even further.

Our AI-powered career prep platform ‘Coach’ can help people practice mock interviews, improve their resumes, explore new career options, and much more. In short, Coach helps with everything you need to get career-ready and land a great job. Coach is knowledgeable, encouraging, and reliable, just like every career coach should be.

Currently in beta testing and ever-evolving, Coach is intended for everyone – middle schoolers all the way through career changers, and we’re ensuring that we’re getting a diversity of perspectives in user profiles to test Coach now to make it higher quality, eliminate bias, and more. Recent feedback from some of our beta testers includes:

“I will be using this platform in the future as I near college applications and need to submit essays and resumes. Not only was I challenging the AI, the AI was challenging me.” (Student Beta Tester)

“Out of the activities that I completed, my favorites were the career exploration activity and the mock interview. The responses were beyond incredible!” (Student Beta Tester)

“I would absolutely love to use it with my students. I would recommend it to my colleagues and friends as well!” (Educator Beta Tester)

“Everything is extremely tailored” (Educator Beta Tester)

“It helped me identify my passions, matched me with suitable careers, provides step by step plans to achieve my goals.” (Student Beta Tester)

“This activity definitely helped strengthen my skills and communication abilities!” (Student Beta Tester)

Free at the individual level, Coach will be a game changer when it comes to career supports, which as it currently stands is something that is systemically underinvested in. And our largest differentiator is the coalition of partners we have established backing Coach, helping to test, co-design, and integrate resources into the Coach database while ensuring responsible AI is at the forefront of development.

What are the biggest benefits of incorporating AI for career development?

For most people, career guidance is a huge life-changer and, until now, we’ve never been able to put a world-class personal career coach in front of every underserved person. Our model is all about making resources more accessible, more personal, and more responsive. The personalization is a huge opportunity with AI and because career development is such an individual experience, this personalization is key, and AI allows us to do it at scale. In our current beta version, even from the first day of testing the feedback we were hearing was that the personalization was really shining through. Through AI we are also able to reduce silos by more easily aggregating sector resources, become more scalable and offer 24/7 accessibility, and be more cost effective.

How can people learn more about Coach and get involved with CareerVillage.org?

Interested institutions who would like to get involved and partner with CareerVillage.orgInterested individuals who want to sign up to the Coach waitlistLearn more about CareerVillage.org and its various opportunities

View original content here.

by Joe Keefe, President of Impax Asset Management

In 2014, in partnership with Sallie Krawcheck and Ellevate, we adopted a more systematic investment approach that we believed would better isolate the contribution that what we call the ‘gender factor’ can make to company performance. We hoped to make an apples-to-apples comparison between gender diverse companies and the broader market, and to prove that companies with greater gender equity outperform less enlightened competitors and the overall market over time. I believe we have met that burden of proof. There was now decades of research demonstrating that gender diversity and equity are correlated with stronger financial performance.

My colleague, Julie Gorte, publishes an annual review of the research linking gender equity, and diversity, equity and inclusion more broadly, with financial performance. Her most recent paper, “The Financial Impact of Diversity and Culture” was published in August 2023. In it, Julie not only reviews the literature on board diversity and management diversity, but on diversity and innovation, measured by such things as the number of patents, patent citations, research and development spending, and profits derived from new products. She also reviews the research linking diversity with sustainability, with better HR policies and increased productivity, and with stronger corporate cultures.

Suffice it to say that the literature supports a positive correlation between diversity – particularly gender diversity in executive teams – and better corporate financial performance. A strong relationship between corporate culture and human resources policies, and their correlation with financial performance, is another emerging theme. Finally, Julie finds that diversity supports both environmental and social aspects of the transition to a more sustainable economy, as it is positively correlated with more robust financial accounting and better sustainability outcomes, including environmental reporting and climate disclosures.

Read Joe’s full article that includes insightful graphs and more on Gender Diverse leadership and workforces as well as about how it leads to a more sustainable economy. All here – https://greenmoney.com/investing-in-gender-equity-is-smart-investing

========

TOLEDO, Ohio, December 14, 2023 /3BL/ – Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) earned a place on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) for the 14th consecutive year and on the DJSI North America Index for the sixth consecutive year, with industry-leading assessment scores.

The DJSI World comprises an elite listing of the world’s largest companies based on long-term environmental, social, and governance criteria. Companies are selected for inclusion in the DJSI in part based on their scores in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). Owens Corning scored 85 out of a possible 100 points overall in the 2023 S&P Global CSA (score date: Dec. 8, 2023), achieving the highest score of all the companies assessed in the building products industry.

“We are honored to have been recognized by DJSI for the 14th consecutive year,” said Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Brian Chambers. “Our industry-leading score is a testament to Owens Corning’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and our progress toward achieving our 2030 sustainability goals. We remain dedicated to providing sustainable solutions to our customers and making a positive impact on the world.”

This year, Owens Corning earned several other distinctions for its corporate sustainability leadership, including ranking in the top 10 for the sixth year in a row on 3BL Media’s 100 Best Corporate Citizens list and selection by Ethisphere as one of the 2023 World’s Most Ethical Companies.

“I’m always proud for our team when Owens Corning’s industry leadership in sustainability is highlighted through recognitions like DJSI,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, David Rabuano. “There’s no question that our 19,000 employees are the material difference driving our results.”

As a global building and construction materials leader, Owens Corning is committed to delivering sustainable solutions. More detail about its programs and progress is available in its 17th annual Sustainability Report published earlier this year.

About Owens Corning

Owens Corning is a global building and construction materials leader committed to building a sustainable future through material innovation. Our three integrated businesses – Composites, Insulation, and Roofing – provide durable, sustainable, energy-efficient solutions that leverage our unique material science, manufacturing, and market knowledge to help our customers win and grow. We are global in scope, human in scale with approximately 19,000 employees in 31 countries dedicated to generating value for our customers and shareholders and making a difference in the communities where we work and live. Founded in 1938 and based in Toledo, Ohio, USA, Owens Corning posted 2022 sales of $9.8 billion. For more information, visit www.owenscorning.com.

ABOUT S&P DOW JONES INDICES 

S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average®. More assets are invested in products based on our indices than products based on indices from any other provider in the world. Since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884, S&P DJI has been innovating and developing indices across the spectrum of asset classes helping to define the way investors measure and trade the markets.

S&P Dow Jones Indices is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies, and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit: www.spglobal.com/spdji.

Media Relations: 
Todd Romain / 419.248.7826

Investor Relations: 
Amber Wohlfarth / 419.248.5639

At our Patent Awards, we proudly honor 362 inventors from across the globe who have brought a total of 403 patents and 6 trade secrets to life in the past year. Their creativity, dedication, and ingenuity are the driving forces behind the cutting-edge solutions that redefine home appliances.

Join us in applauding our inventors and engineers who continue to improve life at home!

ABOUT WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION 

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is committed to being the best global kitchen and laundry company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. In an increasingly digital world, the company is driving purposeful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, JennAir, Indesit, Yummly and InSinkErator. In 2022, the company reported approximately $20 billion in annual sales, 61,000 employees and 56 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

View original content here.