Tag: 3BL

Originally Published on the Taco Bell Blog

“Before the war in Ukraine, life was so good, everything was fine. Then, it changed.”

Alex Murza grew up in Kyiv, Ukraine where he spent his whole life. He received his MBA at Ukraine’s International Academy of Personal Management and graduated with his law degree from University of Ukraine. Back home, he was an attorney with a background in real-estate. While getting his degree, Alex also gained some experience working at a local restaurant. However, when the war hit Ukraine, Alex had to change his course like many others. He started volunteering to support those around him.

“I volunteered to help refugees and those in need of necessities. I brought materials and food for refugees and helped them connect with their family.”

After five months of volunteering, Alex decided to move his family to the United States in hopes of a better life.

“It was different starting with nothing. The first month was very hard. I had no money, no home. Back in Ukraine, if you rent a house, it came with furniture. Here in the U.S., it came empty.”

While trying to make ends meet and searching for a job, Alex came across Taco Bell. He applied for a position at a local corporate restaurant and was promptly hired. Bringing some of his restaurant experience from Ukraine to Taco Bell, Alex started working with his General Manager Jess and Area Coach Charlie James to learn more about the quick service restaurant space.

“When I first started, Charlie and Jess helped me a lot with work, giving me advice on how to do better. With their help, and my team, I have also been learning English. It’s hard to communicate and understand because people talk fast and in slang. I am new to this country, but Taco Bell gave me opportunity because they have helpful ways to adapt when needed.”

Amongst a foreign language and country, Alex has been exposed to new food for the first time as well. His favorite item at Taco Bell is the Breakfast Crunchwrap because he’s never had something like that before. His son is an even bigger fan of Doritos® Locos Tacos!

When Alex isn’t working at the restaurant, he’s spending his weekends enhancing his education in a new line of work. He is currently a culinary student following his passion of becoming a chef and opening his own restaurant. He recently received a $5.1k scholarship from the International Culinary Arts and Sciences Institute (ICASI) to pursue his dreams.

“I lost everything and started life from new. That’s why I changed my career to a chef. I cannot use Ukrainian degree here, and if I start law in U.S., it’s from the beginning and very different. Now, I follow my passion to cook, and my favorite thing to make is bread.”

If Alex can share one thing he’s learned in the past year, it’s to just keep moving forward no matter how tough the times get.

“Be strong and never give up. If you have dreams, do everything to make the dreams happen and everything will be fine. This country has opportunity, but you need to work hard, have a growth mindset, take risks and continue learning something new.”

Originally Published on the Taco Bell Blog

“Before the war in Ukraine, life was so good, everything was fine. Then, it changed.”

Alex Murza grew up in Kyiv, Ukraine where he spent his whole life. He received his MBA at Ukraine’s International Academy of Personal Management and graduated with his law degree from University of Ukraine. Back home, he was an attorney with a background in real-estate. While getting his degree, Alex also gained some experience working at a local restaurant. However, when the war hit Ukraine, Alex had to change his course like many others. He started volunteering to support those around him.

“I volunteered to help refugees and those in need of necessities. I brought materials and food for refugees and helped them connect with their family.”

After five months of volunteering, Alex decided to move his family to the United States in hopes of a better life.

“It was different starting with nothing. The first month was very hard. I had no money, no home. Back in Ukraine, if you rent a house, it came with furniture. Here in the U.S., it came empty.”

While trying to make ends meet and searching for a job, Alex came across Taco Bell. He applied for a position at a local corporate restaurant and was promptly hired. Bringing some of his restaurant experience from Ukraine to Taco Bell, Alex started working with his General Manager Jess and Area Coach Charlie James to learn more about the quick service restaurant space.

“When I first started, Charlie and Jess helped me a lot with work, giving me advice on how to do better. With their help, and my team, I have also been learning English. It’s hard to communicate and understand because people talk fast and in slang. I am new to this country, but Taco Bell gave me opportunity because they have helpful ways to adapt when needed.”

Amongst a foreign language and country, Alex has been exposed to new food for the first time as well. His favorite item at Taco Bell is the Breakfast Crunchwrap because he’s never had something like that before. His son is an even bigger fan of Doritos® Locos Tacos!

When Alex isn’t working at the restaurant, he’s spending his weekends enhancing his education in a new line of work. He is currently a culinary student following his passion of becoming a chef and opening his own restaurant. He recently received a $5.1k scholarship from the International Culinary Arts and Sciences Institute (ICASI) to pursue his dreams.

“I lost everything and started life from new. That’s why I changed my career to a chef. I cannot use Ukrainian degree here, and if I start law in U.S., it’s from the beginning and very different. Now, I follow my passion to cook, and my favorite thing to make is bread.”

If Alex can share one thing he’s learned in the past year, it’s to just keep moving forward no matter how tough the times get.

“Be strong and never give up. If you have dreams, do everything to make the dreams happen and everything will be fine. This country has opportunity, but you need to work hard, have a growth mindset, take risks and continue learning something new.”

KeyBank is standing out for its commitment to its employees’ well-being.

The bank was one of 50 large employers honored with the prestigious Business Group on Health Best Employers: Excellence in Health & Well-Being award. This award recognizes employers for outstanding commitment to advancing employee well-being through comprehensive and innovative benefits and initiatives.

“Key is committed to supporting our employees’ social and emotional wellness to contribute to their overall job and life satisfaction,” said Liz Herron, Head of Executive Compensation and Benefits at KeyBank. “We are honored to receive this prestigious award which highlights the progress we have made in bringing our employees innovative health and wellness programs.”

KeyBank offers its employees a variety of programs dedicated to stress reduction, fitness, wellness, nutrition, weight management, mental health, financial wellness, and career development. Key also offers guidance on a variety of major life events, including getting married, having a new child, adoption, and divorce.

“In the face of ongoing challenges, the award winners all enhance the lives of employees and their families through their innovative health and well-being programs,” said Ellen Kelsay, Business Group on Health president and CEO. “In addition, their leading-edge programs address critical issues such as health equity, social determinants of health and affordability, with an eye toward better health and well-being outcomes for everyone.”

Award criteria assessed applicants on their approach related to leadership, strategy, and culture; holistic well-being, including mental health; financial security; physical health, social connectedness, and job satisfaction; engagement and the employee experience; health equity; and metrics and evaluation.

The 2023 winners represent banking/financial services, health care, insurance, manufacturing, professional services, technology and utilities, among others.

KeyBank is standing out for its commitment to its employees’ well-being.

The bank was one of 50 large employers honored with the prestigious Business Group on Health Best Employers: Excellence in Health & Well-Being award. This award recognizes employers for outstanding commitment to advancing employee well-being through comprehensive and innovative benefits and initiatives.

“Key is committed to supporting our employees’ social and emotional wellness to contribute to their overall job and life satisfaction,” said Liz Herron, Head of Executive Compensation and Benefits at KeyBank. “We are honored to receive this prestigious award which highlights the progress we have made in bringing our employees innovative health and wellness programs.”

KeyBank offers its employees a variety of programs dedicated to stress reduction, fitness, wellness, nutrition, weight management, mental health, financial wellness, and career development. Key also offers guidance on a variety of major life events, including getting married, having a new child, adoption, and divorce.

“In the face of ongoing challenges, the award winners all enhance the lives of employees and their families through their innovative health and well-being programs,” said Ellen Kelsay, Business Group on Health president and CEO. “In addition, their leading-edge programs address critical issues such as health equity, social determinants of health and affordability, with an eye toward better health and well-being outcomes for everyone.”

Award criteria assessed applicants on their approach related to leadership, strategy, and culture; holistic well-being, including mental health; financial security; physical health, social connectedness, and job satisfaction; engagement and the employee experience; health equity; and metrics and evaluation.

The 2023 winners represent banking/financial services, health care, insurance, manufacturing, professional services, technology and utilities, among others.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland and SAN JOSE, Calif., September 27, 2023 – Logitech International (SIX: LOGN) (Nasdaq: LOGI) announced it has redoubled its efforts on climate action and equality by aligning its actions to two ambitious private sector initiatives to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Logitech recently participated in a Private Sector Forum, hosted by the United Nations Secretary-General, and committed to ‘Forward Faster’, a UN Global Compact initiative calling on business leaders to accelerate actions in areas that have the potential to create the fastest impact before 2030. Logitech also recently joined the First Movers Coalition (FMC), a partnership between the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the US Department of State, committing to low-carbon technologies in the harder-to-abate shipping and aluminum sectors.

“I was honored to participate in the UN Private Sector Forum during NYC Climate Week. The UN General Assembly’s Forward Faster initiative, aimed at accelerating the delivery of the SDGs by the private sector, underscores how we all need to act faster and raise our level of ambition to create tangible, accountable actions,” said Prakash Arunkundrum, chief operating officer at Logitech. “We need progress not just pledges. The private sector has an incredible opportunity to drive change by creating the demand for emerging solutions that get us back on track to achieve the UN SDG goals. ”

Logitech joined the First Movers Coalition to signal the demand for emerging technologies that are essential for a net zero transition. Prioritizing top materials and metals (aluminum) in products as part of its Design for Sustainability approach has the potential to create the biggest impact in both reducing carbon emissions and enhancing circularity. In 2022, nearly 2 in 3 Logitech products were made with recycled plastic, and over 40 product lines used low-carbon aluminum. By joining the First Movers Coalition, Logitech becomes part of a wider ecosystem that aims to advance low-carbon technologies that are crucial to reducing global emissions quickly.

Partnerships and the sharing of diverse knowledge remain key to solving collective challenges. Logitech is working more closely with suppliers and stakeholders and renewing commitments at an accelerated pace. Learn more about Logitech’s sustainability initiatives and the progress it is making at Logitech.com/sustainability.

About Logitech

Logitech helps all people pursue their passions and is committed to doing so in a way that is good for people and the planet. We design hardware and software solutions that help businesses thrive and bring people together when working, creating, gaming and streaming. Brands of Logitech include Logitech, Logitech G, ASTRO Gaming, Streamlabs, Blue Microphones and Ultimate Ears.

Founded in 1981, and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI). Find Logitech at www.logitech.com, the company blog or @logitech.

Logitech and other Logitech marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Logitech Europe S.A. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For more information about Logitech and its products, visit the company’s website at www.logitech.com

# # #

(LOGIIR)

Editorial Contacts: 
Marie Perriard, Head of Sustainability Communications – USA mperriard@logitech.com 
Nicole Kenyon, Head of Global Corporate & Employee Communications – USA (510) 988-8553 
Ben Starkie, Corporate Communications – Europe +41 (0) 79-292-3499

LAUSANNE, Switzerland and SAN JOSE, Calif., September 27, 2023 – Logitech International (SIX: LOGN) (Nasdaq: LOGI) announced it has redoubled its efforts on climate action and equality by aligning its actions to two ambitious private sector initiatives to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Logitech recently participated in a Private Sector Forum, hosted by the United Nations Secretary-General, and committed to ‘Forward Faster’, a UN Global Compact initiative calling on business leaders to accelerate actions in areas that have the potential to create the fastest impact before 2030. Logitech also recently joined the First Movers Coalition (FMC), a partnership between the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the US Department of State, committing to low-carbon technologies in the harder-to-abate shipping and aluminum sectors.

“I was honored to participate in the UN Private Sector Forum during NYC Climate Week. The UN General Assembly’s Forward Faster initiative, aimed at accelerating the delivery of the SDGs by the private sector, underscores how we all need to act faster and raise our level of ambition to create tangible, accountable actions,” said Prakash Arunkundrum, chief operating officer at Logitech. “We need progress not just pledges. The private sector has an incredible opportunity to drive change by creating the demand for emerging solutions that get us back on track to achieve the UN SDG goals. ”

Logitech joined the First Movers Coalition to signal the demand for emerging technologies that are essential for a net zero transition. Prioritizing top materials and metals (aluminum) in products as part of its Design for Sustainability approach has the potential to create the biggest impact in both reducing carbon emissions and enhancing circularity. In 2022, nearly 2 in 3 Logitech products were made with recycled plastic, and over 40 product lines used low-carbon aluminum. By joining the First Movers Coalition, Logitech becomes part of a wider ecosystem that aims to advance low-carbon technologies that are crucial to reducing global emissions quickly.

Partnerships and the sharing of diverse knowledge remain key to solving collective challenges. Logitech is working more closely with suppliers and stakeholders and renewing commitments at an accelerated pace. Learn more about Logitech’s sustainability initiatives and the progress it is making at Logitech.com/sustainability.

About Logitech

Logitech helps all people pursue their passions and is committed to doing so in a way that is good for people and the planet. We design hardware and software solutions that help businesses thrive and bring people together when working, creating, gaming and streaming. Brands of Logitech include Logitech, Logitech G, ASTRO Gaming, Streamlabs, Blue Microphones and Ultimate Ears.

Founded in 1981, and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI). Find Logitech at www.logitech.com, the company blog or @logitech.

Logitech and other Logitech marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Logitech Europe S.A. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For more information about Logitech and its products, visit the company’s website at www.logitech.com

# # #

(LOGIIR)

Editorial Contacts: 
Marie Perriard, Head of Sustainability Communications – USA mperriard@logitech.com 
Nicole Kenyon, Head of Global Corporate & Employee Communications – USA (510) 988-8553 
Ben Starkie, Corporate Communications – Europe +41 (0) 79-292-3499

In the face of volatile market dynamics – with ever-evolving workforce and place demands – how is real estate embracing change and driving innovation to reshape the future of work to support all workers?

Executives from HOK, Empire State Realty Trust and the NYU Stern School of Business joined International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) CEO Rachel Hodgdon on the WELL Summit 2023 MainStage for a compelling panel titled, “Real Estate Reboot: Return to Office Won’t Save Us, So What Will?”

A recent survey of office workers by Boston Consulting Group found that the vast majority of respondents – a whopping 85% – are working in some kind of hybrid scenario. At the same time, occupancy rates throughout the U.S. and around the world vary city by city and country by country, making it clear that “we are living through one of the biggest work experiments of all time,” Hodgdon noted.

After sharing a bit about each of their current hybrid work scenarios, panelists agreed that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and that hybrid is here to stay…at least for the foreseeable future. Citing the Power of Proximity and their own experiences, panelists honed in on the key benefits of shared office time for employees.

Connectivity – a sense of community

Christina Chiu, EVP, chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Empire State Realty Trust, shared, “Employees want flexibility. It’s a demonstration of trust. If you need the flexibility, I as an employer trust you as an employee to get it done and to utilize your days as needed, but every company has to find its own rhythm. It’s not going to be one size fits all.” Chiu added that the side effect of that massive flexibility is people coming in on varied schedules, noting, “There’s one thing worse than coming back before you’re ready. It’s coming back to an empty office.”

At the same time, Sam Chandan, founding director of the Chen Institute for Global Real Estate Finance at the NYU Stern School of Business, acknowledged the connectivity that virtual platforms can bring. “If you’re in a smaller market, but you still want to be able to access that larger community of people, something like Zoom facilitates that in a way that would not have been possible 10 or 15 years ago, which may have left you feeling extraordinarily isolated.” He added, “It’s not the same as being in the same room together, but anything that we can do to ensure that no one should ever have to feel alone – that is incredibly important.”

Collaboration – ideation and culture 

Eli Hoisington, co-CEO at HOK, cited the benefits of social interaction to creative processes and to understanding and shaping company culture. Hoisington recalled a remark that has stuck with him, “A smoothie doesn’t buy a culture,” and later noted that teams at HOK strive to understand the culture of the office that they’re designing for and then to reflect what those people need.

Commitment to people

“People come here [Empire State Realty Trust] because they’re here to do their job, but they get more excited if they know that you as an employer are committed to their learning, their development and the potential to do more,” Chiu told attendees.

“You have to balance a lot of different considerations — not least of which is making sure that we’re leveraging the capacity for hybrid work to support folks that may have elder or childcare responsibilities,” indicates Chandan who also noted that “knowledge transfer and idea generation fundamentally happen more effectively when we are together in the room.”

Predictions for the future

Hybrid work environments are here to stay. “There are roughly eight million unfilled positions in the U.S. That number exceeds the number of people that are looking for work,” Chandan noted. So, while the economy may be showing signs of cooling, companies that are seeking to fill the positions that require an incredible level of energy, dynamism and dedication will have to continue to compete for talent and provide workplace flexibility.Building and neighborhood amenities such as access to green space and transportation are increasingly important.“I think the power of humanity is going to override any other force. Our desire to be social beings will drive us to be in places together because that’s where the best work happens.” — Hoisington“I’m very optimistic about thoughtful real estate, whether that is thoughtful workspaces, thoughtful retail and other spaces.” — Chiu“Folks who can think thoughtfully and creatively about how to unlock the value of space in a changed environment will see extraordinary success.” — Chandan

Stay tuned for more highlights from the WELL Summit in Washington, D.C. For today’s schedule, please visit https://www.wellcertified.com/well-summit.

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The financial system can use its outsized influence to manage the systemic risk of racial inequity–and shift the focus from risk management to value creation. This was the premise of the WELL Summit MainStage session, “Using Investor Influence to Change the World: How to Move Capital Toward Racial Justice.”

In the investment world, equity doesn’t add up. But it should actually be a force multiplier for change. The financial system can use its outsized influence to manage the systemic risk of racial inequity–and shift the focus from risk management to value creation. Investors have incredible amounts of power. What will they do with it?

This was the premise of the WELL Summit MainStage session, “Using Investor Influence to Change the World: How to Move Capital Toward Racial Justice.”

As Minjia Yang, vice president of Investing for Health at the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), noted in her introduction of the session, “Capital can and should serve as the catalyst for change. A people-first economy is necessary to achieve this vision.”

Monique Aiken, managing director of The Investment Integration Project (TIIP), shared historical perspective and a strong business case for focusing on and investing in efforts that will drive racial equity.

By the numbers:

People of color will make up the majority of the U.S. population by 2050.Research suggests that racial inequity between Black people and white people alone cost the United States an estimated $16 trillion in GDP between 2000 and 2020.If there were fair and equitable lending practices for entrepreneurs of color, the U.S. economy could have created more than an estimated $13 trillion in business revenue and more than six million jobs in that same 20-year period.Citi GPS and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation calculate that improving equity between white Americans and Black Americans alone could grow the economy by $8 trillion by 2050.

“You could easily imagine that there would be even more substantial gains if we add the effects of full participation of Indigenous people and other people of color to this mix. And that has not been well studied, which is also problematic in itself,” Aiken noted.

The key takeaways:

Racial inequity is a major threat to the U.S. economy and financial system. “It’s a feature not a bug,” Aiken noted. This is why investors should care and why everyone should care. It’s not only the right thing to do morally, but it threatens economic growth and racial inequity leads to social unrest.Conversely, racially diverse teams make better decisions and can help companies make more money.Aiken advises, “Go short on the past, long on the future. We must invest differently and in new things because what got us here, got us here.”“Look closely at the present you are constructing; it should look like the future you are dreaming.” – Alice Walker, American novelist and poet

*Read more about how investing in health, well-being and equity pays back through our comprehensive research review and on our website.

Stay tuned for more highlights from the WELL Summit in Washington, D.C. For today’s schedule, please visit https://www.wellcertified.com/well-summit.*

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LONDON, September 27, 2023 /3BL/ – Kimberly-Clark, the owner of household brands Andrex®, Kleenex®, Huggies®, WypAll® and Scott®, is celebrating a major milestone in its ambitious drive toward green energy with the official opening of a new onshore wind farm by Màiri McAllan, Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Clydesdale constituency and Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, that will supply around 80% of its UK electrical power needs.

The £75 million wind farm, which was built in just 18 months in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, is the largest wind asset owned by Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust (ORIT), a company managed by Octopus Energy Generation. Kimberly-Clark has a Power Purchase Agreement for the energy generated.

As the global personal care giant’s first wind farm project outside of North America, the 50 MW 12-turbine Cumberhead facility will supply the company with approximately 160,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable energy every year. This will result in a total emissions reduction of 55,625 MTCO2e per year – the equivalent of taking 38,628 passenger vehicles off the road every year.

Dan Howell, Vice President and Managing Director at Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland said: “Energy transformation is a key priority for us if we are going to deliver on our ambition to be using 100% renewable energy by 2030 in the UK and Ireland. When people ask what ‘fully decarbonising our operations’ looks like in practice, showing them a brand new 12-turbine wind farm is a pretty powerful answer.”

Craig Bowman, General Manager, Kimberly-Clark Professional UK & Ireland said, “It is through responsible and innovative business partnerships and investments in new technology like this agreement with ORIT that enables us to make significant changes in this decisive decade and reach our decarbonisation goals.”

David Bird, Investment Director for Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust (ORIT) said: “Officially inaugurating this wind farm is an absolutely fantastic milestone. Onshore wind farms like these are generating much-needed clean green power for the UK. It’s brilliant to be supplying this renewable power from this wind farm to Kimberly-Clark to help decarbonise their business. The more businesses that follow their lead, the quicker we can accelerate the push to net zero.”     

The green power will be used by Kimberly-Clark’s manufacturing facilities across the UK, making up almost 80% of the electricity needs for its Barrow, Flint and Northfleet manufacturing facilities. Between them, these sites produce nearly 1 billion Andrex toilet rolls, over 150,000,000 boxes of Kleenex tissues, and almost 136 million packs of Huggies baby wipes per year, alongside other personal care products for the UK market and B2B products such as WypAll® and Scott®.  

Oriol Margo, Sustainability Leader, Kimberly-Clark EMEA said: “We are feeling an immense amount of pride cutting the ribbon on this project today with Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust. Together, as we close in on our ambitious goal to move solely to renewable energy, we continue to invest in the future of the planet, our business and the FMCG industry as a whole, and hope to encourage other organisations, big and small, to do the same along the way.”

This project is part of Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland’s wider sustainability strategy and its ambition to move to 100% renewable energy by 2030. To deliver this, the company is also working with Octopus on developing on-site solar power as well as green hydrogen. The company’s green hydrogen projects are being developed in partnership with HYRO, RES and Octopus Energy Generation’s green hydrogen adventure, and another with Carlton Power. The projects have been placed on the UK Government’s Hydrogen Business Model Strategy shortlist, and would reduce the company’s natural gas consumption once operational at the end of 2026.

By 2026, Kimberly-Clark’s UK and Ireland (scope 1 and 2) operational emissions are expected to be reduced by up to 85% from the 2015 baseline, ensuring the company is on track to meet its sustainability targets by 2030.

About Kimberly Clark’s ongoing sustainability projects
This partnership is just one of Kimberly-Clark’s ongoing sustainability projects to facilitate the roll out of renewable electricity across Europe, Middle East and Africa, and the continued exploration and development of decarbonisation solutions.

Kimberly-Clark’s global 2030 sustainability strategy aims to address the key social and environmental challenges of the next decade, improving the lives and wellbeing of one billion people in underserved communities around the world. The transition to renewable energy will form a vital part of the company’s global effort to halve its total environmental footprint by 2030.

About Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people’s most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what’s important to them. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, hold No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in approximately 80 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build strong communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company’s nearly 150-year history of innovation, visit kimberly-clark.com.

About Kimberly-Clark Professional™
Kimberly-Clark Professional™ partners with businesses to create Exceptional Workplaces, helping to make them healthier, safer, and more productive. Key brands in this segment include Kleenex, Scott, WypAll, KleenGuard, and Kimtech. To see how Kimberly-Clark Professional™ is helping people around the world to work better, please visit www.kcprofessional.co.uk.

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HOUSTON, September 27, 2023 /3BL/ -The Baker Hughes Foundation announced Wednesday two grants focused on supplier diversity around the world: a $75,000 grant to Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC), and a $100,000 grant to WEConnect International. Both organizations share Baker Hughes’ vision of promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, as well as reducing inequality within and among countries.

HMSDC provides training on sustainable business practices and connects minority entrepreneurs with corporations that value diversity and inclusion. WEConnect International helps women-owned businesses succeed in global markets by certifying their ownership and offering them access to a network of corporate buyers.

Baker Hughes is committed to becoming an industry leader with a diverse and inclusive supply chain that creates value for its customers and reflects the communities in which it operates. Ensuring a diverse supply chain results in better communities and stronger business solutions. This grant will assist the HMSDC in developing and implementing a tailored training program that equips minority entrepreneurs with essential knowledge and implementation skills in sustainable business practices. Acknowledging that women are often at the forefront of gender inequality, WEConnect International’s grant will help develop nationwide marketing campaigns and learnings systems to help drive revenue and grow the number of registered women-owned businesses in the WEConnect network.

Both donations support Baker Hughes’ commitment to advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – specifically SDG 8 to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. Also, SDG 10 to reduce inequality within and among countries.

“At Baker Hughes, supplier diversity is integral to our success, and it is our duty to support organizations that fuel building a more inclusive supply base and take the steps necessary to ensure business practices mirror our diverse landscape,” said Lynn Buckley, Supplier Diversity and Business Development Sourcing leader.

“We are thrilled to receive this generous grant from the Baker Hughes Foundation, which will enable us to expand our network of women-owned businesses and promote gender-inclusive procurement practices globally. We share Baker Hughes’ vision of advancing sustainable economic growth and reducing inequality, and we look forward to working together to create more opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the energy sector and beyond,” said Elizabeth A. Vazquez, CEO and co-founder of WEConnect International.

“The HMSDC is excited and honored to be a recipient of a grant from the Baker Hughes Foundation. We believe to close the equity gap in communities of color, we must ensure that diverse businesses understand and meet the business sustainability requirements of today’s corporate and government supply chains,” said Ingrid M. Robinson, president of HMSDC. “This grant allows us to share sustainability best practices with minority-owned businesses and help them develop and integrate sustainability focused policies and processes that will allow them to grow their businesses.”

To learn more about Baker Hughes’ work in supporting its communities, visit our Corporate Responsibility website.

About the Baker Hughes Foundation:

For 25 years, the Baker Hughes Foundation has been a steward of charitable resources for meaningful community impact. The Foundation seeks to advance environmental quality, education, health, safety, and wellness around the world by supporting organizations with shared values, demonstrated leadership, evidence of impact, financial soundness, and the capacity to implement initiatives and evaluate their success. The Baker Hughes Foundation makes strategic philanthropic contributions, matches Baker Hughes employee contributions, and awards volunteer recognition grants for outstanding employee community service.

About Baker Hughes

Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR) is an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and conducting business in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet. Visit us at bakerhughes.com.

For more information, please contact:

Media Relations

Adrienne M. Lynch 
+1 713-906-8407 
adrienne.lynch@bakerhughes.com