Tag: 3BL

Originally published on 3M News Center

3M and Discovery Education have named 10 recipients of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge Alumni Network Alumni Grants Program.

The alumni network and grant program, launched in January 2023, offers previous participants of the nation’s premier middle school science competition networking opportunities, resources, events and funding for existing science projects through a total of $25,000 in grant money given to ten different alumni annually.

“It’s incredibly inspiring to see how the 3M Young Scientist Challenge alumni have continued their scientific innovations,” said John Banovetz, Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer and Environmental Responsibility at 3M. “Congratulations to each of the recipients of the inaugural alumni grants program. 3M is proud to support these inspiring students as they apply their passion for science to make the world a better place.”

The 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge Alumni Grants Program recipients are:

Braeden Benedict is a 26-year-old from Missouri and a 2011 finalist. Braeden received $1,000 for the project The Health Career Collaborative at Washington University in St. Louis that provides mentorship, engaging health curriculum and exposure to health careers to high school students from low-income, underrepresented minority communities.Leanne Fan is a 15-year-old from California and 2022 America’s Top Young Scientist & Grand Prize winner. Leanne received $1,000 for the project Teaching Science to Kids Through Expos! that introduces young students to science.Reshma Kosaraju is a 17-year-old from California and a 2019 finalist & Improving Lives Award Winner. Reshma received $1,000 for the project Eco Quest: An environmental conservation board game that teaches students about climate change.Kathryn Lampo is a 20-year-old from Colorado and a 2017 finalist. Kathryn received $1,000 for the project NYC Model Rocketry Initiative that makes space science and engineering accessible to underserved middle schoolers across New York City through engaging STEM resources.Viraj Pandey is a 14-year-old from California and a 2021 finalist. Viraj received $2,500 for the project Enhancing Crop Yields and Minimizing Crop Diseases Using Graphene Quantum Dots to Combat Overpopulation and Adverse Climate Changes that will help sustainably increase crop yield.Sarah Park is a 15-year-old from Florida and a 2021 America’s Top Young Scientist & Grand Prize winner. Sarah received $5,000 for the project Spark Care+: Personalized Music Therapy App using a Mobile and AI that provides accessible and affordable music therapy for emotional wellbeing.Samvrit Rao is a 15-year-old from Virginia and a 2020 finalist. Samvrit received $1,000 for the project STEMForU Innovation Bootcamps that inspires underrepresented minorities to pursue STEM by providing innovative learning experiences and resources to help develop STEM critical thinking skills.Moitri Santra is a 13-year-old from Florida and a 2021 finalist. Harini received $2,500 for the project Novel Phyto-Nano Drug Delivery System that investigates the potential of medicinal phytochemicals at the nano-scale for reducing adverse drug reactions.Daniel Thomas is a 15-year-old from Texas and a 2022 finalist. Daniel received $5,000 for the project ClearWTR Portable: A Novel Water Disinfection and Purification Device that creates safe and clean drinking water.Harini Venkatesh is a 15-year-old from New Hampshire and a 2022 Improving Lives Award Winner & finalist. Harini received $5,000 for the project The Comptometrist: A Novel Method to Efficiently and Effectively Calculate Optical Power Current that calculates eye prescriptions.

Taco Bell Blog

At Taco Bell, we empower our teams to be fearless, embrace difference and drive change. We believe that each one of us has a story to tell.

The month of May celebrates Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. This month was specifically chosen to honor the first known Japanese immigrant to the U.S. (May 1843), as well as to acknowledge the tremendous contribution Chinese immigrants made in completing the transcontinental railroad (May 1869).

AANHPI is a wide-ranging term used to describe all cultures across the continent of Asia and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia – representing approximately 50 ethnic groups and 100 languages. There is incredible depth and richness of diversity found within the AANHPI community, and this month is devoted to recognizing and elevating their cultural influence.

To honor and celebrate this month and the AANHPI community at The Bell, we will share their stories every week in the month of May in hopes that they not only educate but inspire you to drive positive and intentional impact within your community.

Throughout the year, we will continue sharing the incredible stories of our Taco Bell teams; the sharing and celebration doesn’t stop here.

Pragna P. – Area Coach, Taco Bell Corp

Pragna had always strived to pursue her dreams, and in 2010, she began her search for a job in hopes of achieving success – wherever she went. While her search was difficult, Pragna overcame these obstacles and eventually produced a flourishing career.

But how did it happen? Well, through countless job applications, she got an interview at her local Taco Bell. The Restaurant General Manager (RGM) at the time, Bryon, as well as her other mentor, Parabhjeet, saw something in Pragna, that she herself had yet to discover, and encouraged her to demonstrate this passion and perseverance in her new role. It wasn’t easy for Pragna to lean in, but once she did, she too saw what they saw in her and was grateful for the guidance and trust they provided.

Through their guidance and Pragna’s skills, she was able to become an Area Coach and support a larger team than she could have ever imagined. There is no doubt that she has made her mentors proud – by not only climbing up the ladder, but also utilizing the lessons Bryon and Parabhjeet taught her. “I always wanted to be as successful as my mentors, so I followed in their footsteps. I am where I am today because I had good mentors and I was ready to work,” she said.

Being a good mentor and having a great work ethic is only one side of the coin. Coming from a large family, Pragna knew how different every single one of us can be. Each one of her family members or friends is different in personality, has experienced different things – the list goes on – and that’s where the other side of being a leader comes in. Early on, she was able to learn to adapt to different situations. This knowledge allowed her to be open-minded to everyone she meets and learn from them.

So, for her, a month like AANHPI Heritage Month is a time to take stock of what you’ve learned, learn some more, and celebrate diverse communities and all their differences.

“I have a great appreciation for diversity and respect for every individual,” she said. “As a woman of color, I can encourage others to do the same… one of the ways we can do this today is supporting the Taco Bell Foundation where the goal is to provide more opportunities especially for [young people].”

After 13 years at The Bell®, Pragna can proudly say that she works at a place where she feels like she’s part of a community that accepts and celebrates her culture and can freely interact with people from different backgrounds. And that’s why equality is something that Pragna practices every day – she knows that her team and peers need to have a safe space where they can be themselves, and that’s Taco Bell.

As a leader, she wants her team to freely express their culture, feel like they belong and are motivated day-in and day-out. She believes that this is why she is successful today and wants to, “… motivate others within the organization and remind them that perseverance is the key to success.” And if you keep your eye on the ball, persevere and lean into all that Taco Bell has to offer, you too can achieve your dreams – just like Pragna.

Charles Darwin made this historic statement 153 years ago, “From so simple a beginning, endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.” The quote from his book, On the Origin of the Species, is quite apt today when applied to emerging technologies, such as 5G, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and the digital twin.

Revolutionary inventions pave the way for future technological innovations

In 2022, the world celebrated the 75th anniversary of the well-known device, the transistor, and the 65th anniversary of another stellar device, the integrated circuit. Since then, we have evolved from a single amplifier block to a 3000-transistor wafer in the 1970s to a nanometer process that can accommodate 50 billion transistors onto a chip the size of a fingernail. In the last 35 years, the semiconductor market grew from over $30B to more than $600B, creating millions of employment opportunities.

Sixty years ago, the Mansfield News Journal correctly predicted the future in an article with the headline; You’ll be able to carry [your] phone in [a] pocket in the future. Exactly 20 years after that, Motorola launched the first commercially available cellular phone, DynaTac 8000X, costing $3995, weighing around 1 kg, and providing 30 minutes of talk time per charging cycle for 1G networks.

Emerging technologies mature as life-altering advances continue

The evolution continues as 5G networks overcome design challenges to enable <1 ms latency and up to 20 Gbps speed. But progress is not about speed and latency only. Many innovations have directly impacted the development of landmark devices, including cameras, phone books, and clocks.

Today, the world has over 14B connected devices and more than 7B mobile phone users, with global mobile traffic crossing the benchmark of 100 EB (one billion Gigabytes) per month. Expect these numbers to grow exponentially for the next several decades.
For instance, we’ll see the evolution of the 2 nm process, accommodating 333 million transistors in 1 square millimeter. The tech cosmos is already hooked on developing 6G mobile communication technologies, which will transform the world.

How 5G and 6G technology will impact the future of humankind

As the next technological evolution unfolds, we can expect to see technology for humanity accelerate, resulting in significant improvements in healthcare, disease prediction, education delivery, disaster management, resource management, productivity enhancement, crop protection, and much more.

For instance, expanding 5G and 6G wireless technologies in rural areas, combined with robots, temperature moisture sensors, drone aerial imagery, and GPS technologies, will significantly contribute to sustainable agriculture. Smart agriculture unlocks new ways to optimize crop production, conserve resources, and improve soil health, helping farmers reduce their carbon footprint.

These technologies will help in decreasing water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the real-time data collected by IoT-enabled drones and sensors results in more efficient and accurate pesticide spraying that could lessen overall pesticide use significantly.

The evolution of 5G and 6G technologies is a significant catalyst in implementing autonomous vehicles (AV). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.3M people lose their lives yearly due to road accidents, and another 20 M suffer injuries. Human errors cause ninety-five percent of traffic accidents. The precision technologies used in autonomous vehicles will considerably help prevent accidents and loss to humanity.

Rural healthcare has been a significant concern for all nations: underdeveloped, developing, and developed. The concept of Telemedicine has existed for decades. However, the implementation has been a major challenge due to the lack of enabling technologies. All the technological advancements are helping bridge the gap considerably and making it possible to take primary and secondary healthcare to rural areas.

Stay up with emerging technology by subscribing to our State of Innovation Newsletter. Use the box to the right to sign-up.

Energized by Edison

By Erika Potter ENERGIZED by Edison Writer

Inglewood has an aging tree population with many trees near the end of their lifespan. But older trees are less effective at providing shade, cooling the air or sequestering carbon dioxide. 

This can contribute to the urban heat island effect, which occurs when cities replace the natural land cover with dense concentrations of pavement, buildings and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat. 

“This neighborhood sits between the 405, 110 and 105 freeways and has planes flying overhead all day, so the air pollution here compared to other places in L.A. is pretty bad,” said Danny Padilla, TreePeople Urban Forestry team member. “I like to look at these trees as natural filters to help clean the air.”

Edison International and Southern California Edison employees and their families spent a recent beautiful Saturday morning on a busy residential street in Inglewood planting Brisbane box and African sumac trees specifically chosen by TreePeople for their ability to sequester carbon dioxide. Since 2010, Edison has provided more than $950,000 to support TreePeople’s urban and mountain forestry and tree canopy initiatives. 

“TreePeople is working in our communities to not only plant the next generation of trees, but also grow the next generation of stewards with groundbreaking environmental education programs, workforce development and training, and other outdoor equity programs that ensure young people from underserved communities get to experience wonder and awe of the natural world,” said Jered Lindsay, SCE senior attorney and TreePeople board member. 

In addition to planting trees in Inglewood, Edison volunteers celebrated Earth Month by participating in a series of events aimed at preserving and protecting the environment, including invasive species removal and trail maintenance throughout SCE’s service area.

“We are proud to work with our nonprofit partners to create a positive impact on the environment. Our collaborative efforts demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and the well-being of our communities,” said Beth Foley, vice president of Corporate Communications & Philanthropy at SCE and Edison International. 

Almost 100 Edison employees, family and friends worked alongside the California State Parks Foundation, where hundreds of pounds of invasive mustard plants were removed from state parks in Brea, Culver City and Newport Beach. 

“We’re grateful for the work Edison International is doing to help preserve and protect our state parks. Their support is crucial in helping us keep our parks healthy and beautiful for generations to come,” said Emily Doyle, Climate Resilience program director of the California State Parks Foundation. Edison International has supported California State Parks Foundation Earth Day events since 2006, providing over $1 million to the organization since 2003.

In addition to the invasive species removal events, Edison employees volunteered with nonprofit organizations Food Exploration and Discovery and SistersWe for tree planting events in Monrovia and San Bernardino, respectively. 

Volunteers also worked with the Ventura Land Trust for trail maintenance in Harmon Canyon, aimed at preserving and enhancing the natural habitat for local wildlife. 

Edison International’s efforts during Earth Month reflect its commitment to partnerships with nonprofits that are making a meaningful impact on the environment and creating a more sustainable future for all. 

To learn more about Edison International’s commitment to sustainability and the environment, visit edison.com/sustainability.

DALLAS, May 30, 2023 /3BL Media/ – FCC Environmental Services, a leading waste management provider in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, has installed new robotic sorting technology at its materials recovery facility (MRF). This cutting-edge technology will enable the MRF to start accepting and sorting paper cups, and more efficiently capture food and beverage cartons from residents throughout the greater Dallas area. This will ensure the valuable fiber found in both types of containers can go on to make new paper-based products.

FCC joins a growing trend of MRFs and communities that are including paper cups and food and beverage cartons as part of their residential recycling programs. This initiative was made possible by a collaborative equipment grant from the Carton Council of North America (CCNA), the Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI), and the NextGen Consortium.

“With the installation of this new robotic sorting technology, we are proud to expand and improve our recycling capabilities and offer our customers in the Dallas metropolitan area the opportunity to recycle paper cups and cartons,” said Bruce Magnuson, FCC’s senior general manager.

“This robotic sorting and AI is a great example of how technology can help improve recycling and ultimately contribute to our circular economy by capturing more recyclable materials,” said Larine Urbina, vice president of communications for the Carton Council. “We are proud to work with FCC to embrace innovation to expand recycling. Collaboration with others throughout the recycling value chain is a cornerstone of the Carton Council’s strategy.”

MRFs have multiple options for managing paper cups and cartons. While many MRFs include cups and cartons in mixed paper bales, FCC has opted to sort this material to a higher-value poly-grade bale. The new AMP robot plays a crucial role in the mechanical recovery and makes the sorting of these materials for the higher-value market possible.

“Strengthening recycling infrastructure is vital to creating a more circular future for packaging. The NextGen Consortium is thrilled to partner with FCC and other industry leaders to provide grant funding for new recycling technology that can help keep more valuable packaging, like cups and cartons, in circulation and reduce waste,” said Kate Daly, Head of the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners––the managing partner of the NextGen Consortium.

“Our equipment grant program is designed to help organizations invest in new recycling infrastructure and drive innovation in waste management. We are excited to see the impact it is having in the Dallas metro area expanding recycling to nearly half a million households,” said Natha Dempsey, president of the Foodservice Packaging Institute.

Once paper cups and cartons enter the recycling system, they can be used by mills to make new paper products that consumers use every day, like paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, and even new cups. Follow FCC’s progress and other recycling efforts at https://fccenvironmental.com.

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ABOUT FCC: FCC is a global industry leader since the 1900s. Today, FCC is one of the world’s largest waste management and recycling companies with a presence in over 35 countries. FCC’s more than 60,000 employees worldwide interact with citizens on a daily basis and focus on constantly increasing sustainability. Recycling lies at the center of FCC’s environmental services strategy with the company employing a wide variety of technological solutions to ensure the highest quantity and quality of material recovered.

ABOUT THE CARTON COUNCIL: The Carton Council is composed of four leading carton manufacturers, Elopak, Pactiv Evergreen, SIG and Tetra Pak. Formed in 2009, the Carton Council works to deliver long-term collaborative solutions in order to divert valuable cartons from the landfill. Through a united effort, the Carton Council is committed to building a sustainable infrastructure for carton recycling nationwide and works toward their continual goal of adding access to carton recycling throughout the U.S.

ABOUT THE NEXTGEN CONSORTIUM: The NextGen Consortium is a multi-year consortium that addresses single-use food packaging waste globally by advancing the design, commercialization, and recovery of food packaging alternatives. The NextGen Consortium is managed by Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy. Starbucks and McDonald’s are the founding partners of the Consortium. The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo are sector lead partners. JDE Peet’s, Wendy’s and Yum! Brands are supporting partners. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is the environmental advisory partner. Learn more at www.nextgenconsortium.com.

ABOUT FPI: Founded in 1933, the Foodservice Packaging Institute is the trade association for the foodservice packaging industry in North America. FPI promotes the value and benefits of foodservice packaging and plays an active role in advancing the recovery of FSP to support the circular economy. The association serves as the industry’s leading authority to educate and influence stakeholders. Members include raw material and machinery suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and purchasers of foodservice packaging. For more information, visit www.FPI.org.

Originally published in GoDaddy’s 2022 Sustainability Report

Customer Experience

We deliver top-tier personalized support.

From the moment an idea sparks, GoDaddy delivers leading technology and personalized support that wows. We know that every entrepreneur’s story is different, and that’s why we offer customized support at every step — whether that’s thinking about business names, creating a compelling brand, building a website that draws in customers, spreading awareness, harnessing and leveraging analytics, or growing through sales.

2022 was a year to remember, thanks to our knowledgeable GoDaddy Guides who prioritize the customer at every step. That means delivering the right products and services at first contact, driving value, exceeding expectations, fostering accessibility and meeting with customers in the ways that best fit their needs.

GoDaddy Guides

Our GoDaddy Guides are not simply customer service representatives. They’re champions, experts, sounding boards and cheerleaders. They handle millions of conversations per year — and they strive to make every customer feel important.

Through a collection of managed service offerings, our Guides help entrepreneurs everywhere with their first steps and their next steps, all the way along their journeys. Our customers can choose their preferred guidance channel, including WhatsApp, WeChat and SMS. In addition to our team of U.S.-based Guides, we have Guides located internationally who provide in-region support in a number of local languages.

Expert Guidance

While consultations with our Guides serve as an essential component of our customer service offerings, we also serve as thought leaders and industry experts via a wide variety of on-demand tutorials and resources that entrepreneurs can access when, how and where it suits them best. Timely, practical and actionable information can be found on our blog, where customers can browse by topic or product. And on third-party sites like YouTube, we host tutorials that cover the most up-to-date, in-demand topics to guide entrepreneurs at every stage of their journeys.

Customer Conversations and Support

We’re proud of our reputation for outstanding customer service, and we work hard to uphold it.

We had more than 14 MILLION conversations with customers across text, audio, video and in-person touchpoints in 2022.

Our level of care — at every stage, for every entrepreneur and for every unique need — is a major point of competitive differentiation for us. Our Guides aim for deep human interactions, leveraging their expertise as well as their own personal experiences to guide customers.

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: 
When asked, “How likely are you to recommend our company to a friend or colleague?”, our customers responded so positively that we met our corporate relational net promoter score target for 2022, ending the year two points higher than the beginning.

We use customer conversations and feedback to improve how we show up for our customers, and our commitment to continuous improvement is paying off. In 2022, we boosted our overall Trustpilot score from 4.4 to 4.7 out of 5.0. Another way we track how we’re performing is customer retention. In 2022, our customer retention rate for those who have been with us for more than three years was approximately 93%. Our customer retention rate exceeds 85% for each of the five prior years.

Awards and Honors

2022 Stevie Awards for: 
Woman of the Year in Customer Service
 2022 Stevie Awards for: 
Sales & Customer Service — Silver
 2022 Red Dot Award: 
Product Design for the GoDaddy Poynt Smart Terminal

About This Report 
Unless otherwise noted, the GoDaddy 2022 Sustainability Report outlines our environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies, activities, progress, metrics and performance for the fiscal year that ended on December 31, 2022. This report references the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and includes select Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Standards metrics for the Internet Media and Services sector.

GoDaddy is committed to regular, transparent communication about our sustainability progress, and to that end, we will share updates on an ongoing basis through our website and will continue to publish an annual Sustainability Report.

To learn more, please read our 2022 Sustainability Report.

The unique experiences of military life have and continue to influence how Comcast NBCUniversal does business.

As we celebrate Military Appreciation Month, it’s an honor to reflect on our company’s long-standing dedication to supporting our nation’s military community. As the Vice President of Veteran and Military Affairs, a military spouse, and a mother of a U.S. Army soldier, I believe service matters, and I’m passionate about building a future of unlimited possibilities for veterans, service members, and their families.

Beginning with our founder Ralph Roberts, a World War II Navy veteran, many of our influential teammates proudly call themselves veterans, Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, or Coast Guardsmen. We value the entrepreneurial spirit, integrity, and esprit de corps these individuals bring to our organization, and we work year-round to create an empowering and inclusive workplace for all.

In 2015, we launched our Military Engagement initiative to make Comcast NBCUniversal the employer and service provider of choice among veterans, service members, and their families. And today, as we continue to evolve and grow our deep connection and commitment to the military community remain at the core of our mission and values.

Military Hiring & Inclusivity

In the past seven years, we have hired nearly 21,000 military-connected employees and have been continually recognized as a top employer by the Department of Defense, Military Times, Military Friendly®, DiversityInc, and VETS Indexes.

21K – Military-connected employees hired by Comcast

We recognize the exceptional qualities that our military-connected teammates bring to the workforce. Their leadership skills, work ethic, and ability to adapt to change are invaluable traits that we actively seek in our employees. For this reason, we have implemented specialized training programs for our recruiters and hiring managers to better understand the unique aspects of military experience and identify transferable skills. This ensures our hiring process is aligned with the needs of military-connected job seekers and that we can provide tailored career opportunities.

We foster the professional growth of our military-connected teammates. We have implemented unique employee benefits and experiences for those serving in the National Guard and reserve, including our best-in-class Military Concierge, so they can effectively balance and grow in both their civilian and military careers. Additionally, we offer Military Spouse Transfer Assistance and a 9,000-member strong Veteran’s Network Employee Resource Group, which provides members mentorship, networking, and volunteer opportunities.

Empowering Military Communities

Comcast NBCUniversal is not only committed to supporting our military-connected teammates, but also to creating unique opportunities and experiences for our military customers. We enhance the lives of veterans, service members, and their families through our connectivity services, accessibility technologies, and special media experiences,

As a military-ready company, we keep veterans and their families connected to the resources they need to thrive in a digital world. That’s why we are installing more free WiFi-connected Lift Zones and providing access to digital skills training in community centers nationwide. In the last year, we’ve helped bridge the digital divide for military community members in Houston, Pittsburgh, Washington, and Baltimore. These efforts are part of Project UP, Comcast’s 10-year, $1 billion commitment to advance digital equity.

Since 2011, Comcast NBCUniversal has donated over $197 million to military community-serving organizations. We’ve had the privilege of supporting hundreds of national and local organizations serving transitioning service members, disabled veterans and military caregivers, women veterans, military spouses, and the children of service members.

$197M – Donated by Comcast NBCUniversal to military community-serving organizations

Looking Ahead

But those are just a few examples of how our connection to the military community has positively influenced our company culture and focus. Our nation’s reverence for veterans, service members, and military families is special, and Comcast NBCUniversal continues to put that passion into action.

On May 2, we marked Military Appreciation Month with a special ceremony at our company headquarters in Philadelphia. The event included renewing several Department of Defense statements of support, including the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and the Military Spouse Employment Partnership.

At Comcast NBCUniversal, we are proud to call ourselves a military-ready company, and we will continue to create pathways to meaningful employment, provide unique experiences for our customers, and foster strong community partnerships. Together, we will honor our teammates’ legacies of service and help open doors of opportunity for the military community.

Mona Dexter is Vice President of Military & Veteran Affairs for Comcast NBCUniversal.

Ensuring women are represented in all levels, including leadership positions is crucial to a company’s success – from building gender equity, to fostering an innovative environment. It also helps businesses continue to inspire and create access for generations of women leaders to come. Women make up 47% of the workforce and hold 23% of executive positions – yet women of color consist of only 13% of the C-suite roles.

Increasing representation and access for women in the workplace is a topic Dr. Tiph Turpin, Global VP of Employee Communications, has been passionate about her entire career. Faced with a lack of representation in her own field, she has dedicated her time to mentorship, advocacy, and equal opportunity in corporate spaces. We were able to connect with Tiph and learn more about her journey and guidance for other women and women of color who aspire to be in leadership.

Tiph Turpin is a PRWeek 40 under 40 honoree who leads global employee communications at Expedia Group. She delivers award-winning communications and manages her teams as an impact-first organization that develops internal storytelling about Expedia Group’s business strategy, sharing what it means for travel to be a force for good.

On Choosing Expedia Group and Travel

Tiph was drawn to the travel industry and Expedia Group’s vision to lead transformation through technology, especially given the way pandemic changed the way people approach travel.

“After the height of the pandemic, there was a new meaning to travel. We’ve seen the impact travel can have, to open apertures for how we view each other, experience the world, and it can shape how we see our own potential. Being part of this passion for travel and technology drove me to join Expedia Group. There is a real spirit to run toward change and run toward innovation here.”

On the Journey to VP

Tiph experienced continued career growth since joining Expedia Group in 2021 – from Senior Director to VP – is a considerable jump to make in anyone’s career and that can have a big shift in management objectives. She shares how focusing on being a great leader to her team has been a key part of her success, and how other companies can foster growth in their teams.

“In order to fully appreciate all aspects of your employees, you need to go deep into what someone wants to contribute and how they want to contribute. It’s important that you understand your employees as individuals and be clear on how you and that person measures success.”

Tiph shared that companies need to be more aware than ever that success looks differently for each person, and the ways success is measured need to evolve. But how do we identify that?

“We start with feedback. We are in a new era in the tech ecosystem and businesses need to hold space for success to look differently for each person. One of the ways individual contributors can do this, and identify if they’re ready for the next step in their career as managers or leaders, is to collect feedback.”

“Keep getting feedback from that 360 angle and understand your business scope. Make sure you have a good mix of sponsors, personal champions and mentors.”

On Women Navigating Imposter Syndrome

Many of us have had moments of doubt – whether you’re positioning yourself for a pay raise or beginning a new job. Imposter syndrome can be the fear and discomfort of ‘not checking all the boxes’ or not being ready/worthy of an opportunity. It is often felt disproportionally by marginalized groups such as women and people of color due to years of systemic bias and exclusion. Tiph shares advice on battling these notions.

“If you’re a woman and you’re not sure about your own readiness, you need to know that it’s not just you. Countless studies have shown that women don’t apply for opportunities unless they feel over-confident in their abilities to match the job description. It’s important to recognize that notions like this can hold us back – both individually, and as a community. Use the feedback from your circle of sponsors, mentors, peers and managers.”

“Don’t let yourself feel stifled if you don’t check all the boxes and propel yourself in the direction that is right for you.”

On Prioritizing Balance 

During the pandemic, many parents saw firsthand how career ambitions and family aspirations needed to be renegotiated and prioritized. For Tiph, this is when she learned some of the best advice she got in her career.

“When I came back from maternity leave [the first time], I found myself working around the clock, hyper-focusing on getting as many tasks done as possible and emailing at all hours of the day. The advice I got from a fellow parent and mentor was that I needed to reassess how I measure my value, and impact.

At that time, I felt my impact was the volume of work I was outputting. But as you grow in your career you need to think about how to become more efficient. The hours may be less, but you learn how to make your efficiency skyrocket.”

On Finding Mentors to Help Redefine Success

Sometimes, it takes an external pair of eyes to push us to the next level of our performance. Tiph shares that mentors can be the catalyst for these career changes. 

“You need to reevaluate how you determine success. Mentors can be very helpful in asking these types of questions with you:

1. What does amazing delivery look like? 
2. How am I a differentiator in the workplace? 
3. How do I troubleshoot my current blockers? 
4. How might I improve my efficiency?” 

Tiph also shares that it’s important to address and be specific on what a mentor looks like and push yourself to grow into the leader you want to see. “Sometimes, people don’t think of themselves as a mentor. But we each have something unique we can provide to others– be it counsel, or advice. People need to step into that more, no matter your level! There’s always space for being able to lift other folks as we climb.” 
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Learn more about the power of travel as a force for good at Expedia Group, our Travel Community, and how you can join us.

Volunteering is a big part of our culture, which makes us and our communities stronger. Last year, employees tracked over 105,000 volunteer hours in SunCares, Suncor’s employee giving program, for sharing their time, talent and energy with their community.

This year’s theme for National Volunteer Week, which ran from April 16 to 22, is volunteering weaves us together. The theme highlights the importance of interconnecting by volunteering.

Volunteer week is also an opportunity to celebrate SunCares Changemakers—Suncor employees who go above and beyond in their community, volunteering their expertise, time and financial contributions in a meaningful way throughout the year. Each Changemaker is able to name a community organization of choice to receive a one-time donation of $20,000 from Suncor or the Suncor Energy Foundation.

Here are your 2023 SunCares Changemakers!

Sergii Melnikov, Fort McMurray, Alta.

Where Sergii’s donation went:

$20,000 to the Ukrainian Catholic University

Sergii has been a dedicated volunteer for years, and when his community of Fort McMurray needs support, he’s the first one to step up. When Russia invaded Ukraine, Sergii made a significant donation to organizations in Ukraine to support the people defending the country. Sergii also supported the formation of YMM Stands with Ukraine committee, a partnership between the Ukrainian Cultural Society and the Oil Sands Rotary Club of Fort McMurray. He has helped over 100 newcomers to the Wood Buffalo area settle into their new community, while also hosting a Ukrainian family since March 2022.

Christie Courtland Joseph, Calgary, Alta.

Where Christie’s donation went:

$20,000 to Girl Guides of Canada, Alberta Council, Calgary Chapter

Christie volunteers many hours as a Deputy Area Commissioner in Calgary with Girls Guides Canada and is a leader of her own unit. Over the years, Christie has instilled confidence and competence within Guiders and youth. Christie has organized fundraising opportunities to ensure units in Calgary have the funds to engage in learning opportunities, and taken youth on trips to Switzerland and Vancouver Island to hike a portion of the West Coast Trail. Closer to home, Christie organizes camping weekends where she facilitates backpacking and canoeing skill development. Christie is also evaluating existing processes and facilitating feedback sessions with guiders and District Commissioners to set up the organization for the future.

Linda (Jinling) Xiang, Calgary, Alt.

Where Linda’s donation went:

$20,000 Western Canada Hubei Association

Linda is the Chair and President of the Western Canada Hubei Association (WCHA), which provides the Hubei community in Western Canada a space to celebrate their culture, connect with one another and access resources and support. Through the WCHA, Linda offers mentorship to students and new grads and organizes virtual lunch and learns for the broader WCHA community. During the pandemic, Linda also helped raise funds to purchase and donate medical supplies to front-line medical staff in Wuhan, China, and distributed food to members of the Calgary Chinese Community. Earlier this year, Linda received a Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of her commitment to community.

Michael Vickers, Fort McMurray, Alta.

Where Mike’s donation went:

$5,000 to Canadian Mental Health Association$15,000 to St. Aidan’s Society

Mike is an avid volunteer in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo who supports seniors through St. Aidan’s Society, provides training and mentoring for umpires throughout the baseball season, and volunteers on the board of directors at the United Way of Fort McMurray and the Canadian Mental Health Association Wood Buffalo chapter. He often finds ways to bridge Suncor and community through organizing slo-pitch fundraising events and talking about mental health within Suncor.

Deborah (kâkike manitohkân iskwew) Green, Calgary, Alta.

Where Deb’s donation went:

$7,000 to Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society$7,000 to Be the Change$6,000 to Stardale Women’s Group

Deb is making a difference within Suncor as well as in the Calgary community and beyond. A volunteer with many organizations focused on advancing reconciliation, Deb is an Indigenous rights advocate, keynote speaker, a singer and drummer in an Indigenous matriarch’s hand drum group who have led marches, rallies and gatherings, and fosters an Indigenous women’s monthly sharing circle of over 500 Indigenous people. Deb’s efforts have made changes at all levels of government, within corporations and in the lives of those around her, including resulting in a Calgary landmark being recognized as the Field of Red Ribbons in honour of missing, murdered and exploited Indigenous people. Last year, Deb was recognized by the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth as a changemaker for the positive change she’s making in community and will be the recipient of a 2023 Esquao Award from the Native Women’s Association of Canada in May.

Last year, McDonald’s Portugal debuted brand-new crew uniforms dreamed up by young local designers Cátia Abreu and Melanie Melo for more than 9,500 employees. While crew members were excited to don the new look, there was still the lingering question of what to do with the old uniforms – more than 18,000 of them – across the country.

Instead of throwing away the old uniforms, McDonald’s Portugal had a bright idea: What if they could give the garments a new life by transforming them into reusable tote bags? Better yet, what if the tote bags could be filled with care items and donated to the local Ronald McDonald House Charities Portugal for children and families in need?

Circular collaboration

From start to finish, the recycling process involved several key players from across McDonald’s Portugal’s supply chain. Logistics partner HAVI collected the more than 18,000 old uniforms from restaurants throughout the country, while Recutex – Reclaimed Textiles transformed the clothing through various stages, including sorting the materials and spinning new fabric without introducing any dyes. Finally, HR Group – the partner responsible for producing the new uniforms – created the reusable tote bags.

“This recycling project represents another way to realize the brand’s commitment to the environment and sustainability, finding more and more circular solutions that help respond to the concerns of today and in the future,” says Inês Lima, Managing Director of McDonald’s Portugal.

A new life for a good cause

But that’s not where the collaboration ends. Together with its partners, McDonald’s Portugal produced 5,500 reusable bags for RMHC Portugal that were packed with comfort kits and delivered to families and their children staying at seven hospitals across Portugal.

Continuing the momentum in 2023, McDonald’s Portugal extended the recycling project by producing even more reusable totes from the old uniforms – this time as a pilot merchandising campaign for MyMcDonald’s Rewards. Customers now have the chance to exchange MyMcDonald’s points for a cool, 100% recycled new tote bag through the app.

Thanks to a little circular ingenuity and a lot of collaboration, 18,000 old crew uniforms get a new life with children, families and brand fans alike.