Tag: 3BL

When Kate Kirwin was 20 years old, she started teaching herself to code. But on her own, her progress quickly stalled. The coding groups that existed were dominated by men and Kate felt like she couldn’t be her true self and needed to act differently among them. So she started her own community in Australia called She Codes, to teach women technical skills, create connections to career pathways, and provide a female-centered learning environment. Kate’s story is the latest feature in the Logitech MX #WomenWhoMaster series. Here, she talks about struggling to find community, her drive to bring fresh ideas to life, and how she hopes to leave the world a better place than she found it.

Q: Were you interested in pursuing a career in STEM from a young age?

When I was younger, I didn’t consider a STEM career because it wasn’t something that people talked about with me. There was still a stereotype that being a chatty, bubbly, fun person and being in tech were not compatible — even though I know now that they absolutely are. So early in my career, I wanted to do creative things. The idea of seeing something come from nothing is what partly drew me to event planning.

While I was running events at Spacecubed, a co-working space in Perth, Australia, I got really curious about what people in the community were doing. A lot of members were running their own businesses, building apps, building websites. Even though I had no background in technology, I saw that I could use code to create something fresh.

“I want a society where everyone can just decide what they want to do without stereotypes and stigma attached to their careers. One of my students was even told she’s too fun to be in science. What does being fun have to do with anything?”

Q: What inspired your passion to start the program She Codes and advocate for women in STEM?

After I started learning more about the tech industry, I tried to teach myself how to code. Very quickly I found that without a community, it was hard to figure out what the next step was and how to ask for help. I tried to find a community where I could learn, but in that journey, I felt like I couldn’t be myself.

One time I went to a meetup at Spacecubed. This event was in my office, a place where I was very comfortable. The meetup had started by the time I got there. I was wearing a bright green dress and heels. The floor that we have in that space is concrete, so it’s quite loud to walk on in heels. Every person in the room was male and almost all of them were wearing black, white, or gray. So when I walked in wearing bright green and loud shoes, the entire room stopped and turned. I felt so uncomfortable. For me to feel that way in a space where I usually felt comfortable, it made me think about how other people feel. So I decided to solve this problem I had and was sure other women had too.

Q: What types of programs and workshops does She Codes provide?

We run three different kinds of programs. We have a one-day workshop, a one-week program, and a six-month part-time program. The one-day workshop is a free, self-paced online tutorial. In the longer programs, we cover more skills like data science, JavaScript, Python, HTML, CSS, as well as backend and front end coding.

Q: What roles do mentors play at She Codes?

Our mentors are amazing. They are from all across Australia. One thing they do is answer questions on Slack. Last year some of the girls based in Brisbane really connected with one of our mentors, Ben. They kept saying things like, “Oh, we’re obsessed with Ben from Perth because he answers all our questions.” They were talking about him like they’d met him and he’s 4,000 kilometers away!

One important part of how we do things is to have a mix of male and female mentors in our teaching team. The reality is that once students leave our community, most of the people they will work with are going to be men so it’s important for students to understand how to work with them. Our male mentors are learning how to work with women too, so it’s kind of fixing the industry from the inside as well.

Q: What advice do you have for women who are new to coding or tech and might feel discouraged?

Just because you haven’t enjoyed one thing doesn’t mean you won’t like everything. Figuring out your niche is about trying a bunch of different types of skills. One of our mentors, Michelle, likes to say, “Just because you don’t like a coding language or you’re not good at it, doesn’t mean that you’re not good at coding. It just means you haven’t found the right language.” She’s a great example of this. She started her career in one language and she hated it. Now she only codes in Python and she says, “I love Python. This is me, this is where I can hang out.”

Q: What are the top STEM skills the next generation should learn?

Teaching the right mindset and how to learn is more important than teaching specific skills. Careers and technology are changing so quickly, most of the jobs of the future don’t exist yet.

“Just focusing on skills is fighting a losing game. Teaching people how to learn, unlearn, and relearn is the future.”

Q: Imagine for a moment that your great-granddaughter chose the same career as you, she’s graduating in the year 2100. What do you want her future to look like?

Where I want to get to is for my job to not exist. I want it to be a society where we don’t have all of these barriers for women; where we do have diversity. I’ve also heard women be told that a tech career isn’t a safe career pathway for women or they’re not nerdy enough. Living in a society where we don’t have all of the hangups of needing to be a certain kind of person or be a certain level of intelligence to be in tech is what I hope for most.

Connect with Kate on LinkedIn and Instagram or learn more about her work at She Codes.

Women Who Master puts a spotlight on women who have made outstanding contributions to STEM fields. The goal of the series is to celebrate those contributions, inspire future leaders, and help close the gender gap in technology.

Originally published by Ericsson.

Welcome to the latest edition of our Diversity & Inclusion News Round-Up. Today we are talking about kindness bias, the four-day workweek, students building a robotic hand for a classmate, and a campaign against “conversion therapy”.

World of work

Around the world, there are lots of four-day workweek pilots happening. Insightful article about the latest results – and the limitations.

Bias

Interesting research about kindness bias! According to various studies, women are given kinder feedback than men when discussing work performance. But what does that mean for their development? Read more here.

Inclusion

Great story from Tennessee! Students at a high school changed the life of a new classmate by building him a robotic hand. Watch the video.

LGBTQ+

“Conversion therapy” (supposed to “cure” LGBTQ+ people) is currently still legal in the UK. This powerful short film from The&Partnership, together with over 20 LGBTQ+ charities, depicts the abuse a trans person faces during such “therapy”.

HOUSTON, April 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ — LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) announced Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Director, Kyle Pierce, is a recipient of the Houston Business Journal’s 2023 Head of Diversity Awards. This is the first time a LyondellBasell leader has earned this high honor, which recognizes individuals who have displayed leadership, commitment and motivation in driving the diversity and inclusion agenda in their organizations or the community at large.

“Kyle’s exceptional commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace is an inspiration to us all. His efforts to bolster equality across all areas of diversity are a testament to his leadership and dedication,” said Trisha Conley, executive vice president, People & Culture. “Kyle’s work is not only important for positioning LyondellBasell to be a more equitable and inclusive workplace, but also for creating a better world for all of us.”

As the Director of DEI, Pierce uses his business expertise to create an impactful connection and sense of belonging for DEI initiatives in the company. This is crucial in creating a culture where DEI is respected and valued, offering experiences for the workforce through connecting and coaching, and driving ownership and accountability through employee networks.

Within a two-year period, Pierce has been an instrumental player in executing the company’s DEI strategic plans, leveraging knowledge and expertise from other DEI programs to drive faster implementation. Pierce, with the help of his DEI Council and employee network leads, as well as with the support of the Executive Committee, is organically transforming the culture where everyone feels valued, heard and included. Although the journey has not been easy, the results are clear.

Pierce is a chemical engineer, who has worked in a variety of leadership roles in finance, mergers and acquisitions, strategy and commercial for the last 11 years at LyondellBasell. In these roles, he has successfully led diverse, global cross functional teams and built key relationships in advancing company initiatives.

The Houston Business Journal’s Diversity in Business Awards program honors organizations and individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to promoting practices that advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace and in business leadership and who bolster equality across all areas of diversity; including age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race and religion.

About LyondellBasell 
As a leader in the global chemical industry, LyondellBasell strives every day to be the safest, best operated and most valued company in our industry. The company’s products, materials and technologies are advancing sustainable solutions for food safety, access to clean water, healthcare and fuel efficiency in more than 100 international markets. LyondellBasell places high priority on diversity, equity and inclusion and is Advancing Good with an emphasis on our planet, the communities where we operate and our future workforce. The company takes great pride in its world-class technology and customer focus. LyondellBasell has stepped up its circularity and climate ambitions and actions to address the global challenges of plastic waste and climate change. For more information, please visit www.lyondellbasell.com or follow @LyondellBasell on LinkedIn.

April 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – With the 2023 proxy season underway investors are highlighting proposals and other votes at North American and European focus companies to inform their fellow shareholders about priority issues at companies that are lagging behind peers in their management of material climate risks. The flagged votes come as early proxy season wins include seven agreements between investors and focus companies on climate action in exchange for withdrawals, including three agreements on greenhouse gas emissions targets and four on climate lobbying practices.

Climate Action 100+, of which Ceres is one of five investor networks partners, flags key shareholder proposals and other votes for investors to take into consideration as they decide how to vote during proxy season. This year’s include calls for companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate governance and disclosures, and support global efforts to achieve a zero emissions economy. Notably, there are also two flagged proposals calling for oil and gas companies to report financial risks of asset retirement obligations. A similar proposal flagged by CA100+ received a majority vote last year at ExxonMobil.

The following 2023 votes have been flagged on the Climate Action 100+ website:

Berkshire Hathaway – California Public Employees’ Retirement System to WITHHOLD votes from Audit Committee members Christopher Davis, Susan Decker and Meryl Witmer. 
 Berkshire Hathaway – Adopt board oversight of material sustainability issues. Filed by Robeco and The Office of the Treasurer for the State of Illinois as Trustee of the Bright Start College Savings Trust. 
 Berkshire Hathaway – Report on physical and transition risks and opportunities. Filed by California Public Employees’ Retirement System 
 CRH plc – Sarasin & Partners LLP to vote AGAINST Resolution 1. To review the Company’s affairs and consider the Company’s financial statements and the Reports of the Directors (including the Governance Appendix1) and Auditors for the year ended 31 December 2022 and Resolution 6. Ratify Deloitte Ireland LLP as Auditors. 
 Engie SA – Resolution on modification of the articles of association on the company’s climate strategy. Filed by MN and ERAFP and 14 others. 
 Imperial Oil – Adopt GHG reduction targets. Filed by Bâtirente and Ferique Fund Management with the support of Æquo 
 Imperial Oil – Report on impact of energy transition on asset retirement obligations. Filed by British Columbia Investment Management Corporation 
 Marathon Petroleum – Report on asset retirement obligations. Filed by New Jersey Division of Investment. 
 Marathon Petroleum – Report on climate-related just transition plan. Filed by International Brotherhood of Teamsters General Fund. 
 PACCAR Inc – Report on lobbying in line with Paris Agreement. Filed by Calvert Research & Management 
 Suncor Energy – Report on capital expenditure alignment with GHG reduction targets. Filed by Investors for Paris Compliance. 
 Valero Energy Corp – Report on GHG targets and transition plan. Filed by Mercy Investment Services, Inc.

 

Note: The Climate Action 100+ flagged votes list is updated regularly as new proxy statements are printed. The list is informed by more than five years of engagement history with the relevant focus companies. 

“For investors looking to spur action on addressing the material financial risks posed by the climate change, flagging shareholder resolutions is a powerful tool for change,” said Kirsten Spalding, vice president of the Ceres Investor Network at Ceres, a founding member of Climate Action 100+. “As investors assess a focus company’s progress towards achieving a zero emissions future, they are considering a plethora of metrics from climate lobbying practices and emission reduction targets to climate accounting and capital expenditures. Flagged shareholder proposals are a clear signal to companies that they must work with CA100+ investors on specific topics that will help them reduce climate risks and prepare their businesses for the low carbon future.”

Tracking by Ceres, whose Investor Network members include Climate Action 100+ signatories, has found that investors in North America have filed 216 climate-related shareholder resolutions this year. This record number exceeds the 210 resolutions that were filed in 2022 and shows an increasing trend of investors acting where they see opportunities for companies to improve and mitigate climate risk.

This monumental proxy season action continues despite the backlash in the U.S. against investors and companies who factor climate and sustainability risks into decision-making. It also comes in the wake of another sobering report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that reaffirms urgent action is needed in order to meet our global goal of limiting average temperature rise to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. It called for embracing deep, rapid, and sustained transformative action to reduce emissions.

One noteworthy action from this year’s proxy season is California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) move to withhold votes—the only mechanism for dissent on the Berkshire Hathaway proxy—for three directors on the audit committee due to failure to “provide accurate and timely disclosure of environmental risks and opportunities.” This action builds on shareholder proposals that CalPERS and others have co-filed previously requesting TCFD-aligned disclosures. In fact, Berkshire Hathway is the only Climate Action 100+ North American focus company that has not made any of the disclosures requested by the initiative’s Net Zero Company Benchmark.

Berkshire Hathaway has recommended voting against CalPERS’ proposal for enhanced climate disclosure, and as noted in CalPERS’ filings, is not responding to investors’ multiple requests for engagement on this topic. This will also prompt scrutiny from other quarters. As the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission prepares to finalize its mandatory disclosure for publicly traded companies in the US, Berkshire and other companies that fail to disclose will find themselves out of compliance. In addition to CalPERS’ flagged vote, the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer has filed an exempt solicitation in support of their proposal for improved governance at the company.

“Disclosure of a company’s material financial risks will allow investors to make informed decisions about their portfolios. This is why investors are requesting this information, and those requests are simply not going to go away,” added Spalding. “Investors can support companies willing to address these risks, but information is key.”

The flagged votes process is designed purely for information-sharing purposes and to highlight upcoming key votes at the initiative’s focus companies. It is at the discretion of each signatory investor to determine how they vote.

Climate Action 100+ does not require or seek collective decision-making or action with respect to acquiring, holding, disposing and/or voting of securities. Signatories are independent fiduciaries responsible for their own investment and voting decisions.

Read Climate Action 100+’s disclaimer here.

About Ceres

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

Media Contact: Reggie Zimmerman

According to IEA’s Net Zero by 2050 report, transport accounts for one-fifth of the world’s carbon emissions and is expected to increase roughly 20% by 2050. With transport accounting for a significant amount of carbon emissions, it is high time to switch to sustainable modes of transport such as electric vehicles (EVs).

A decade ago, when electric vehicles were still a buzzword in the market, SAP Labs India launched a Green Car policy. Launched in 2011, the policy offered a subsidy for employees purchasing electric vehicles. Employees were provided charging stations across the Bengaluru campus along with convenient parking spaces.

In 2014, SAP Labs India took the first major step in implementing the use of EVs by transitioning to electric-powered cabs for employees working in shifts. In 2022, 95% of the fleet used for employees working on shifts were electric vehicles. Approximately 4,000 employees use the shift shuttle services every month. “The goal is to transition to a 95% green commute by the end of 2023. This includes using both electric vehicles and vehicles running on compressed natural gas (CNG) for all modes of transport provided across all lines of businesses in all SAP Labs India entities,” said Sudhakar Reddy, head of Intelligent Operations at SAP Labs India.

Today, the SAP Labs India Bengaluru campus houses 65 EV charging stations. In addition to powering the in-house cabs, these slow, medium, and fast chargers also encourage employees to make responsible choices and thereby help create a cleaner environment. SAP Labs India also purchased a new self-driving electric vehicle with official sustainability branding for all internal cab services, including cabs for guests and expats.

In addition to the above initiatives, SAP Labs India has partnered with Yulu, a micro-mobility solution that provides sustainable first- and last-mile connectivity for SAP employees who rely on public transportation. Ather Energy, a leading Indian electric vehicle manufacturer and SAP customer, provides additional discounts to employees of SAP Labs India. SAP Labs India worked with Ather Energy on a three-day drive at the Bengaluru campus where employees got first-hand experience test driving electric scooters. The initiative aimed to spread awareness among SAP employees about the use of electric vehicles. Ather will be conducting this drive across other SAP Labs India campuses as well.

In February, the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz visited the SAP Labs India Bengaluru campus. During the visit, the chancellor experienced demonstrations across various fields such as digitalization, sustainability, digital supply chain, and e-mobility. An engaging, live, end-to-end demo of the SAP E-Mobility solution was also presented to the delegates.

SAP E-Mobility can enable companies and governments to manage charging infrastructure networks to drive the transition to sustainable electric mobility. Srinivasa Raghavachar, senior director and head of Automotive Industry Cloud Product Management at SAP Labs India, said, “We firmly believe that our solution plays a vital role in decarbonizing the transport sector and creating a cleaner and more sustainable future for everyone.”

The electric vehicle revolution will have an overall positive influence on our society. Embracing this revolution will not only help us mitigate the current environmental crisis but will also stimulate future-focused technological innovations.

On April 5, 2023, United hosted the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) for a day-long event at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), where eight startup companies participated in a “Shark Tank”-like format to pitch solutions for how United can more effectively charge and utilize electric Ground Service Equipment (eGSE).

The startups were specifically asked to present options to improve eGSE charging infrastructure.

As United works to electrify their entire GSE fleet, having the proper charging infrastructure in place will be critical. LAX is already ahead of the curve, and nearly 60% of United’s GSE fleet is electric with charging stations at every gate.

The charging solutions pitched highlighted ways to use existing proprietary equipment such as mobile battery and charging technologies to expand the range and efficiency of battery-powered eGSE. Following the pitches, LACI moderated a panel of United experts from Environmental Sustainability Director Betty Jurkowski, Global Procurement Senior Category Manager Brett Whitten, Project Manager John Solon and Strategic Analysis Lead Analyst Jon Nestor, devoted to “How to do Business with United.”

To help give the startups a better idea of the power needs of the current fleet, members of United’s GSE team gave brief overviews of pieces of electric equipment currently in use at LAX. Representatives from the startups had the opportunity to ask questions and see the equipment up close.

“The startups presented unique ideas for solving our eGSE challenges,” said John. “We’ll be following up with a number of them to explore ways United might implement their solutions.”

“A lot of these startups today don’t think about — and don’t have access to the airport space – so it’s nice we can bring the startups to our hangar to walk through and see our equipment, talk to our technicians about their challenges and the startups can look at it in a way we haven’t looked at from the airline’s perspective,” added Global Community Engagement Programs Senior Manager Aaron Stash.

LACI is creating an inclusive green economy for the people of Los Angeles by unlocking innovation and working with startups to accelerate the commercialization of clean technologies, transforming markets through partnerships with policymakers, innovators, and market leaders in transportation, energy and sustainable cities. The company is enhancing communities through workforce development, pilots and other programs.

“LACI is our original Clean Tech incubator partner, and we’ve been working together for five years,” said Aaron. “United supports organizations like LACI to make sure there’s a connection to clean tech that also supports diverse communities. The startups LACI focuses on are really at the forefront of that.”

For United’s GSE and Facilities teams, the event couldn’t have come at a better time.

“As we roll out more electric vehicles at our hubs, we know we have a variety of challenges when it comes to charging the equipment,” said GSE and Facilities Managing Director Paul Joklik. “We’re grateful to have partnerships with organizations like LACI to look to for subject matter expert guidance on our path.”

The participating startups included:

Automotus 

Automotus has built first-of-its-kind automated curb management solutions to help reduce emissions, congestion and safety hazards in our communities. Automotus’s curb management solutions help cities, airports, fleets and businesses increase revenue while creating more sustainable, equitable streets.

ChargeNet Stations 

ChargeNet Stations is building the most comprehensive EV charging network in the United States. ChargeNet’s Stations software platform makes it seamless for quick-serve restaurants to offer customers a superior EV charge up experience while satisfying their hunger. ChargeNet’s ChargeOpt(TM) hardware-agnostic SaaS platform optimizes EV chargers and renewable energy to turn parking lots into profit centers.

ElectricFish 

ElectricFish is a climate tech company building distributed microgrid energy storage XFC (Extreme Fast Charging) stations powered by software. ElectricFish’s patented, turnkey energy storage solutions bring unprecedented convenience to the EV charging experience while also supporting energy resilience in local communities, all with 100% renewable energy, eliminating the transportation sector’s carbon footprint.

Evolectric 

Evolectric has dedicated themselves to power fleet operations with clean, efficient and safe electrification solutions. Evolectric partners with businesses to create comprehensive electrification strategies and deliver unique electrified mobility battery solutions to transportation, industrial and commercial segments across the U.S and emerging markets. Evolectric’s CircularEV™ solutions renew the life of existing commercial vehicles on the road by upgrading them to be smart and 100% electric.

Humble

Humble makes and rents user-friendly electric carts, primarily designed for entertainment production sets, that provide temporary and remote clean power unlike the usual dirty and loud diesel-fueled vehicles. Through a LACI-funded pilot, Humble recently tested and validated their first software platform integration that offers a safer, more efficient way to monitor battery safety remotely, receive notifications of charge status in real-time, and coordinate management and charging using the cloud.

Microgrid Labs

Microgrid Labs Inc (MGL) is a consulting and software company specializing in commercial fleet electrification and microgrids. MGL services range from initial assessment, feasibility studies, modeling, simulation and optimization to support during the implementation and operations phase.

Relyion Energy, Inc.

Relyion aims to solve the problem of the expected, exponential increase in unusable electric vehicle or lithium ion batteries. Relyion Energy is repurposing retired EV batteries to enable longer and sustainable use of Li-ion batteries.

The Habit Burger Grill is proud to feature the female voices in our company that make The Habit Burger a more remarkable place to work. Meet our Chief Financial Officer, Tiffany Furman.

HBG: How do you achieve a work-life balance?

TF: I’d say prioritizing and having a really strong team leads to having more time for your personal life. You can’t do everything, so it’s helpful to pick and choose what will make the most impact. The key is to make sure you communicate to ensure the right people are aware and aligned with what you’re focusing on and what you’re putting further down the list. Also, taking the time to build the team’s capability or hire the right person makes everyone’s lives better. I’ve had some very high performing teams and it’s amazing what they can accomplish quickly and efficiently. Lastly, I have an extremely supportive husband and we take turns taking on more life responsibilities when the other is busier.

HBG: Who Was Your Favorite Female Figure?

TF: Growing up, I was inspired by Cheryl Miller. Being from Indiana, I remember thinking it was so cool that Reggie Miller had an older sister that he self-admittedly would say could beat him at basketball. In addition to being a great player, she also thrived as a sports reporter and coach. It’s such an achievement for her time considering the popularity of women sports, which is still lacking today.

HBG: How Can we Support & Empower Other Women?

TF: Throughout my own career, I’ve been fortunate to work with many amazing female leaders. These women empower others by leading by example, showing that anything is possible and providing opportunities to people who are most deserving regardless of gender or race.

As published in Qualcomm’s 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report

As water sources around the world become increasingly stressed, we are acutely aware of the need to treat water as the precious resource it is. We prioritize assessing our water footprint and conserving water, particularly in California, the location of our headquarters and a state perennially challenged by water scarcity.

In our facilities, we make our greatest gains in water conservation by using reclaimed water instead of potable water for irrigation and our cooling plant systems, whenever possible. In fact, we decreased our freshwater dependency at our San Diego headquarters by 51 percent from 2016 to 2022 by expanding our recycled water system. These improvements help reduce our dependency on potable water and increase resiliency in our operations.

At our manufacturing facilities, we conduct water audits to assess usage and share best practices between our locations. Additionally, we also have an internal price for water that makes the real cost of water usage and water treatment transparent and evident. This facilitates a strong motivation to develop cost-effective and water-efficient processes.

At our Singapore manufacturing facility, we implemented numerous water savings projects in 2022, resulting in more than 200,000 cumulative cubic meters (m3 ) of annual water savings. For example, we conducted a utilization study to determine opportunities for system integration and enhancement, resulting in an improvement of our deionized (DI) water supply systems, which has increased the amount of reclaimed water by approximately 80,000 m3 per year. We also replaced our water plant electrodeionization (EDI) system with a continuous electrodeionization (CEDI) system, allowing for water to be recycled into raw water tanks, saving approximately 30,000 m3 per year.

Learn more in Qualcomm’s 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Today Bath & Body Works announces its signing of the Open to All pledge which brings retailers together to implement actions to mitigate racial biases and create more welcoming retail environments for all.

Open to All is a nonprofit nondiscrimination campaign that believes everyone should be welcome regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, immigration status, religion or disability. Open to All is a growing coalition of businesses and nonprofits, including civil rights and racial justice organizations, disability groups, LGBTQ groups, faith organizations and more. The coalition unites thousands of large and small businesses to share best practices across the retail industry and drive lasting change.

Open to All’s corporate partners have access to the program’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming, which includes monthly corporate briefings, collaboration opportunities and access to a peer-to-peer network.

“We’re proud to join Open to All because at Bath & Body Works, everyone belongs,” says Kelie Charles, Bath & Body Works Chief Diversity Officer. “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Make Us Stronger is one of our core values, and we’re committed to creating a culture where we live our values and maintain an environment of respect, civility, empowerment and equity. It’s not just the right thing to do for our people; it’s the right thing to do for our business.”

“In the five years since Open to All’s inception, we have had over 600,000 businesses sign the pledge,” said Calla Rongerude, Managing Director for Open to All. “Our corporate partners work beyond the walls of their stores to bring the business community together to join Open to All in building a thriving, inclusive, competitive America where customers and employees are valued, respected and welcomed regardless of who they are. This exemplifies the spirit of Open to All and creates true transformation—especially for everyone out there who is struggling and wants to know where they will be safe, welcomed and accepted.”

For more information about Bath & Body Works’ DEI efforts, visit bbwinc.com.

ABOUT BATH & BODY WORKS 
Home of America’s Favorite Fragrances®, Bath & Body Works is a global leader in personal care and home fragrance, including the top-selling collections for fine fragrance mist, body lotion and body cream, 3-wick candles, home fragrance diffusers and liquid hand soap. Powered by agility and innovation, the company’s predominantly U.S.-based supply chain enables the company to deliver quality, on-trend luxuries at affordable prices. Bath & Body Works serves and delights customers however and wherever they want to shop, from welcoming, in-store experiences at more than 1,800 company-operated Bath & Body Works locations in the U.S. and Canada and more than 425 international franchised locations to an online storefront at BathandBodyWorks.com.

For more information, please contact:

Bath & Body Works, Inc.: 
Media Relations 
Emmy Beach 
Communications@bbw.com

Participating in, and giving back to, the community have been core values for Northern Trust since the company’s founding in 1889. Acknowledging and honoring our continued philanthropic work, the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center this year awarded the company its 2023 Humanitarian Award.

Chairman and CEO Mike O’Grady accepted the award on the company’s behalf, addressing a room of more 1,500 fellow civic leaders in Chicago, where Northern Trust is headquartered.

“On behalf of Northern Trust’s nearly 23,000 employees around the globe, including several who are joining me this evening, we are honored and humbled to receive the 2023 Humanitarian Award,” O’Grady said. “I know that we can all also agree that the true honorees this evening are our cherished Holocaust Survivors. From one of humanity’s darkest times, against all odds – you survived. And not only survived, but committed your lives to being a positive force for good, and a reminder to others, to Never Forget.”

O’Grady highlighted the leadership of Steve Fradkin, president of Northern Trust’s Wealth Management business and one of the employees joining in the honor.

“I am particularly proud of my colleague and friend, Steve Fradkin, who has served as a member of the [Illinois Holocaust Museum’s] Board of Trustees since 2015, and as chair from 2000-2022,” O’Grady added.

Nonprofit board leadership is just one of the ways in which employees give back. Over the last decade alone, Northern Trust has also contributed nearly $170 million to support nonprofit and non-governmental organizations around the world, while employees have volunteered more than 1 million hours.

“Northern Trust is one of the cornerstones upon which this city relies,” Susan Crown, chairman of Owl Creek Partners, said in a tribute.

Other leaders in the community echoed the sentiment.

“It’s not surprising that the ethos of philanthropy has been built from the very beginnings of the foundings of Northern Trust,” added Liz Thompson, a philanthropist and president of The Café Group, who recalled the company’s founder, Byron Smith, and his quick action in supporting the widow and children of a worker who died in a fire during the construction of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.

That action is as important today as it was then. Northern Trust has also sprung to action to support those affected by natural disasters, the pandemic and more.

“It’s got a remarkable history and a remarkable legacy, with all that it does to support the city,” said David Hiller, a retired CEO of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, who commended the leadership style he’s observed in O’Grady and Fradkin for many years. “They are true humanitarian leaders in the city.”