Tag: 3BL

By: Niki Kapsambelis

When people talk to Emily Smith, she hopes the first thing they will realize about her is that she will accept them for who they are.

When she was working in person in Morgantown, West Virginia, she displayed a small Pride rainbow flag on her desk “so people would see it and they would know at least one thing about me,” she said. Several colleagues came out to her as LGBTQ+, a point of pride for Emily, who is herself part of that community: “I am openly myself, and that makes it OK for them to be openly themselves, and also know that I am a safe person to talk to.”

Today, with so many colleagues working remotely, she searches for other ways to signal the same message of safety to the LGBTQ+ community. As one of the tri-chairs of VIVID, Viatris’ employee resource group (ERG) for LGBTQ+ colleagues and their allies, Emily is working with other leaders to find ways to bring messages of solidarity and support to a virtual workspace.

Adding pronouns to a person’s e-signature and marking profiles with rainbow symbols are examples of signals people can use in a remote work environment. VIVID is planning to offer training in allyship to help employees find other strategies.

“What I would like to see Viatris become, and what I think it can become, is just a great place for gay people to work, where they don’t have to feel ashamed of themselves. Where they can talk about their spouses, or their boyfriend and girlfriends, or their non-binary kids, and feel nothing but support from their colleagues,” Emily said.

Earlier in her young career, Emily – who works in accounts receivable – tried not to rock the boat too much. “But as I’ve gotten older and more confident, I’ve felt that sometimes, the boat does need to be rocked. And that’s why I got so involved in the ERG,” she said.

LGBTQ+ issues can be controversial in some parts of the world. But Emily points out that Viatris can leverage its voice to effect change, particularly since the company’s mission statement calls for empowering people to live healthier at every stage of life.

“Making sure that LGBTQ people can exist safely definitely coincides with that goal,” she says.

Her inspiration is her twin brother, Jonah, who also is her best friend: “He inspires me every day to make this world a little bit of a better place.”

Jonah is transgender, and when he began his transition, not everyone knew how to support him. Emily hopes to ensure that Viatris is a company prepared to welcome someone in Jonah’s position and know what policies apply.

“I believe that every employee should be made to feel not only important, but they should be made to feel that the company is prepared for them,” she said.

Her role in VIVID also has allowed Emily to connect with colleagues all over the world: “Now we have the resources and the reach to make real changes,” she said. “That’s what I see the ERG being: the partnership between the people who have the reach and the resources, and the people who can see the need.”

Originally published on Illumina News Center

This month, Illumina celebrates a quarter century of innovation, research, and passion. As a genomics pioneer founded in San Diego in 1998, we have proven—and continue to prove—how unlocking the power of the genome can exponentially improve the human condition.

When the company began 25 years ago, it was revolutionary just to decode the genome. Since then, genomics has played a crucial role generating insights into infectious disease, cancer, reproductive health, genetic disease, and more—while improving patient outcomes every step of the way. To date, scientists and researchers have generated more than one billion gigabases of data and sequenced nearly four million people, and potential uses for that data multiply every year. Around the world, our customers and partners are sequencing samples extracted from seaweed, sugarcane, soil, yams, river water, wastewater, gorillas, ancient Nordic bones—the list goes on.​ It’s not surprising that over 300,000 studies featured in peer-reviewed scientific publications have used Illumina technology. Today, our workforce is 10,000 strong, with more than 8800 patents in 34 locations worldwide. We’re celebrating 25 years of growth by looking at 25 of the greatest impacts that Illumina technology has made to date.

1. We advanced sequencing chemistry to be faster, more accurate, and more stable. When we launched the Genome Analyzer in 2007, we introduced the world to Illumina sequencing by synthesis (SBS) chemistry. SBS forever changed how sequencing is done, as it delivers high accuracy and a high yield of error-free reads. In the years leading up to 2022, we created XLEAP-SBS chemistry, which is engineered for longer reads with up to 2× faster incorporation speed and 3× greater accuracy. And because we made this chemistry stable at ambient temperatures, it no longer needs to be packed with dry ice, making it more sustainable as well as accessible to markets that lack the infrastructure for dry ice shipping.

2. We made DNA sequencing more affordable and accessible. In the last 14 years, we helped take the cost of sequencing a human genome from $150,000 to $200, a drop of more than 99%. Getting to the $10,000 genome in 2010 was a major feat, thanks to the Illumina HiSeq 2000. HiSeq made whole-genome sequencing (WGS) possible for labs of all sizes and drove widespread adoption of exome sequencing and noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT). In 2022, we launched our most powerful and most sustainable sequencers to date, the NovaSeq X Series. The NovaSeq X Plus can sequence more than 20,000 whole genomes per year and enables the $200 genome.​

3. We’re increasing the diversity of available genomic data to better reflect our world. In 2008, Illumina completed the first-ever sequencing of an African human genome, from an anonymous Yoruban man from Nigeria. From the very beginning we have prioritized diversity, and in the years since, our partnerships with Our Future Health in England, PRECISE in Singapore, All of Us in the US, and OurDNA in Australia have allowed researchers to better target mutations specific to certain populations and deliver on the promise of precision medicine for all. Most recently, we announced an agreement between Illumina, Nashville Biosciences, and Amgen to sequence 35,000 DNA samples from African American patients at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. This is the first announcement from the Alliance for Genomic Discovery, created by Illumina and Nashville Biosciences, to perform WGS on 250,000 de-identified patient samples and make them available to pharmaceutical companies looking to develop new, life-changing therapies.

4. WGS for newborns in intensive care is on its way to becoming a universal standard of care. In the last several years, a handful of institutions have made life-changing advances in diagnosing critically ill babies with lifesaving speed. In 2015, Dr. Stephen Kingsmore, then at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City and using a HiSeq 2500, set a Guinness World Record for fastest genetic diagnosis, in 26 hours (now at Rady Children’s, he has implemented rapid WGS as a frontline diagnostic). Beginning in 2017, a groundbreaking study went on to demonstrate the value of WGS across five US hospitals. Other programs and studies at institutions from Germany to the United Arab Emirates have begun implementing WGS in their neonatal intensive care units. And in October 2022, NHS England launched the world’s first national genetic testing service, promising to sequence severely ill newborns for diagnosis within days. (Read Baby Fitz’s story here.) 
 

5. Patients with rare genetic diseases are getting answers—faster. In high-income countries, genetic disease patients often remain undiagnosed for up to seven years or more, while in low- and middle-income regions, many families never learn the cause of their child’s suffering. This “diagnostic odyssey” costs families time and money, and causes frustration and heartache. But WGS is one way to arrive at a diagnosis within weeks. For 10 years, the Illumina iHope program has facilitated pro bono genome testing for more than 1700 children with suspected rare genetic disease across 24 clinical sites in eight countries. Approximately 40% of them have received a diagnosis and up to 78% received a change in their care management as a result. Based on the success of this program, Illumina recently announced an expansion of iHope to China. Illumina has committed to dramatically expanding access to genome testing outside China through a partnership with Genetic Alliance to develop iHope Genetic Health—a program supported by a $120 million in-kind donation of sequencers, reagents, and software to enable dozens of laboratories to provide genome testing in low- and middle-income communities around the world. This effort will reach up to 50,000 patients a year in five years. 
 

6. NIPT and carrier screening transformed reproductive health for expecting families around the world. The VeriSeq NIPT Solution, released in 2017, provides fetal chromosomal information through a simple maternal blood test, significantly expanding families’ ability to make informed health care decisions. In 2020, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists amended its guidelines, recommending that all pregnant people, regardless of age or baseline risk, receive testing. Prospective parents can test before conception, and embryos produced through in vitro fertilization can be tested. Further, products such as the Illumina Global Diversity Array with Carrier Screening Content v2 (intended for research use only), can screen for as many as 600 different autosomal recessive disorders. 
 

7. Our arrays ushered in a new era of large-scale genomics. They changed the research and applied market landscape in applications such as genetic disease testing, agrigenomics, population genomics, and epigenetic research. We began developing array technology in 1998 and launched our first product in 2001. Today it is a $400 million business and a core part of how we address cost-sensitive applications and geographies. Innovations such as the Infinium Global Diversity Array with Enhanced PGx and the upcoming EX workflow will enable service providers to process samples in a quicker, more cost-effective manner that ultimately benefits patients, while the expansion of our methylation array portfolio will enable new insights in population cohorts and has the potential to improve outcomes in oncology and genetic disease testing.

8. We helped accelerate the field of precision oncology with comprehensive genomic profiling. In 2018, we introduced a pan-cancer assay designed to identify known and emerging tumor biomarkers. TruSight Oncology 500 (TSO 500) uses both DNA and RNA from subject tumor samples to identify key somatic variants underlying tumor progression, such as small DNA variants, fusions, and splice variants. It can measure tumor mutational burden and microsatellite instability, features that are potentially important biomarkers for immunotherapies. In 2022, we debuted the TruSight Oncology Comprehensive (TSO Comp) in vitro diagnostic kit to help inform treatment for cancer patients in Europe.​ We also launched the first companion diagnostic for TSO Comp, enabling targeted therapy with Bayer’s Vitrakvi medicine for patients with NTRK fusion cancer. With Merck, we codeveloped a TSO 500 HRD research assay.

9. Liquid biopsy became possible. The ability to detect cell-free circulating tumor DNA from tumors is growing. Clinical researchers see it as a potential alternative to invasive tissue biopsies, and the breakthrough technology can also help with multi-cancer early detection (MCED). With the help of MCED, catching cancer before it spreads increases the overall cancer survival rate by 400%.

10. We enabled partners to develop the COVID-19 vaccine without a live virus.In a lab at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center (SPHCC), researchers used a MiniSeq to sequence the sample of a seafood market worker admitted to the Central Hospital of Wuhan on December 26, 2019. SPHCC was one of the first to publish the viral genomic sequence, and it was this sequence that made vaccine development possible in just 10 months, rather than decades. It was also a catalyst for mRNA technology advancements in oncology testing, HIV, malaria, Ebola, and more. 
 

11. We responded quickly to the need for widespread sequencing of SARS-CoV-2. On June 9, 2020, we received the first FDA Emergency Use Authorization for a sequencing-based COVID-19 diagnostic test. The Illumina COVIDSeq Test helped pave the way for large-scale, next-generation sequencing (NGS) COVID-19 testing, just a few months into the pandemic. By summer 2021, most of the resulting test data—which was being used to identify viral variants, which could help public health agencies manage the pandemic—was coming from large genomic centers. Countries with limited resources to invest in high-throughput sequencers had far fewer submissions to COVID surveillance networks. Illumina launched the COVIDSeq Assay, which allowed small labs to participate in surveillance. Rural regions like the Yucatán peninsula in Mexico, with its influx of tourists and immigrants, were finally able to detect the variants present in the local community.

12. We doubled the number of countries in which we could enable access to genomics. Over the course of the pandemic, it became clear that sending samples across regions and borders to testing labs was not fast or scalable enough to mitigate the spread of new variants. Our customers, particularly global nongovernmental organizations such as the World Health Organization, United Nations Development Programme, and Association of Public Health Laboratories as well as the Illumina Foundation were requesting to have our products available in nearly every corner of the inhabited world. In just over six months beginning in late 2021, a cross-functional, global team at Illumina set up our systems to enable commercial orders and shipments to 88 additional countries and territories across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. The feat provided on-the-ground access to genomics to 900 million more people. 

13. The world got a crash course in genomics. As the coronavirus pandemic unfolded, terms like “PCR” and “mRNA” entered the mainstream lexicon. Public health officials became recognizable figures, and Illumina was at the ready to share our knowledge about the power of genomics to impact human health with government leaders, health care professionals, and society writ large. In February 2021, our CEO, Francis deSouza, penned an essay for The Economist, calling for a global “Bio Force” to track viruses; two months later, deSouza appeared on the cover of TIME magazine when Illumina was named one of the 100 Most Influential Companies.

14. Pathogen surveillance expanded around the globe. In April 2021, we committed $60 million in sequencing capabilities to a global pathogen genomics initiative, in partnership with public and private entities. It expanded on the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI) announced the previous October, to build critical public health capabilities in areas of need and bring us closer to the vision of an early warning system for disease outbreaks. (In a matter of months, the number of sequencing labs in Africa grew from seven to 40.)

15. We’re working to make adverse drug reactions a thing of the past. We’re developing pharmacogenomics testing to prevent adverse drug reactions, the most common cause of hospital admissions worldwide and one of the leading causes of death.​ (Watch Mehri’s story here.)

16. Millions of pet owners were able to improve their animal’s health. Our customers brought to market DNA tests to detect canine cancer earlier, and identify a cat’s breed, traits, and health risks.

17. We are supporting researchers enabling a more sustainable, nutritious food supply.​Every year since 2011, we have awarded one Illumina Agricultural Greater Good Initiative grant. The program spurs critically needed research that will increase the sustainability, productivity, and nutritional density of agriculturally important crop and livestock species. Grant recipients receive donations of Illumina products. Our most recent winners are studying yams in Nigeria, mung beans in multiple regions, honeybees in Germany, and, as announced this year, marine algae in Brazil.

18. Genomics began supporting wildlife conservation. Initiatives like our iConserve program have brought the global community together to accelerate environmental and wildlife conservation. Some of iConserve’s work consists of facilitating research in comparative genomics of various species, which provides structure to cataloging biodiversity in wild and captive populations. This ultimately supports decisions made regarding species conservation and management. In recent years, we have been able to support research into the genomes of the bottlenose dolphin, red ruffed lemur, western lowland gorilla, and African elephants.

19. We convened world and industry leaders to discuss and advance the power and promise of genomics. At the inaugural Illumina Genomics Forum in September 2022, former President Barack Obama, Bill Gates, Nobel laureate Frances Arnold, and other experts shared their insights on genomics and health care​.

20. We advocated for reimbursement (and we still do). Since its inception in 2017, our market access team has been working with consortiums, governments, payers, and others to increase insurance coverage for genetic testing. In 2021, the world crossed a significant milestone, with over one billion people across 45 countries reimbursed for genomic tests, cancer therapy selection, genetic disease diagnosis, and noninvasive prenatal testing. The market access team continues to advocate for patient access through innovative collaborations and contracts.

21. Our customers and partners used NGS to help protect the environment. Canada’s STREAM project sequences river water and sediment samples to advance watershed health monitoring, Checkerspot is using microalgae to create a sustainable alternative to petroleum, and LanzaTech is turning carbon emissions into valuable material commodities—its facilities in China have produced over 50 million gallons of ethanol from industrial emissions, which is the equivalent of keeping over 200,000 tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere.

22. The volume of genomic data has exploded—and so have the insights. Ever since we acquired Solexa in 2007, NGS data output has increased at a rate that outpaces Moore’s law—more than doubling each year and creating immeasurable opportunities. Today, the amount of total genetic data generated around the world exceeds one billion gigabases. We’ve made significant improvements to our platforms and product pipeline to provide highly accurate, comprehensive, efficient analysis of this data. We launched Illumina Connected Analytics to empower customers to manage, analyze, and explore large volumes of multi-omic data in a scalable and flexible environment guided by core principles of security and privacy. Illumina DRAGEN Original Read Archive technology performs data compression in the cloud, reducing customers’ carbon footprint by up to five times.

23. We made big science green science. Last year, Illumina ranked highest in our industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. In July 2022, we were the first genomics company whose plan to meet net-zero targets was approved by the Science Based Targets initiative, which includes validation of our corporate greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.​ In 2021, the company met 59% of its energy needs through renewable sources, and by 2030 it aims to use 100% renewable energy and 75% less packaging. By 2050, it aims to become a net-zero company.

24. The next generation of scientists stepped into the lab. We celebrate DNA Day each April, and our 2022 campaign reached more than 90,000 STEM learners, inspiring the next generation of scientists and discoverers​. Illumina has reached over 1 million STEM learners since 2019, and we aim to reach 5 million by 2030.

25. We championed a diverse and global workforce. In 2022 alone we received more than a dozen awards and recognitions from companies like Forbes, Newsweek, Bloomberg, and Dow Jones. We also empower our employees—in commemoration of the 25th anniversary, we are providing twenty-five $25,000 grants in communities where we operate, and we have provided $25 to each employee to donate to a cause of their choice.

And in the next 25 years—or even 25 weeks—starting with the debut of Illumina Complete Long Read sequencing technology, stay tuned for more breakthroughs in cardiovascular disease testing, drug target discovery using AI-based genome interpretation and analysis, and expanded testing capabilities for countries most impacted by tuberculosis. In the meantime, our customers are making strides in research for autism spectrum disorder, PTSD, diabetes, and more.

For a quarter-century, Illumina has been on the forefront of a global genomics movement. We celebrate this milestone with excitement and can’t wait to see how many more patients are able to experience better outcomes through the power of genomics. Here’s to another 25 years of making even greater impacts in the Genome Era.

April 4, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Today (22nd March 2023) marks the launch of the Sustainability Census, a new survey with the aim of creating the largest and most global report ever completed on the global sustainability employment landscape.

The survey, created by the founders of the CR Salary Survey which released biannual reports from 2007 – 2020, aims to paint a holistic and global picture of the sustainability profession within business and finance and targets to gather data and insights from more than 3,000 sustainability professionals across Asia, Europe, North America, and the UK. It will focus on topics including the demographic makeup of the sustainability profession, global hiring trends, compensation and working patterns, job functions, current challenges, and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).

While sustainability professionals are working to drive immediate action around sustainable change, one challenge they face is the lack of a global snapshot of where the true problems within the sustainability profession lie, along with the resource, funding, and talent needed to solve them.

The survey was therefore developed by key partner Acre, the specialist sustainability recruitment and executive search firm, to generate the most comprehensive data ever collected on the global sustainability employment landscape so that professionals can make sense of what really matters, highlight opportunities for creating an even greater impact, and move away from making assumptions about the profession to making data-informed inferences.

“Since its inception, Acre has spent the past two decades supporting the growing ecosystem of sustainability professionals as we navigate the transition towards net zero together. We continue to be committed to this goal and in order to continue doing that, we understand the need to bridge the knowledge gap around global hiring trends, growth within sectors, EDI trends and more. As the founding partner of the Sustainability Census, and the co-owner of the CR Salary Survey which ran from 2007 – 2020, we believe that the survey will be able to provide a valuable platform for sustainability professionals to understand the true state of the profession at this historical time of change.” said Acre’s Founder, Andrew Cartland.

Data gathered from the survey will be incorporated into global reports that will be produced in chapters with localised insights for Asia, Europe, North America, and the UK. The data collection phase of the Sustainability Census will take place over a one-month period following the launch, and the first regional chapter report release is estimated to be released in Summer 2023.

“While the sustainability employment landscape is changing every day, we know that change cannot happen in isolation. This is why we are making a call for the community to come together and take part in this survey to drive the highest response rate possible globally. This ensures we have the most meaning dataset available, so that we are able to provide both individuals and businesses with a blueprint for better, more informed decision-making as we work towards a low carbon economy together,” further commented Andrew Cartland.

The Sustainability Census will gather data driven by a team effort from the global sustainability network and community, driven by partners including Eco-Business, Diversity in Sustainability, ICRS, EcoVoice, 3BL Media, Reconsidered, Carntone, The Purpose Business and HR PSOR. Distribution partners will be key in raising awareness of the survey by sharing it with their database and posting it on their owned channels to encourage responses.

To participate in the sustainability census survey or to find out more, please visit sustainabilitycensus.com.

ENDS

About Acre 

Acre is the world’s market-leader in search, recruitment and talent development exclusively focused on integrating sustainability and catalysing positive change across business, finance, and energy. Acre has placed thousands of professionals in over 40 countries globally since 2003. Twenty years of focus on sustainability has given us an in-depth understanding of the sectors in which we operate, enabling us to consult, challenge and advise our clients to create a more sustainable future.

At Acre, we work with the most aspirational businesses with potential to make real change; from those who are just starting out to those who are well on the journey to crafting a legacy.

Our 18 years’ experience in sustainability recruitment, combined with our extensive global network, enables us to provide talent solutions that are designed to deliver this change.

Through our unique behavioural assessment technology, we understand the types of people, skills and behaviours required to create impact. We can develop these qualities within your existing teams too.

We find talented people and develop their skills to ensure they make a true impact in ambitious, progressive organisations.

Acre. Making companies ready for tomorrow.

Cutting costs on social impact initiatives can feel like an easy decision for companies in uncertain economic times. Forward-thinking companies can seize the moment by staying committed to social impact.

This isn’t the first economic cycle companies have been through, and it won’t be the last. In our latest piece, we write on how those who stay committed to social impact will differentiate themselves from their peers now and long into the future.

We recognize that corporate leaders are facing pressure to cut costs and keep profits up in the near-term. But abruptly disinvesting in social impact can break down brand loyalty and trust with customers, employees, investors, and communities. Companies that divest in social impact may be sacrificing long-term growth opportunities and benefits for short-term gains.

Read more >

About FSG 
FSG is a global, nonprofit consulting firm that partners with foundations and corporations to create equitable systems change. Through customized consulting services, innovative thought leadership, and learning communities, we’re working to create a world where everyone can live up to their full potential.

Learn more at www.fsg.org.

Originally published on Workiva

Editor’s note: With our Europe-wide Accelerate event series coming up in April-May, now is the time to embrace unity in reporting. Here, our expert speaker Andromeda Wood (Vice President of Regulatory Strategy, Workiva) breaks down the whats, hows and whens of integrated reporting readiness.

By Andromeda Wood, Vice President of Regulatory Strategy, Workiva

The global move towards integrated financial and sustainability reporting is building momentum. But what exactly is ‘integrated reporting’, and how should a company prepare for it?

The term integrated reporting has already been around for some time, often used in reference to an annual report covering both financial and sustainability information. Over the past decade, the IIRC—now part of the IFRS—has worked to solidify integrated reporting as a more robust concept, whereby the report itself is reflective of real integration within the business.

As our understanding of sustainability has matured, this idea has become both a goal and a regulatory imperative. This is now being illustrated more clearly than ever with the CSRD, which is requiring companies in scope to adopt integration as they prepare to meet new guidelines.

For these organisations, the clock is now ticking to bring financial and sustainability reporting onto an equal footing. Those not in scope, meanwhile, have the opportunity to learn from this implementation phase among their peers and bolster their own reporting. With this in mind, let’s take a look at five key steps to integrated reporting readiness.

Step 1: Set and define your goals 
First, you need to understand exactly what your organisation is aiming towards. Whether you are preparing to align with mandated or voluntary requirements, ensure you know precisely what you need to be reporting on, how you should be reporting on it and by when. If you’re working towards mandate reporting then are you clear about how much of your organisation is in scope, which entities will be required to report and how many will need to contribute data?

Alongside this, also think about your strategic goals surrounding not just your reporting, but your sustainability practices as a whole. How are you planning to go beyond compliance and drive value for your organisation, and how do these aims align with your existing business model?

Step 2: Apply the principles of double materiality 
Double materiality—the consideration of both one’s own internal interests alongside external impacts—is one of the core concepts of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), which provide detailed instructions on how to report on sustainability issues in this manner.

As you dive into your reporting strategy, apply these same principles to examine your processes, aims and objectives. Start with your company’s existing materiality assessment and expand this to include all the internal and external stakeholders throughout the life cycle of an integrated report, identifying key areas of risk, opportunity and potential positive and negative impact.

Step 3: Assess your current state 
Next, you’ll need to assess what needs changing in order to meet your aims. The amount of time you’ll need to get up and running with a more integrated reporting process will depend on your company’s size and ESG maturity level. However, you may well need to re-evaluate your people, processes and technology to meet the raised bar set by the standards, audit requirements and long-term aims of integrated reporting.

Starting from your goal date, work your way back, taking into account everything that will need to be done, from the assessment and restructuring of processes, to the time your team members will need to adapt to new technology and processes, to report creation and tagging requirements.

This assessment should be a dynamic and regular process, segueing directly into readiness actions while being continually revised to keep your processes in line with your aims and the current state of reporting.

Continue reading the full article on Workiva

Our mission here at T-Mobile is to be the best in the world at connecting people to their worlds. I’ve thought a lot about what connecting people means. While it certainly relates to the obvious – providing reliable wireless service – I think there’s something even bigger than that. To me, connecting people is also about the bond we forge every single day with our employees and the thousands of communities that we live in, work in, and serve. One of the ways we do that is by giving back.

At T-Mobile we take seriously the unique opportunity we have to be a force for GOOD … and we strive to support the communities that do so much to support us. Financial donations are important and meaningful, but the culture of giving that has been threaded through the fabric of our culture truly comes to life through our passionate team of employees. They step up with time, resources and support when and where they’re needed most, from helping out during disasters, volunteering with local organizations and giving back to the causes most important to their hearts.

But in true Un-carrier fashion, we’re always thinking bigger. Bolder. We challenge the status quo to think about how we can shake things up. Ask “What if?”

Our employees came to us and said, “What if … we could do more as a collective team to really make a difference in the communities we love so much?” The answer was easy: “Let’s do it!” Our employees wear their hearts on their Magenta sleeves, and when they come together with these types of big ideas and hard work, it’s an amazing opportunity to create EVEN MORE real change.

Enter our first-ever Magenta Giving month this April, a single month where we deploy our 70,000 Team Magenta members from across the country to unite as one and become an EVEN BIGGER force for good. From getting involved in fundraisers, engaging in team service days, and donating to their favorite causes – we’ve told our teams to Dream Big and Deliver (one of our values) as long as it’s all about giving back! To help get them started, the T-Mobile Foundation will give every employee $23 (for 2023!) to donate to one of our eligible nonprofits, plus a 2-for-1 match of their volunteer hours – $20 for every hour they volunteer in April up to $1 million total. With all of this goodness, can you imagine what kind of impact we will make in a single month?

Employee giving happens year-round here at T-Mobile, but we are so excited that this Magenta Giving month will offer our teams a shared experience to show up for the many communities we call home and see the impact we can make, together. This element is especially important for us. Three years ago, after our merger with Sprint and as we were poised to come together as a new T-Mobile, the pandemic was keeping us physically apart. We have been craving a moment like this to unify our teams around our love of giving and our shared sense of pride and belonging, enabling team members to connect with each other and showcase the skills and passions that go beyond their jobs.

This is going to be a fun and impactful month. I can’t wait to see what we do!

BALTIMORE, April 4, 2023 /3BL Media/ – T. Rowe Price (NASDAQ-GS: TROW), a global investment management firm and a leader in retirement services, today announced that CFO and Treasurer Jennifer Dardis and Head of U.S. Taxable Low Duration Cheryl Mickel have been named to Barron’s Top 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance 2023 list.

This prestigious recognition honors women who are helping to shape the modern financial services industry and leading it confidently into the future. The list, chosen by a panel of Barron’s writers and editors, is based on external and internal nominations and includes executives at major U.S. companies, investment managers and securities analysts, and public servants and policymakers.

“We are proud that Barron’s has recognized the contributions of two of our senior leaders,” said Rob Sharps, chief executive officer and president, T. Rowe Price Group. “We are grateful for the perspectives and skills that they bring to the leadership of T. Rowe Price and how they enrich our strong culture.”

Jen Dardis, CFO and Treasurer 

Dardis is the chief financial officer (CFO) and treasurer of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., the treasurer of T. Rowe Price Investment Management, and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. Her responsibilities include global oversight for the Controller’s Group, Global Tax, Procurement, Corporate Strategy, Financial Planning & Analysis, and Investor Relations. She leads a global team of 230.

As the newly appointed CFO, Jen successfully led the firm through its largest acquisition in the firm’s history of Oak Hill Advisors (OHA) for $4.2B, which enables the firm to accelerate expansion into alternative investment markets.

Dardis has been with T. Rowe Price since 2006, beginning in the CFO Group in a corporate strategy role, and became head of Corporate Strategy in 2016. Most recently, she was the head of Finance. Before T. Rowe Price, Dardis held positions at Constellation Energy in investor relations, at Energy Merchant in finance and business development, and at SG Cowen in mergers and acquisitions.

She earned a B.A. in economics from the College of William & Mary and an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia, Darden School of Business. Dardis currently serves as chair of The Maryland Food Bank’s Board.

Cheryl Mickel, Head of U.S. Taxable Low Duration 

Mickel is the head of the U.S. Taxable Low Duration team and a co-portfolio manager of the US Short Duration Income and Stable Value Intermediate Term Strategies in the T. Rowe Price Global Fixed Income Division. Mickel and her team manage $111B in money market, short-term bond, and stable value strategies for individual and institutional investors as well as T. Rowe Price corporate entities and internal reserve fund assets. She is also a member of the Fixed Income Steering Committee, which is responsible for the general oversight of the fixed income business, including risk management, talent, and strategy performance review.

She began her career at T. Rowe Price in 1989, where her early responsibilities included trading across an array of fixed income markets. In 1997, she became a taxable portfolio manager, and in 2015, she assumed her current role.

Mickel is an inaugural member of T. Rowe Price’s Black Leadership Council, established to provide a direct channel of communication between Black associates and T. Rowe Price’s Management Committee to ensure that there is active dialogue on matters of importance, such as recruitment, advancement, retention, development, culture, policies, etc. She was an early supporter and remains involved as a member and ally of the firm’s business resource groups, which work to maintain our inclusive culture and engage associates in the firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy.

Beyond her professional duties at T. Rowe Price, Cheryl is a trustee of the T. Rowe Price Foundation, the firm’s philanthropic arm, which partners with nonprofit organizations to support the communities where we work and beyond. Mickel is also a member of the Baltimore Community Foundation’s Investment Committee and a past Women United Executive Council member.

She earned a B.S. in economics from the University of Baltimore and an M.B.A. from Loyola University Maryland. She also has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.

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ABOUT T. Rowe Price

Founded in 1937, T. Rowe Price (NYSE: TROW) helps people around the world achieve their long-term investment goals. As a recognized global asset management company known for investment excellence, retirement leadership, and independent proprietary research, the firm is built on a culture of integrity that puts its clients’ interests first. Investors rely on T. Rowe Price for its active management approach and its broad range of equity, fixed income, retirement, alternatives, and multi-asset investment capabilities. T. Rowe Price manages $1.31 trillion in assets under management as of February 28, 2023, and serves millions of clients globally. T. Rowe Price can be found on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube, and troweprice.com/newsroom.

Media Contact:

Tiane Harrison  
T. Rowe Price  
tiane.harrison@troweprice.com

Originally published on Built From Scratch

ATLANTA, April 4, 2022 /3BL Media/– The Home Depot Foundation pledged to invest $10 million in community service projects this year in celebration of the 30-year anniversary of The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, Team Depot.

Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has partnered with more than 10,000 nonprofit organizations, with Team Depot donating nearly 2 million hours of sweat equity to serve veterans, respond to natural disasters and address immediate needs within local neighborhoods.

“Giving back to our communities is at the core of who we are as a company,” said Crystal Hanlon, The Home Depot’s chief culture officer. “We aren’t just in these communities; we are a part of them. This $10 million investment empowers our associates to identify the unique, priority needs of their hometowns and take action to drive sustainable change.”

To further celebrate National Volunteer Month, The Home Depot Foundation is teaming up with Rebuilding Together to address accessibility needs in more than 20 cities. Team Depot and Rebuilding Together volunteers will build and install wheelchair ramps in veteran homes, landscape and complete additional home repairs.

“We are very grateful for The Home Depot Foundation’s investment and commitment to creating more accessibility for our nation’s veterans,” said Chris Perry, vice president of development at Rebuilding Together. “Through this partnership, we are working closely in cities across the country to deepen our impact, ensuring homes are safe for veterans and their families in need.”

The Home Depot Foundation has invested more than $400 million in veteran causes and improved more than 50,000 veteran homes and facilities.

“We feel extremely privileged to be able to show up both financially and physically for our local communities thanks to sweat equity invested by Team Depot,” said Shannon Gerber, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. “It’s remarkable to see the impact a group of passionate and skilled associate volunteers can make in a few short hours, and it’s exciting to think about all Team Depot will accomplish in the next 30 years.”

About The Home Depot Foundation 

The Home Depot Foundation, the nonprofit arm of The Home Depot (NYSE: HD), works to improve the homes and lives of U.S. veterans, support communities impacted by natural disasters and train skilled tradespeople to fill the labor gap. Since 2011, the Foundation has invested more than $400 million in veteran causes and improved more than 50,000 veteran homes and facilities. The Foundation has pledged to invest half of a billion dollars in veteran causes by 2025 and $50 million in training the next generation of skilled tradespeople through the Path to Pro program. To learn more about The Home Depot Foundation visit HomeDepotFoundation.org and follow us on Twitter @HomeDepotFound and on Facebook and Instagram @HomeDepotFoundation.

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March 31, 2023 /3BL Media/ – FeedSecure, an app concept with the potential to help reduce food waste and expand food availability, is the winner of the Tata Consultancy Services’ February 2023 goIT Monthly Challenge for North America.

TCS’ goIT Monthly Challenge is a global STEM competition that engages students from diverse backgrounds in activities that bridge the learning gap with STEM, computer science, design thinking, and digital innovation. Each month, students are invited to submit ideas for digital innovations that could help address one of the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), further connecting students and in-school learning to the importance of developing solutions for the most pressing issues of our time.

“Today’s students are brimming with ideas that have the potential to transform how we live, work and protect our environment,” said John Dichiara, Manager, [need precise title!]. “Our goal with goIT is to provide students with the skills, confidence and mindsets to pursue careers of the future. The goIT Monthly Challenge further connects youth to real-world challenges so these talented young people can see themselves as problem solvers now.”

The UN’s 17 2030 SDGs seek to bring individuals, communities and nations together to protect the planet, eliminate poverty and inequality and transform our world for the better. In February, TCS partnered with The Food Bank Singapore and Sodexo Food and Facilities Management to challenge students to create a digital innovation that addressed SDG 2: Zero Hunger. All entries in February focused on reducing hunger, achieving food security, or improving nutrition.

Kathy C., Melinda Z., and Rebecca H., grade 8 students from Toronto District School Board’s Zion Heights Middle School in North York, Ontario, Canada won the challenge with FeedSecure, an app concept to help keep track of food expiration dates and reduce food waste. With the goal of saving enough food to provide for people experiencing hunger or food insecurity in a particular community, the innovation would advise users of opportunities to donate food so it could be safely consumed by those who need it. Among its many features, it would also include opportunities to find compost donations for local foodbanks or community gardens, and a community forum to share donation opportunities.

Learn more about the program, this month’s challenge and FeedSecure, the February North America goIT Monthly Challenge winner, on the TCS goIT Monthly Challenge website.

For many breastfeeding moms, finding a comfortable and clean place to pump and store breastmilk can be hard. Even harder for those who spend their workday behind the wheel of a massive haul truck at an oil sands mine, which continues to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, much like the role of a mother.

For breastfeeding moms at our Millennium Mine at Base Plant operations, collecting valuable breastmilk is a lot easier thanks to a new lactation room at the mine, designed specifically to provide a safe, private, and hygienic space for heavy equipment operators (HEOs) and others who need it in the mine.

Jennifer Burke, a Mine Operations Manager who provided feedback on the lactation space before going on a parental leave herself, believes Millennium Mine’s new addition is a positive sign that anyone is welcome to work anywhere at Suncor. “To me the lactation room signifies that no matter what your situation is, you can feel comfortable here. There are many mothers making incredible lives for their families while working in the mine. It’s nice to give them a space to do the things moms need to do,” says Jennifer Burke, a manager at the mine who is on parental leave herself.

The recent creation of a lactation room at Millennium Mine has made collecting valuable breastmilk a lot easier for women returning to the workplace after parental leave.

Bringing the idea to life

Tina Markovic, Vice President, Mining Business Improvement, was doing a ride-along with her team in the field when the idea of a lactation room was suggested from a HEO.

“I spent time with a female operator who flagged an important issue about supporting breastfeeding moms returning to work after parental leave,” says Tina. “She got me thinking: What if our workplace could provide a private and hygienic facility to express milk? This would help eliminate a barrier for some women in our workforce, or potentially aid in their decision-making process about returning to work.”

Tina shared the idea with a couple of Mine Operations Leaders, Amanda Bona and Neal Tattrie, and the rest is history — or herstory. Under Amanda and Neal’s direction, the Infrastructure Production Team made the Diversity Facility at Millennium Mine a reality. One area of the facility is a devoted quiet space for meditation or prayer; the other room is the site’s first lactation room for nursing mothers.

Amanda, an Infrastructure Production Day Leader, wanted to ensure the space is peaceful but also has important amenities such as hot water and a comfortable chair for those using the space. Swipe access is required to enter the lactation room to ensure it is kept private, secure and quiet.

“I asked pregnant colleagues what they would need in the space to make expressing milk as easy as possible for our operators, who typically spend the majority of their 12-hour shift in the cab of their heavy hauler,” says Amanda, who is currently pregnant herself. “This project really embodied the Stronger Together mentality, to support the ever-changing needs of our diverse workforce, and in this case, women specifically.”

While the lactation room at Millennium Mine is the first in the field, it’s not a first for Suncor. In 2019, a lactation room was added to Suncor’s headquarters in Calgary, Alta., with a second space created in 2022. Suncor also proudly supports many inclusion and diversity programs and initiatives throughout our operations including smudge-friendly spaces and prayer and meditation rooms.