Tag: 3BL

Originally published by Ericsson

72% of early tech adopters believe that a shopping app that suggests alternative digital items will replace physical shopping needs in the 2030s.While it may take time for people to change their habits and become content with choosing digital over physical, it will ultimately help reduce environmental impact and conserve resources for future generations.

One day at the dinner table my 13-year-old daughter excitedly told us that she found a way to ‘wear’ many hats without buying them. As a parent I was immediately curious, so she showed me how.

She took me to a place where she could try on many different hat designs, snap a picture and then share with her friends. She and her friends would often meet here to talk about which hairstyle, makeup and dress color suited them best – and she had tens and hundreds of pictures as proof. She proudly told me that she didn’t have to buy them but was just happy to see how she looked in them. Apparently, this is something all her friends do these days! What a great idea! Enjoying the goods without purchasing or owning them!

But you won’t find this place in your local mall. To get here you’ll need three things: a smartphone, a connection and Snapchat. Because, as you might have already guessed, none of these hats, dresses, makeup, or accessories are real. They’re all virtual, and that got me to thinking: Is there a difference anymore?

Impact of dematerialization

Knowing how dire the situation is with climate change and global supply chain disruptions, there could be many upsides to replacing part of our physical consumption with digital alternatives in future.

In fact, many of today’s tech early adopters would agree. According to the recent 10 Hot Consumer Trends: Life in a Climate-Impacted Future report, as many as 72 percent of early adopters surveyed agree that a shopping app that suggests alternative digital items to replace physical shopping needs will be in use in the 2030s.

Does this have the potential to take off? I think so. Think about how we consume experiences today, for example, such as going to a movie theater, the gym or skiing. While this kind of consumption doesn’t involve physical goods, the amount of energy needed to get to the destination is becoming more costly given the energy crisis we are experiencing right now.

From my own personal experience, I haven’t been to a gym since the beginning of the pandemic. So how do I keep up with my exercise goal? I do it at home by following a workout video made by a trainer from far away. Is the experience great? No. Does it do the trick? Yes. Do I want to go back to the gym now that gyms are open? Absolutely not.

The truth is I have already found other things to do with the time saved from traveling to the gym. But do I long for a better experience? Definitely. Ideally, I’d like to be able feel the trainer closer to me, preferably right next to me, not only to instruct me but also cheer me along. I would also like to do it from the comfort of my home.

But will there be such solutions in future for people like to me use? Well, technically there already is. Nowadays it is possible to do virtual training sessions using a VR headset. This alternative gives a much more immersive experience than simply following a training video on a screen.

Above: Consumers say they want a new generation of ICT services and apps to help them adapt to tomorrow’s climate-related challenges. Explore them all in the latest Ericsson ConsumerLab report.

Adapting to a new reality

As a matter of fact, there is a VR headset at home right now on my desk. Why don’t I use it for my workout sessions? I’ve been pondering this a lot lately until my wise colleagues pointed out: I’m having a hard time changing my usual way of doing things! During the pandemic I was forced to change my routine, like many others, as there were simply fewer alternatives to choose between.

Today, without that external driving force, I’m reluctant to change my usual way of doing things. I find it inconvenient and time consuming to even turn on the VR headset and find the right app or even remember to charge it (even though I pretty much have to do the same with my computer or phone for the same training session).

For some reason I’m finding it difficult to move on from my computer or phone, even though I have a shiny new VR device at home. After some research, I found out that this is not unusual when it comes to consumers changing their habits or lifestyles.

We all know it takes a long time (even generations) and a lot of effort for people to change from one habit to another. Many people oftentimes hold on to their usual way of doing things until everybody around them has already changed, producing a self-inflicted ‘fear of missing out’ effect. In my case, I will probably try harder to make more use of the VR headset on my desk, as otherwise I will be left out of a lot of fun activities my colleagues do!

Consumption, be it physical goods or intangible experiences, gives us not only ownership but also the pleasure of shopping and consuming. The shopping process can be an experience in itself and can be therapeutic for some people, bringing pleasure and comfort. While I don’t believe everyone will enjoy the digital way of consuming in future, I do hope, over time, more of us learn to become more content with consuming digital goods and experiences, just like how much enjoyment my daughter and her friends get with digitally wearing different hats or outfits.

Only then can we know for sure we are leaving some resources for our future generations.

Learn more about climate-impacted consumer choices

Ericsson’s ConsumerLab studies the use and role of technology for consumers now and in the future. To do this, we interview more than 100 000 consumers each year, representing more than 1.1 billion voices. While personal finances, healthcare and safety have topped the global list of consumer worries for decades, climate change has now become one of the most reported concerns among consumers.

Explore the latest report in full here: 10 Hot Consumer Trends – Life in a Climate-Impacted Future

Explore more

Read the blog post: Why a dematerialized future is worth striving for

Read the blog post: Shopping for a dematerialized holiday with XR

Read the article: Digitalization enables enterprises to reach Net Zero

Written by Marie Cloherty for Business Leader, published on 16.01.23, original source: Can CSOs Solve the Climate Crisis?

In this guest article, Marie Cloherty, Executive Director of Sustainable Business at Acre, discusses what can be done following last year’s COP27 and the lack of action against the climate crisis.

Last year’s COP27 left many feeling flat. I was one of them. And let’s be honest – the conference fell short of any real commitments to decarbonise with the speed and urgency that is necessary. As global temperatures continue to rise, it’s clear that businesses will need to take the most action to solve the challenges we now face. 

So what can be done? Firstly, a clear and defined step change within a business is crucial. Unless we all treat the climate crisis as a priority, the world and its resources will fundamentally dissipate. Businesses cannot afford to behave as they always have, where they consistently put profit over purpose. 

To deliver real change, sustainability needs to be embedded into a businesses’ overall strategy. It is about evaluating and adjusting your entire ecosystem and transforming your business to deliver real shareholder value. 

Transformation is difficult, but it is possible. Would anyone have thought 30 years ago the preferred method of communication would be Whatsapp? History has shown that we can adapt, but the difference this time is that we don’t have 30 years to do so. There is a huge task ahead and we must activate everybody’s potential around us, now.

The rise, fall, and resurrection of the CSO

The CSO role began in the early noughties. These early architects of sustainable change within organisations started a movement which ultimately generated significant change. Messages were well-communicated and left workforces inspired to integrate sustainability across functions. 

During this period, however, carbon offsetting grew in popularity and a large swathe of greenwashing took place – the option of buying credits meant businesses thought about offsetting rather than reducing their carbon emissions. It gave companies the option of ticking a box without re-evaluating and decarbonising their operations, which significantly damaged the credibility of both sustainability and the CSO role. As a result, the CSO role gradually disappeared. 

It was not until the global pandemic of March 2020 that sustainability entered board-level discussions with aplomb. Suddenly, key workers were spotlighted; health and safety practitioners found themselves moving from the shop floor to the boardroom as they were drafted to help their organisations protect the workforce both physically, from the dangers of a widespread virus, but also mentally, from the shock of losing jobs and working from home. 

Enter the new iteration of the CSO; with a need to inherit the skills to be able to focus on narrative, ensuring sustainability is owned by every player, they also need a strong technical team around them to support with complex issues such as the removal of Scope 3 emissions from the supply chain, to tackling a complex and highly-nuanced, but much-needed focus on the equity, diversity, and inclusion agenda. With this much responsibility, it cannot all fall to One Figurehead taking the stage.

Collaboration and communication

The lion’s share of the CSO’s role is to remain convinced of the end goals & then to collaborate, lobby, influence, activate, and inspire, like never before. ESG is not the exclusive responsibility of the CSO or their team – everyone must take responsibility. 

CSOs, for their part, need to be committed and determined, believing that capital can and will be deployed towards these issues and mobilising all people around them to enact major transformational change. 

First, CSOs need to interact with the board to align ESG with the strategic direction of the organisation. With a seat at the top table, they are uniquely positioned to exert influence, demonstrating the business case for greater emphasis on sustainable finance and offering robust strategic advice to the CEO. The board can, for their part, reinforce their organisation’s commitment to ESG by building ESG goals into executive remuneration and incentive plans. 

Finally, CSOs need to work closely with governance, compliance, and risk teams. Doing so is important to ensuring that these initiatives can be sponsored and be implemented. Many CSOs are now looking to create strong governance frameworks around what they are embedding, and they need support from people in the organisation who will be more traditional and conservative in their view, which is as important as injecting maverick innovation, if we are to achieve real balance and success in turbulent economic times.

The war on talent: partnering for success

The skillset required of CSOs is unique and hard to come by in one individual when businesses face a war on ESG talent. The best way forward is to hire a blend of individuals who can embed sustainability, each touching different aspects of the ever-growing ESG agenda. 

A powerful dynamic is coming to the fore as companies pair commercial business leaders with individuals with technical sustainable expertise. Within this partnership, the CSO will raise the profile of sustainability at an executive level. They will have a track record of bringing sustainability to bear upon a business’s main strategy, aligning priorities and effectively embedding sustainability policies. 

This individual has a strong commercial understanding – they know how to navigate complex organisations, their own sectors and can corral the troops. Their credible number two is often a technical expert who understands how to achieve technical sustainability goals. 

Ultimately, the CSO leads a group of individuals who can effectively communicate, mobilise, and solve the technical challenges, shaping the workforce to share the load and come along on the journey.

The road ahead

As companies either begin or continue to transform their businesses and cultures, the CSO and their team have a critical role to play, not least in ensuring the vision embeds across all functions, from the board to the newest starter, but that economic factors do not cloud the major issues at hand. After all, sustainable businesses are proved to be more profitable and more future-proofed than any other type of business. 

We can no longer afford to simply talk the talk with effective marketing. Do not underestimate that your own staff and your future hires will be holding your organisation to account, like never before. Any hint of rhetoric will be rightly called out. It is time to rethink how we learn from previous mistakes and mobilise everyone within our business towards sustainable business for future generations.

With 13 years’ commercial experience spanning business development and team leadership, Marie has placed multiple executive-level positions across multi-stakeholder initiatives, consultancies and industry & now oversees our Sustainability Team. From field to board room, she understands the crucial soft skills that enable purpose-driven professionals working to leverage the power of private finance to ultimately solve some of the world’s greatest modern challenges. Her areas of expertise span executive search, interim, advisory and leadership assessment across the broad sustainability agenda.

About Acre

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.

WASHINGTON and NEW YORK, March 13, 2023 /3BL Media/ – The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the global authority for driving market transformation through healthy buildings, organizations and communities, opened registration today for its 2023 WELL Summit, to be held in Washington, D.C., September 25-26, 2023.

“With a bold, new take on how we gather in person, including a dynamic, open-air experience at D.C.’s vibrant Union Market, the WELL Summit is all about connecting and energizing leaders across our global network,” said Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, IWBI. “Throughout the two days, we’ll feature the movement’s top thought leaders on our MainStage, provide unique networking and technical education opportunities and showcase the latest in products and services supporting the healthy building industry, all the while prioritizing attendee health with curated wellness activities and outdoor programming.”

The Summit takes place in the days leading up to the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, the largest annual event for green building professionals.

“We’re very excited that the WELL Summit will lead into Greenbuild, helping deepen our collaboration with USGBC as it celebrates its 30th anniversary and underscoring our shared belief that human health and planetary health are inextricably linked,” added Hodgdon.

Registration for the WELL Summit is now open at wearewell.com/well-summit.

Building on the momentum of the inaugural WELL Summit in Scottsdale, Ariz. in 2022, this year’s event will offer continuous MainStage programming, showcasing speakers such as physician and New York Times best-selling author Dr. Mark Hyman and a panel convened by IWBI Governance Council member Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States, who will engage some of his former Surgeons General colleagues about their perspective on the state of public health today.

“We know that convening in unique, engaging ways inspires our global community and brings opportunities to continue the momentum of the healthy building movement,” said Kimberly Lewis Inkumsah, Executive Vice President, Equity, Engagement and Events, IWBI. “I’m eager to advance IWBI’s mission of creating people-first places through the WELL Summit experience, including outdoor programming, technical training and presentations that will earn attendees CEUs and tapping into the overall power of face-to-face engagement.”

“I am thrilled to join IWBI at the WELL Summit this September, an important moment to gather together and build momentum for people-first places,” said Dr. Richard Carmona. “The need to focus on human health across all the places where we spend most of our time has never been more critical. By transforming our buildings to better support health and foster well-being, we can deliver positive health outcomes at scale.”

About the International WELL Building Institute 
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the world’s leading organization focused on deploying people-first places to advance a global culture of health. IWBI mobilizes its community through the administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL) and WELL ratings and certifications, management of the WELL AP credential, the pursuit of applicable research, the development of educational resources and advocacy for policies that promote health and well-being everywhere. More information on WELL can be found here.

International WELL Building Institute pbc is a wholly owned subsidiary of Delos Living LLC. International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL Portfolio, WELL Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rating, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Equity, WELL Performance Rated, WELL Performance Rating, Works with WELL, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.

Media Contact: 
media@wellcertified.com

View original content here.

March 13, 2023 /3BL Media/ – An international authority in corporate and public sector reporting is to lead the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB), the independent body that sets the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards. Carol Adams, who for 30 years has worked in sustainability research and leadership roles and is Professor of Accounting at Durham University Business School, has been confirmed as the next GSSB Chair.

Judy Kuszewski, who has served as GSSB Chair since 2017, completes her second and final term at the end of March, with Carol starting on 1 April. The GSSB has an increasingly significant role, at a time when global attention on an organization’s impacts on sustainable development and mandatory accountability requirements are higher than ever before.

Carol Adams is an internationally renowned researcher in sustainability accounting and reporting, its role in driving change and its implications for practice and policy. She advises the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy on sustainability reporting, and is a member of the Australian Accounting Standards Board’s Sustainability Reporting Advisory Panel. She is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and chairs their Sustainability Panel.

Carol recently advised the UNDP in creating SDG Impact Standards, and the UK Government’s Implementation Taskforce on Impact Investing. A past chair (2017-19) of the GRI Stakeholder Council, she has for many years been an active contributor to GRI’s mission.

Carol Adams said:

“With a growing recognition of the importance of sustainability reporting, GRI has a huge part to play. I am looking forward to working closely with the GSSB’s expert members, to further widen usage of GRI’s multi-stakeholder standards, which are the global blueprint for quality and comprehensive impact reporting.

Identifying and measuring impacts on the economy, environment and society is an essential step in managing an organization’s risks and opportunities, as well as assessing positive and negative impacts on achieving the SDGs. Beyond that, accountability for management approach, strategy, governance oversight and impacts through use of the GRI Standards is critical in driving change, ensuring sustainable development is not side-lined by a narrow focus on financial considerations.”

Helena Barton, Chair of the GRI Independent Appointments Committee (and Partner at Deloitte), said:

“Once we had explored a very high calibre group of candidates for the role of GSSB Chair, Carol Adams was a clear first choice. Given her expertise in corporate and public sector transparency and sustainability strategy, her evidence-based approach and her passion and belief in the importance of impact reporting, I believe she will continue the excellent work of Judy Kuszewski in leading GRI’s standard setting priorities in the years to come.”

Judy Kuszewski (who is also Chief Executive of Sancroft International Ltd) said:

“Over the past six years, I have seen the GRI Standards go from strength to strength, with significant increases in adoption and usage, and new standards launched, such as our Sector Program. I am pleased to be able to hand the baton on to someone as capable and committed as Carol, who I have every confidence will continue to advance the GSSB remit to deliver world-class sustainability reporting standards.”

Eelco van der Enden, CEO of GRI, added:

“I am delighted that Carol has accepted the position of GSSB Chair, which is a crucially important role in ensuring the effective governance of the GRI Standards. I am confident that under her direction the GSSB’s influential position in the reporting landscape, including engagement with EFRAG and the ISSB, will continue to increase. I also want to put on record my enormous gratitude to Judy Kuszewski, who has provided myself and the organization with such excellent guidance and leadership during her period as chair.” 

Professor Carol Adams MSc PhD CA FAICD has served in advisory roles in the finance and investment sectors, for the United Nations (UNDP, UNCTAD), the International Integrated Reporting Council, and the Commonwealth Education Trust. Carol has held professorship roles in Australia and the UK, including at Monash University and Glasgow University. She started her career as a financial auditor and has led the development of sustainability reporting and strategy in a public sector organization. Carol is a dual British-Australian national residing in Melbourne.

The GSSB has sole responsibility for the development and approval of the GRI Standards and works exclusively in the public interest, according to a formally defined due process. This 15-member body reflects a balance of technical expertise, global diversity and multi-stakeholder perspectives. For a detailed overview, read the GSSB FAQs.

The GSSB Chair must bring evidence based and practical knowledge related to sustainability reporting and its broader context, as well as proven ability to facilitate international multi-stakeholder consensus-seeking processes, and expertise in public interest standard-setting. The Chief Standards Officer (Bastian Buck, who leads the GRI Standards Division) reports directly to the GSSB Chair.

The GRI Standards, the leading global standards for sustainability reporting, are provided as a free public good. They are used each year by more than 11,000 organizations in over 100 countries, including 78% of the world’s largest 250 companies. The GRI Standards were downloaded by users around one million times in 2022, a 45% increase on the previous year.

Established in 1997, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the independent, international organization that helping businesses and other organizations take responsibility for their impacts by providing the global common language to report those impacts.

Energized by Edison

Shulie Tornel, ENERGIZED by Edison Writer

Stacey Gordon has trained more than 2 million people through her unconscious bias LinkedIn Learning courses focused on incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in human resources and recruiting. Yet, she still questions whether she is making any significant impact.

Gordon, executive director and workplace culture consultant at Rework Work and author of “Unbias: Addressing Unconscious Bias at Work,” delivered the keynote address at Southern California Edison’s 21st Black History Month Celebration. During the event, she explained how she is making a difference in the corporate community by rethinking how companies recruit and hire professional women and people of color.

At the event, Gordon asked attendees to act by identifying a community they could directly impact. Whether you are a small business owner, an employee or a family member, you can keep showing up to make the connection between the impact you provide and the community you serve.

“You can’t have an impact if you don’t show up. It is not good enough to simply take in the information; you must want to be part of the solution. There must be a genuine desire to be the change you want to see in the world,” she said.

Edison International, the parent company of SCE, saw an opportunity to act by focusing resources on the areas that will provide the greatest impact — increasing workforce diversity to reflect the communities the company serves. In 2021, Edison International launched the Lineworker Scholarship Program to expand diversity in the skilled craft workforce pipeline, initially focusing on attracting Black participants.

The Edison International Lineworker Scholarship served as an influence for the Los Angeles Urban League’s Construction Career Academy, which prepares candidates with the skills and knowledge for trade union entrance exams and union apprenticeships. Edison has been a long-standing partner with the Los Angeles Urban League in philanthropy, workforce development, policy engagement and recognized the organization with the community partnership award.

“We are very grateful for Southern California Edison’s support for the Los Angeles Urban League. The $10,000 grant we have received from them is going toward training people for jobs and entrepreneurship to encourage economic empowerment,” said Michael Lawson, Los Angeles Urban League president and CEO. “We are working with kids to learn what entrepreneurship is all about. What we are here to do is not just train people but be an advocate for them.”

“You can’t have an impact if you don’t show up. It is not good enough to simply take in the information; you must want to be part of the solution. There must be a genuine desire to be the change you want to see in the world.”
Stacey Gordon, Rework Work Executive Director and Workplace Culture Consultant

The celebration also honored Millionaire Mind Kids for its achievements in clean energy and presented Imperial Electric Service with the Gwen Moore Diversity award.

The livestream celebration included musical performances by Bridgette Bentley (B Ready Productions) and Ashley Keiko (Keiko Studios Music Academy) and cooking demonstrations at SCE’s Foodservice Technology Center in Irwindale, using induction cooktops and energy-efficient ovens by Chef Cherie Beasley (Kitchen Food Ventures).

Click here to view the recorded event.

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

In communities across the United States and every year around late-winter, Girl Scouts put on their green vests and embrace the life of being a young entrepreneur. For four weeks in the Kansas City area, they can be found in front of stores, in neighborhoods and at local events selling cookies to all. What isn’t seen, however, are the bankers who stand behind them.

“I love supporting these young entrepreneurs,” said Steven Sickmeyer, a small business banking specialist with U.S. Bank in the Kansas City area. “I want to help give them a sense of business ownership.”

A sense of ownership that first came to Sickmeyer in July 2022, when two Girl Scout troop leaders from the Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri set up an appointment looking for help.

At their previous bank, troop leaders struggled with a variety of challenges including not having a banker to provide in-person support, being restricted to ATM-only deposits, and requiring everyone to be in the same room at the same time to make changes to accounts.

“Our banking and treasury management is complicated,” said Shari Wyly, the CFO of the Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri. “There is banking for the council and then there is troop banking… and troop banking now has a lot of autonomy in deciding where they want to bank.”

Late last year, about 600 troops that are a part of the Girl Scout council began the process of looking for a new banking home that could provide everything from checking to merchant services.

“When we first started this process of helping those troops solidify relationships with a bank, we were reaching out to every single bank in the area,” said Dawn Hewitt, customer care specialist at Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri. “When Steven came in and said he could be our one point of contact… well, it was like the clouds parting and sunshine coming through.”

From there, things started moving quickly.

“We had a lot of people working to get their finances straight before cookie sales started,” said Kathy Smith, the volunteer support specialist with the Girl Scouts council. “They all needed to know where their money was going and how to get there.”

That’s where Sickmeyer and U.S. Bank branch teams stepped in, providing non-profit checking accounts, using technology that allowed for virtual docu-signing, and setting up merchant services. Then, when Sickmeyer was away from the office to volunteer for several weeks, he had a plan in place to make sure the Girl Scouts didn’t go without support.

“My team and I, at one point, were opening accounts for Girl Scout troops by the handful every day,” said Jessica Fairchild, a branch manager in Blue Springs, Missouri. “Since then, we’ve been there for them to provide that in-person support they were lacking at a previous bank as well as help them take advantage of our digital solutions like the U.S. Bank mobile app.”

Now, more than half-a-year later, the success of the partnership between the U.S. Bank team and the Girl Scouts is seen in each cookie sale.

“I appreciate the relationship and that we are able in to, in good conscious and good faith, say that U.S. Bank is a good option for our troops,” said Wyly.

To learn more about U.S. Bank, click here.

PNC | Insights

When Terrica Robinson and Eric Schleuder began to think about their career paths, they enlisted the help of their managers and the PNC’s Career Advisor program. The move allowed them to take ownership of their development while best meeting customers’ needs.

PNC Career Advisors are part of the Talent Management team, providing support, guidance and consultation to employees looking to grow in their current role or prepare for the next role.

Ashley Esquivel, talent mobility manager at PNC, and her teams, which includes the Career Advisors, works with 400 to 500 PNC employees actively at any given time. The team offers resources to employees seeking support in their career development and advancement – including coaching, assistance in accessing helpful resources for professional growth and development and placement in new roles. About 58% of employees enlisting the help of Career Advisors accept a new position within six months, and 29% accept a position within a year.

“We help employees understand what their career options can be at PNC,” Esquivel explains. “Whether it’s current-role focused or developing them for future positions, we believe having employees in professionally satisfying roles makes for a superior banking experience for our customers.”

Though Robinson’s relationship with her Career Advisor is ongoing, she describes placement in her current role as a six-month process. She began her banking career in 2015 as a part-time BBVA USA teller when she and her husband moved to Huntsville, Alabama. She joined PNC after its 2021 acquisition of BBVA USA.

“I became a full-time teller and eventually moved into a financial service advisor role,” she recalls. “Then I started realizing I wanted to do more with my career, and I knew I didn’t want to leave the bank. I had to decide if my next step was to be a branch manager, but that just wasn’t for me.”

Shortly before PNC’s acquisition of BBVA USA, Robinson went on maternity leave. She had time to think about her next steps and decided to reach out to a Career Advisor once she returned to work.

“Everything went quickly,” she recalls. “I met with my Career Advisor, and we had a general conversation about my aspirations so she could understand me and gain insight into what I was looking for.”

Robinson spent months with her Career Advisor, planning, reworking her résumé, prepping for interviews and searching for just the right role.

“I’ve never had anyone literally sit down with me and say, ‘It’s good, but it can be better if you do this,’” she says. “She just took me under her wing and made me believe that we were going to get there.”

The planning and preparation paid off when Robinson was hired as a payments implementation associate in the Treasury Management department, which tracks and manages the cash flow of businesses – including the funds going in and out, investments and accounts receivables.

Meanwhile, Schleuder, currently a business banking center manager at PNC Plaza in Indianapolis, sought Career Advisor help after his wife received a job offer requiring the family to relocate from his branch in Saline, Michigan, to Indianapolis.

“Once we decided the move to Indiana was worth it, I approached my regional manager to talk about some of the resources available to me,” says Schleuder, who has been at PNC for almost 15 years. “Since I had done my own research, I knew we had Career Advisors who could help.”

Within a week, he was talking to a Career Advisor about relocation opportunities within PNC.

Schleuder, who worked as a branch manager in Michigan, received an offer to become a branch manager at the Georgetown Road branch in Indianapolis, where he worked for 10 months before moving into his current business banking center role. With duties similar to his branch manager role, Schleuder now has a larger staff, which gives him more time to focus on business banking and prospecting for new clients.

“I wanted to continue my development and obtain a position at a branch where I would be able to meet more of the clients and partners in that private banking space,” he explains.

Schleuder’s conversations with his Career Advisor not only helped him develop a career plan, but they also helped him determine his next professional steps.

“Two to three years out, I want to work in the financial planning space. I’m going to use PNC’s education benefit, through its partnership with Guild, to become a certified financial planner,” he says. “Those hourlong sessions with my Career Advisor really helped me realize my path and map out my plan.”

Esquivel says it’s important for employees to be intentional about their career development plans so when the next opportunity arises, they are ready.

“We are navigational experts for employees, but we’re also here to support managers to make sure they’re aware of the tools and resources available to help employees develop,” Esquivel says.

Robinson and Schleuder say building relationships with their Career Advisors has been invaluable.

“Seeking the help of a Career Advisor was the best decision of my life,” Robinson says. “I believe having a program like this shows PNC cares about getting employees in fulfilling positions, which, in turn, helps us better support our customers and the communities we serve.”

Originally published by Forbes

Since the ingredients required by food industries come from many different locations and because of the short-term nature of raw materials, the food supply chain faces unique challenges. Speedy delivery is needed to avoid spoilage, and the highest standards of hygiene are required to prevent contamination. Many foods and dairy products must be stored in certain climactic conditions to maintain quality. Transportation plays a vital role at every step.

At the SAP.iO Foundries Sustainable Agriculture Latin America Demo Day, a group of startups presented solutions to help transportation providers reduce waste through better services that enable greater speed, more transparency and agility, and increased efficiency. These tactics can all help achieve one of the United Nations top priorities: cutting global food waste in half by 2030.

Watch the video here

Continue reading here

CINCINNATI, March 13, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Fifth Third Bank, National Association, today was recognized by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2023 World’s Most Ethical Companies. Fifth Third has been recognized four times by Ethisphere. In 2023, the list includes 135 honorees in 19 countries across 46 industries. Fifth Third is one of only four banks on the list.

Fifth Third is a purpose-driven company with a long commitment to ethics and integrity. The Bank has a strong record of implementing practices that positively impact all stakeholders while delivering solid financial results and through-the-cycle performance.

“To be one of only four banks worldwide is truly remarkable and illustrates our charge to do well by doing good while delivering sustainable value to all we serve,” said Tim Spence, president and CEO of Fifth Third. “Our commitment to doing what is right for our customers, communities, employees and shareholders is at the foundation of our ambition to be the one bank people most value and trust. We’re proud to be consistently recognized by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies, and the honor belongs to our employees. It’s a testament to their hard work to build an ethical culture and unwavering commitment to live our core values.”

Fifth Third strives to do well by doing good, with efforts that include a $100 billion environmental and social finance target to be achieved through 2030, a boost in its minimum wage for the third time in recent years and a $2.8 billion Accelerating Racial Equality, Equity and Inclusion initiative. A highlight of the latter initiative is the $180 million Fifth Third Bank Empowering Black Futures Neighborhood Program, which provides nine targeted neighborhoods with the capital, expertise and collaboration to create equitable growth and economic mobility.

“Ethics matter. Organizations that commit to business integrity through robust programs and practices not only elevate standards and expectations for all, but also have better long-term performance,” said Ethisphere CEO Erica Salmon Byrne. “We continue to be inspired by the World’s Most Ethical Companies honorees and their dedication to making real impact for their stakeholders and displaying exemplary values-based leadership. Congratulations to Fifth Third Bank for earning a place in the World’s Most Ethical Companies community.”

Ethics & Performance 

Ethisphere’s 2023 Ethics Index, the collection of publicly tradedcompanies recognized as recipients of this year’s World’s Most Ethical Companies designation, outperformed a comparable index of large-cap companies by 13.6 percentage points over a five-year period.

Methodology & Scoring

Grounded in Ethisphere’s proprietary Ethics Quotient®, the World’s Most Ethical Companies assessment process includes more than 200 questions on culture, environmental and social practices, ethics and compliance activities, governance, diversity, and initiatives that support a strong value chain. The process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify the leading practices of organizations across industries and around the globe.

Honorees 

To view the full list of this year’s honorees, please visit the World’s Most Ethical Companies website at https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees/.

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association, is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com.

About Ethisphere

Ethisphere is the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices that fuel corporate character, marketplace trust and business success. Ethisphere has deep expertise in measuring and defining core ethics standards using data-driven insights that help companies enhance corporate character. Ethisphere honors superior achievement through its World’s Most Ethical Companies® recognition program, provides a community of industry experts with the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA), and showcases trends and best practices in ethics with Ethisphere Magazine. Ethisphere also helps to advance business performance through data-driven assessments, guidance, and benchmarking against its unparalleled data: the Culture Quotient dataset focused on ethical culture and featuring the responses of 2+ million employees around the world; and the Ethics Quotient dataset, featuring 200+ data points highlighting the ethics, compliance, social, and governance practices of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit https://ethisphere.com.

Franklin Templeton employees candidly shared their insights during the “North American Black Experience Panel,” held on Feb. 24 as part of the firm’s Black History Month events organized by the Black Empowerment Network (BEN), one of the firm’s business resource groups. The panel was teed off by the conversation with John Amaechi that was held earlier that week and focused on the month’s “Black Resilience” theme. Employees talked about why the conversation about Black resilience important, shared examples of having to be resilient and discussed suggestions for Franklin Templeton to make everyone’s experience better with diversity in mind.

Professor John Amaechi, OBE, began the conversation on Black resilience at a Feb. 22 event cohosted by BEN, Western Asset’s Black Heritage Network, ClearBridge Investments, Brandywine Global and Clarion Partners. Franklin Templeton employees attended the thought-provoking talk by the respected organizational psychologist, who first spoke to the company as part of UK Black History Month in October 2022. Read more here.

“What one thing can I do that enhances the sense of psychological safety in the two meters around me and reduces the necessity to be resilient?” he told attendees to ask themselves.

“John made the point that resilience, while admirable, is a scar-generating and expensive enterprise for the person who is having to display it,” said Ebony Anderson, Senior Internal Communication Consultant, Franklin Templeton Technology (FTT), who moderated the panel. “There is emotional fallout when it comes to resilience in the workplace. The goal for any organization should be to eliminate the need for resilience.”

To read more on corporate citizenship at Franklin Templeton and view our Corporate Social Responsibility report, visit our Global Citizenship page here.

About John Amaechi, OBE

Thought leader. Inspirational. Game-changing. Transformative. These are just some of the ways clients have described their experience working with John Amaechi. As a respected organizational psychologist, John is capable of inspiring great change within organizations and educational institutions. John is also a Chartered Scientist, an elected Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health in the UK, a research fellow in the University of East London Department of Psychology and a New York Times Best Selling Author. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2011 for services to sports and the voluntary sector.

About Franklin Templeton

Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 155 countries. Franklin Templeton’s mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the company offers specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in fixed income, equity, alternatives and multi-asset solutions. With offices in more than 30 countries and approximately 1,300 investment professionals, the California-based company has over 75 years of investment experience and approximately $1.4 trillion in assets under management as of January 31, 2023. For more information, please visit franklinresources.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook