Tag: 3BL

Originally published in GoDaddy’s 2025 Global Stakeholder Impact Report

Employee Wellbeing

Employee health and wellbeing are fundamental to our success.

When employees feel their best, they bring their best, and we work to create an environment that supports that. We make our employees’ health, wellbeing, safety, and security a top priority because a thriving team is the heart of everything we do.

Benefits

At GoDaddy we are proud of our benefit offerings, and we work to make our benefits easier to understand and navigate by streamlining enrollment and improving how employees access key options. We also focus on making our programs more visible so employees can confidently choose what works for them.

Here are just a few ways we’re supporting our employees and their families¹⁶:

• Backup Dependent Care: Access to 10 backup care visits per plan year to ease the stress of last-minute caregiving needs.
   
• Adoption Assistance: Up to $10,000 per adoption to help with adoption costs, legal fees, and other eligible expenses.
   
• Surrogacy Reimbursement: Up to $10,000 per surrogacy with a lifetime maximum of $20,000 to help cover eligible expenses not covered by medical insurance.
   
• Daycare Discounts & Subsidies: A 10% discount plus a 10% subsidy for fees with our daycare partners.
   
• Parental Leave: Paid leave to allow parents time to bond with their new additions. Flexible scheduling options may also be available when returning to work.
   
• Prescription Drug Savings Program: A new offering that helps find savings solutions for high prescription drug costs.
   
• Kashable: A new payroll-deduction option that provides access to responsible, low-cost personal loans to support financial wellbeing.

GoDaddy’s Wellbeing Focus

The wellbeing of our employees is a key focus for GoDaddy. Here’s how we show it¹⁷:

• Global Wellness Days: Four dedicated days each year to unplug and focus on their own wellbeing.
   
• Mental Health Management Program: We partner with Lyra Health to offer confidential support for employees. Employees and those who live with them can access in-person appointments, video chats, therapy, coaching, and self-care apps to navigate stress, anxiety, and more.
   
• Wellbeing App: Starting in 2025, those enrolled in one of our UnitedHealthcare plans have access to Calm Health, a mental health app with tools for sleep, meditation, and mindfulness.
   
• Noom: A platform offering a personalized approach to weight management and wellbeing. Beginning in 2025, Noom also provides an option to expand access to certain weight loss medications for employees who clinically qualify, helping support holistic health in a cost-conscious way.

Security & Resilience

People & Culture Our Global Safety, Security, and Intelligence (GSSI) Team helps maintain a safe, productive, and resilient environment for our employees, guests, and visitors across our global operations. At GoDaddy, we treat security as a shared responsibility, and we continuously strengthen our approach to reflect evolving risks and employee needs.

Employees have access to safety, security, and facility-related support through phone, email, and Slack. A dedicated intranet page provides clear, regularly updated guidance on global security practices, security standards and technology, business resilience, and safety policies, so employees know where to turn for information and support.

Employee Safety & Emergency Response

The GSSI Team is focused on keeping employees safe whether they are working from home, in one of our facilities, or traveling. By combining employee input, site-level insights, and global monitoring tools, we can quickly identify potential disruptions and coordinate timely, appropriate responses.

Our GSSI Team uses a tiered communication approach based on risk level and partners with People Operations, Communications, and Legal Teams to support clear, coordinated action. This cross-functional collaboration helps us proactively monitor situations and respond to issues that could impact our people or facilities.

To further support employee safety while traveling, we integrate with our travel platform to provide automated risk assessments, including country-specific guidance and access to 24/7 Global Security Operations Center support. We are also expanding training programs to equip employees with practical skills and resources to help keep themselves and their teammates safe while traveling.

INCIDENT RESPONSE GUIDEBOOK

In early 2026, we launched Incident Response Guidebooks, digital, QR code-based resources that are customized for each office and posted in common areas and meeting rooms. The guidebooks provide clear, step-by-step guidance for emergencies, including natural disasters, medical situations, power outages, and fire incidents, along with officespecific emergency contacts and evacuation routes.

SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES THROUGH HARDSHIP

Supporting one another is part of who we are at GoDaddy. Through the Tomorrow Fund, we provide financial assistance to employees worldwide facing unexpected hardship or natural disasters, helping cover essential needs. In 2025, four grants were provided.

¹⁶ This information is accurate for regular U.S. full time employees only, unless otherwise specified. Benefits will vary by region.

¹⁷ This information is accurate for regular U.S. full time employees only, unless otherwise specified. Benefits will vary by region.

Learn more about GoDaddy’s 2025 Global Stakeholder Impact Report.

About this Report

The GoDaddy 2025 Global Stakeholder Impact Report details our progress toward our corporate sustainability goals, strategies, and initiatives in support of our overarching purpose and values. Unless otherwise noted, this report reflects our corporate sustainability performance across our global operations covering the fiscal year period from January 1 to December 31, 2025. To demonstrate our commitment to transparent communication regarding our sustainability progress, we routinely share updates through our website and our annual reporting. We welcome your questions, comments, and feedback on this report by contacting ESG@GoDaddy.com.

This report references the Global Reporting Initiative Standards, includes select Sustainability Accounting Standards Board metrics for the Internet Media and Services sector, and the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures. We also disclose our contributions and progress toward priority UN SDGs. For additional information on how we align with these frameworks and key indicators demonstrating our sustainability performance, please refer to the Frameworks & Metrics section.

About GoDaddy

GoDaddy, the world’s largest domain name registrar, helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a website and logo, sell their products and services and accept payments. GoDaddy Airo®, the company’s AI-powered experience, makes growing a small business faster and easier by helping them to get their idea online in minutes, drive traffic and boost sales. GoDaddy’s expert guides are available 24/7 to provide assistance. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

Delivering Our Best for Every Patient

Advancing equal access for all patients — regardless of demographic or social status — is central to DaVita’s unwavering pursuit of a healthier tomorrow.

In the 2025 Community Care report, DaVita shared 2025 accomplishments, including:

• Empowering our front-line teammates by providing an optional training aimed at deepening understanding of the diverse cultures and perspectives of the patients we serve. Our leaders may also access data dashboards that feature stratified clinical outcome metrics, which can be provided upon request.
• Introducing innovative, person-centered tools to enhance the assessment of patient modality interests. These tools aim to improve home dialysis accessibility by identifying potential barriers and providing ongoing support to optimize kidney health outcomes.
• Dedicating meaningful time to listening and understanding gaps in care and clinical outcomes for our patients, including within Native American communities. These insights continue to guide our focus on addressing social drivers of health, informing projects and initiatives that benefit DaVita’s broader patient population.
• Establishing a Transplant Equal Access Program with the goal of markedly improving waitlist and transplant outcomes for our lowestincome and most medically vulnerable patients. This year we continued to expand our Transplant Liaison initiative, a clinical program that facilitates collaboration between dialysis care teams, transplant centers and patients. Transplant liaisons are trained community health workers who provide culturally responsive support, helping to close gaps in access for patients who have stalled in the transplant journey or are facing significant barriers, including those affected by social drivers of health.

 

DaVita’s strategy to achieve equitable access to care for all patients spans three focus areas:

• Creating awareness, identifying bias and understanding the data and patient insights to develop and scale interventions.
• Addressing barriers to access with intentional, sustainable, root cause focused interventions that can have a meaningful impact at the local and national level.
• Creating ripples accelerated through meaningful collaborations across the kidney and larger health care communities to share learnings and amplify impact.

Read more in DaVita’s 2025 Community Care Report

Delivering Our Best for Every Patient

Advancing equal access for all patients — regardless of demographic or social status — is central to DaVita’s unwavering pursuit of a healthier tomorrow.

In the 2025 Community Care report, DaVita shared 2025 accomplishments, including:

• Empowering our front-line teammates by providing an optional training aimed at deepening understanding of the diverse cultures and perspectives of the patients we serve. Our leaders may also access data dashboards that feature stratified clinical outcome metrics, which can be provided upon request.
• Introducing innovative, person-centered tools to enhance the assessment of patient modality interests. These tools aim to improve home dialysis accessibility by identifying potential barriers and providing ongoing support to optimize kidney health outcomes.
• Dedicating meaningful time to listening and understanding gaps in care and clinical outcomes for our patients, including within Native American communities. These insights continue to guide our focus on addressing social drivers of health, informing projects and initiatives that benefit DaVita’s broader patient population.
• Establishing a Transplant Equal Access Program with the goal of markedly improving waitlist and transplant outcomes for our lowestincome and most medically vulnerable patients. This year we continued to expand our Transplant Liaison initiative, a clinical program that facilitates collaboration between dialysis care teams, transplant centers and patients. Transplant liaisons are trained community health workers who provide culturally responsive support, helping to close gaps in access for patients who have stalled in the transplant journey or are facing significant barriers, including those affected by social drivers of health.

 

DaVita’s strategy to achieve equitable access to care for all patients spans three focus areas:

• Creating awareness, identifying bias and understanding the data and patient insights to develop and scale interventions.
• Addressing barriers to access with intentional, sustainable, root cause focused interventions that can have a meaningful impact at the local and national level.
• Creating ripples accelerated through meaningful collaborations across the kidney and larger health care communities to share learnings and amplify impact.

Read more in DaVita’s 2025 Community Care Report

Key Takeaways

Summer brings unique workplace safety challenges that require organizations to adapt their Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) programs. From extreme heat and severe weather to wildfire smoke, outdoor hazards, and increased travel, seasonal conditions can create new risks for both indoor and outdoor workers. Taking a proactive approach helps organizations reduce incidents, improve preparedness, and keep employees safe throughout the summer months.

Effective summer workplace safety programs address heat stress prevention, severe weather preparedness, air quality concerns, outdoor hazards, and practical ways to keep employees engaged in EHS throughout the busiest season of the year.

Summer Weather and Workplace Safety

Summer can feel like a carefree vacation after a tumultuous spring or long winter. However, summer also brings some of the year’s most unpredictable weather events. Employers should prepare for heavy rain, flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, lighting, high winds, extreme heat, and, in many regions, wildfires and poor air quality from wildfire smoke. Being mindful of the changing weather conditions and encouraging your employees to research the weather before they head outdoors is essential .

“The peak ‘tornado season’ for the Southern Plains (e.g., Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas) is from May into early June. On the Gulf coast, it is early in the spring. In the northern Plains and upper Midwest (North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota), tornado season spans June and July. But remember, tornadoes can happen at any time of year. Tornadoes can also happen at any time of day or night, but “most tornadoes occur between 4–9 pm” according to NOAA the national severe storms laboratory.

Ensure your workforce understands emergency weather procedures, where to shelter in place and how to communicate between team members. Do they know the difference between a tornado watch (this can be issued over large swaths of regions or states as a precautionary state), and a tornado warning (this means ACT NOW and take shelter because a tornado has been spotted!)?

Summer is increasingly bringing /get-ahead-of-summer-ehs-hazards wildfire smoke and poor air quality to regions across North America, even hundreds of miles from active fires. Outdoor work during smoke events can increase exposure to fine particulate matter, creating respiratory and cardiovascular risks. Organizations should monitor local Air Quality Index (AQI) forecasts, adjust outdoor work schedules when possible, and ensure workers understand when respiratory protection or other controls may be necessary.

Other natural disasters or severe weather to watch for include flash floods, wildfires, earthquakes, and hurricanes near the end of summer in the south. Lightning storms, extreme wind events, and localized flooding can also develop with little warning in many regions. Each of these weather hazards requires different emergency procedures, communication plans, evacuation routes, and stop-work criteria. Some are more unpredictable while others have more advance warning. Your teams should be prepared for any severe weather or natural disaster event in the regions where they are working byunderstanding the dangers and how to protect themselves and their teams.

It’s important to stress the adage, “Better safe than sorry,” and double-check that every employee is prepared for changing weather. One great way to do this is to discuss the coming week’s forecast and let employees know they can take extra time to ensure their own safety while driving or doing other outdoor activities, as well as emphasizing the importance of having the right outerwear, gloves, footwear, and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the job.

Summer is also a good time to review emergency communication procedures, weather alert systems, and business continuity plans to ensure employees know exactly how to respond before severe weather strikes.

Read Personal Protective Equipment: A Primer to stay current on all things PPE.

Heat Stress Prevention for Outdoor and Indoor Workers

In every region, summer turns up the temperature. Heat waves and extreme temperatures can occur throughout the summer months, creating dangerous work situations. Most of the time, this occurs on job sites outdoors but your workforce should also be aware that there are possible indoor situations that can lead to heat stress. Warehouses, manufacturing facilities, confined spaces, mechanical rooms, and buildings without adequate cooling can all become hazardous during periods of extreme heat. Workers wearing heavy PPE may also experience increased heat strain because protective clothing limits the body’s ability to cool itself. In addition, lone workers are especially vulnerable with no one on-site to watch out for them.

Signs of heat stress or heat exhaustion include:

• Dizziness or nausea
• Headache
• Heavy sweating
• Pale skin
• Elevated body temperature
• Weakness and fatigue
• Confusion

Early warning signs should never be ignored. Recognizing symptoms quickly and encouraging workers to report concerns before they become emergencies can prevent serious heat-related illnesses. Supervisors should also monitor employees for behavioral changes, confusion, or unusual fatigue that may indicate heat-related illness.

In hot, humid working conditions, a worker’s body temperature can quickly elevate to up to 106 degrees or higher within minutes. If not treated, heat stress can lead to heat stroke, with loss of consciousness, seizures, and possibly death. Train your team to watch for the initial symptoms of heat-related illnesses, act early by removing any tight clothing and applying cooling measures such as cold water/towels and fans and call 911 for emergency situations.

To minimize or prevent heat-related risks this summer, follow these tips :

• Download the Heat Index safety app from OSHA
• Reduce sun exposure. Long periods outdoors increase the risk of sunburn, heat illness, eye damage, and long-term skin cancer. Encourage employees to wear SPF 30+ sunscreen (and reapply every two hours), UV-protective clothing, sunglasses, and wide-brim hats whenever appropriate for the work being performed.Take breaks in the shad
• Drink plenty of water or sports drinks with electrolytes
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol (you can lose more fluids from these)
• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothin
• Schedule physically demanding work during cooler parts of the day whenever possible
• Encourage frequent hydration before workers feel thirsty
• Watch for fatigue, which can increase mistakes and injury risks during prolonged heat exposure
• Provide cooling stations or shaded recovery areas
• Adjust work/rest schedules during extreme heat events
• Train supervisors to recognize early warning signs of heat illness

Outdoor Workplace Hazards During Summer Risks

There’s just no way around it—summer brings out the creepy crawlies. Make sure your workforce knows about the local dangers including environmental factors like bugs, reptiles or even larger predators like cougars. If you have employees who travel to go into the field, they may not be familiar with local dangers. Make location-specific guidance easily available so employees understand regional wildlife, poisonous plants, insects, standing water hazards, and other environmental risks before beginning work.

Here is a small sampling of what our own teams have encountered over the years:

• Ticks (Lyme disease, infected bite locations)
• Stray dogs and rabid animals
• Bears and other predatory wildlife
• Bees, wasps and Asian giant hornets (“murder hornets”)
• Poisonous spiders (black widow, brown recluse)
• Poisonous snakes (rattlesnakes, cottonmouth, copperhead)
• Poisonous plants (poison ivy, oak, sumac, wild parsnip)
• Other bugs such as chiggers, fire ants, scorpions, mosquitos

Who’s ready to go into the great outdoors this summer after this list? With enough awareness and proper protection, your team is better equipped to safely meet with whatever summer brings their way.

Preventing Summer Distractions and Fatigue at Work

One more EHS factor that may be often overlooked in the summer is mental focus and its potential effect on safety and performance in the workplace. It might not be driven by poor mental health, which can manifest in the winter, but in fact, the opposite—employees are excited about summer vacations, longer daylight hours, nice weather, and holidays like Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Labor Day.

Summer often brings longer workdays, vacations, family activities, and disrupted sleep schedules, all of which can contribute to fatigue. Fatigue affects reaction time, decision-making, and situational awareness, increasing the likelihood of workplace incidents.

This “summer slide” mindset can cause less focus on day-to-day tasks. Combined with fatigue and increased travel, it can significantly increase safety risks. It’s a good idea to check in on safety and ensure employees are in a present mindset, especially when performing tasks that require full attention.

It’s no coincidence that there are more driving accidents in the summer than in other seasons, according to the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), with more cars on the road for summer road trips. Construction activity also increases during summer months, creating additional roadway hazards for employees who drive as part of their jobs. Organizations should remind workers to slow down in work zones, avoid distracted driving, allow additional travel time, and remain alert for pedestrians, cyclists, and children who are out of school.

How to Refresh Your Summer EHS Program

As summer conditions change, it’s a good time to review your EHS program. Consider checking whether you’ve:

• Updated heat illness prevention procedures
• Reviewed severe weather and emergency response plans
• Prepared for wildfire smoke or poor air quality events
• Inspected cooling equipment, PPE, and hydration stations
• Provided refresher training on heat stress warning signs
• Reviewed driving safety expectations for employees who travel
• Updated field work guidance for local environmental hazards
• Confirmed emergency contact and communication procedures

Seasonal awareness campaigns can also reinforce safety beyond the workplace, helping protect employees and their families. Water safety, proper food handling during outdoor events, hydration, responsible alcohol consumption, and the dangers of leaving children or pets unattended in vehicles during hot weather are all timely reminders that demonstrate a broader commitment to employee wellbeing.

Whether through toolbox talks, safety stand-downs, short safety moments before shifts, or EHS awareness events, keeping seasonal topics fresh throughout the summer helps strengthen safety culture and encourages employees to remain vigilant.

Preparing Your Workplace for Summer Safety

Summer presents a unique combination of environmental, weather-related, and human factors that can increase workplace risk. By preparing employees for extreme heat, severe weather, poor air quality, outdoor hazards, fatigue, and seasonal distractions, organizations can reduce incidents and strengthen their overall safety culture. A few proactive conversations today can help prevent serious injuries throughout the season and make a meaningful difference in helping employees stay safe both on and off the job.

Need help improving your EHS culture? Learn more about our health and safety consulting services.

By Danny Tseng

What you should know:

• Smart meters (e.g., gas and water) and other IoT devices need wide-area connectivity and multi-year battery life, where power consumption is the No. 1 design constraint driving product differentiation and selection.
• The Qualcomm E51 4G Modem-RF (QIM225) is purpose-built for LPWA IoT and ranks among the industry’s most power-efficient chipsets, supporting both eMTC (Cat-M1) and NB-IoT (Cat-NB2).
• In lab testing, the Qualcomm E51 4G Modem-RF delivers over 20% improved power efficiency compared to a leading, widely deployed competing chipset under defined conditions across PSM, low-power and active modes.

Intelligently connecting virtually everything around us is the vision that drives our work at Qualcomm Technologies, and it’s why we deliver a broad portfolio of purpose-built processing and connectivity solutions to meet the needs of diverse industries. 

A key focus area is low-power, wide-area (LPWA) connectivity designed for massive IoT deployments, where deep coverage and multi-year battery life are must-haves. This is where 3GPP-standardized LPWA technologies, narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and enhanced machine-type communication (eMTC) aim to provide secure, globally interoperable connectivity for sensors, meters, trackers and other low-complexity IoT devices designed to operate for years on a single battery charge.

Power consumption drives differentiation and device selection

For most LPWA IoT applications, power consumption is often the primary design constraint: devices must deliver reliable coverage while having multi-year battery life, so every microamp counts in both low-power and active modes. Lower power extends operating life and reduces maintenance visits—cutting total cost of ownership (TCO)—and it can also enable smaller device form factors by requiring a smaller battery, improving overall aesthetics and sustainability.

That’s why the Qualcomm E51 4G Modem-RF leads in LPWA IoT, purpose-built to support both LTE Cat-M1 and Cat-NB2 with advanced power efficiency. It is developed to pair optimized power consumption with a compact, cost-effective design and rich peripheral support—helping customers build smaller, longer-lasting devices without compromising features.

Proven power efficiency: Qualcomm E51 4G Modem-RF vs. competitors

To quantify the advantage of Qualcomm E51 4G Modem-RF, we measured its power consumption in our lab across different power modes and representative use cases — then benchmarked those results against one of the most deployed eMTC and NB-IoT dual-mode chipsets, the Altair ALT1250.

Power measurements in sleep and active modes

Figure 3 below shows a comparison of the measured results of E51 versus ALT1250’s published specifications. The takeaway is clear: E51 delivers >20% power savings across all power modes, from ultra-low-power modes such as power save mode (PSM) to active transmit/receive states.

A closer look at the power performance curves

In extended discontinuous reception (eDRx) mode, the power profile is defined by both the baseline sleep current and the periodic paging wakeups. A closer look at the curves shows E51 implements power optimizations to reduce total energy in these low-power states — delivering 33% lower deep-sleep current and a more efficient wakeup mechanism with 67% shorter paging wakeup time. The result is smaller current spikes, which reduces overall battery draw while maintaining network reachability.

Real-world battery life simulations for IoT use cases

To go beyond lab measurements, we also ran system-level simulations based on our lab-measured power data to model end-to-end modem behavior in real-life operating profiles. These simulations translate sleep, wake, attach and transmit events into expected battery draw over time — showing how E51 can support battery life required by targeted use cases. In this study, we looked at the power profiles for three different low-power, wide-area use cases and their battery life requirements, including smart meters, remote sensors and asset trackers.

• Smart meters: Water and gas meters typically have no main power, so they run on batteries and require ultra-long life — often 15+ years — with infrequent data transmission. For gas meters, paging monitoring is the primary battery drain, so the device commonly operates in eDRX; our simulation shows E51 reaching 15-year battery life with 7.5–11 Ah batteries, depending on the number of uplink transmissions per day. Similarly for water meters, the same 15-year target can be achieved with 0.3–4.5 Ah batteries, primarily by relying on PSM.

• Remote sensors: In applications ranging from weather stations and agricultural sensors to grid-monitoring devices, the typical battery life target is up to five years of operation on a compact battery. With PSM and sending infrequent, one-way data uploads, the E51 can achieve this target with as little as 0.2–2.6 Ah of battery capacity, depending on payload size and reporting frequency. This is designed to support smaller device formfactors and can help reduce maintenance needs and total cost of ownership for large-scale remote deployments.

• Asset trackers: These devices operate in challenging conditions, continuously uploading location data via GNSS, monitoring temperature, humidity, ambient light and motion through multiple onboard sensors, all while running in power-efficient eDRX mode. Despite this workload, the E51 can achieve up to three months of battery life on just 0.2–0.7 Ah of battery capacity, depending on upload frequency. 

Advancing massive IoT with ultra-low-power connectivity

At Qualcomm, high-performance wide-area connectivity and ultra-low-power design are part of our DNA. This is the foundation needed for delivering cutting-edge products like the Qualcomm E51 4G Modem-RF. Engineered for LPWA use cases, it helps devices run longer on a single battery charge, connect more reliably, and scale deployments more cost-effectively. We’re excited to help power what’s next in IoT, and we’ll continue to share updates as the ecosystem advances toward the vision of connecting virtually everything.

Go Deeper

How does the Qualcomm E51 4G Modem-RF achieve its power efficiency advantage?

We engineered the E51 to implement power optimizations that reduce total energy, resulting in smaller current spikes, reduced overall battery draw and maintained network reachability across PSM, eDRX and active modes. Our lab measurements showcased it delivers >20% better power efficiency than one of the most widely deployed eMTC and NB-IoT dual-mode chipsets on the market.

Explore the Qualcomm E51 4G Modem-RF

Are there more LPWA use cases and power efficiency insights beyond what’s covered here?

Beyond smart meters, remote sensors and asset trackers, the LPWA IoT landscape continues to expand — and so does our work of pushing the boundaries of power-efficient connectivity. We’ll continue sharing new benchmarks, use case coverage and ecosystem updates as the industry advances toward the vision of connecting virtually everything.

Sign up for Qualcomm IoT Connection newsletter to stay up to date

What happens when young girls are given the opportunity to design, build, and problem-solve alongside women engineers?

Confidence grows. Curiosity takes over. And for many, a future in engineering suddenly feels within reach.

That’s exactly what unfolded at Camp Engies BC, where 80 girls from across British Columbia gathered for a two-day, one-night engineering camp in Squamish. Supported by DP World, the program introduced campers ages 10 to 14 to engineering through hands-on challenges, mentorship, and conversations with women already working in the profession.

Creating Opportunities Through STEM

Engineering plays a vital role in solving many of the world’s biggest challenges, from building resilient infrastructure to advancing sustainable technologies. Programs like Camp Engies help ensure more young people – especially girls, who remain underrepresented in STEM fields – have the opportunity to see themselves in these careers.

With DP World’s support, this year’s camp welcomed 80 campers to Camp Summit in Squamish. Twelve volunteers and six female engineers shared their experiences, mentored participants, and guided campers through interactive activities designed to spark creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving.

The program also expanded access to engineering education by providing complimentary attendance for girls from Girls Who LEAP, KidSport, and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, helping remove barriers for young people who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to participate.

For many campers, the experience offered more than an introduction to engineering – it showed them what is possible. As one camper shared, hearing directly from women in the profession and tackling real engineering challenges transformed how she saw her own future.

Investing in Canada’s Communities

Camp Engies is one example of how DP World is investing in stronger, more resilient communities across Canada. By supporting hands-on STEM education and connecting young girls with women working in engineering, the company is helping inspire the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders.

That commitment extends well beyond the classroom. In 2025, DP World employees volunteered more than 750 hours supporting initiatives focused on environmental stewardship, education, food security, and community resilience. The company also partnered with the Vancouver Canucks to host DP World Game Night, bringing fans together while supporting local charitable initiatives and strengthening community connections.

Whether introducing a young camper to engineering or volunteering in communities across the country, DP World believes meaningful community investment starts by creating opportunities for people to learn, grow, and succeed.

As one camper expressed, attending Camp Engies changed how she viewed her future. What began as a two-day camp ended with a new ambition: to become an engineer and designer who creates products that improve people’s lives.

Sometimes, the biggest impact starts with a single opportunity.

Watch the video above to learn more about Camp Engies and their mission of empowering girls to explore careers in STEM.

Artificial intelligence has moved well beyond the experimental phase, and organizations across North Carolina are facing the challenge of using AI responsibly, effectively, and at scale.

Industry leaders gathered for North Carolina Technology Day 2026, Lenovo’s annual celebration of the state’s tech innovation to discuss the opportunities, challenges, and real-world applications shaping the future of AI. In a panel discussion moderated by I-Sah Hsieh, deputy secretary for AI and policy at the North Carolina Department of Information Technology and leaders from AMD, Cisco, Lenovo, SAS, and North Carolina Central University explored topics ranging from cybersecurity and workforce development to data governance and responsible innovation.

AI Is Moving Into Everyday Operations

The prevailing theme of the discussion was that AI is no longer a future technology.

Panelists shared examples of how their organizations are integrating AI into daily operations, and how they are moving beyond pilot projects and experimentation. Kumaran Siva, corporate vice president of enterprise AI at AMD, described the company’s evolution from early computer vision applications on manufacturing lines to broader enterprise adoption efforts that now touch multiple areas of the business.

Panelists noted that successful AI implementation requires more than access to powerful tools. Long-term success depends on infrastructure, governance, and employee readiness.

The conversation also addressed adoption challenges within organizations. Ada Lopez, senior manager of inclusive product design at Lenovo, said the technology itself is not the main barrier but the associated stigma of AI use as employees worry about how AI use will be perceived by their colleagues. Lopez said leaders can help remove the hesitation by sharing how they use AI in their own work, which can help foster an environment for AI experimentation.  

Data Remains the Foundation

The public conversation around AI focuses on new models and capabilities; however, the panel repeatedly returned to a less visible topic: data.

New AI tools can only be as effective as the information that powers them. They emphasized the importance of data governance, access controls, and intellectual property protection as organizations expand their AI efforts.

“Your data layer is still the most important asset you have,” Udo Sglavo, vice president of applied AI and modeling R&D at SAS, said. “Machine learning models do not unlearn. Once it’s out there, it’s out there.”

The discussion highlighted a common trend: organizations often rush to evaluate new AI tools before establishing the policies and safeguards necessary to protect sensitive information. Panelists emphasized that even the most advanced technology can create unnecessary risks without this foundational work.

A New Era for Cybersecurity

 The Impact of AI on Cybersecurity drew some of the most substantial commentary.

Omar Santos, distinguished engineer of cyber and AI security at Cisco, described how rapidly advancing AI capabilities are changing the threat landscape and lowering barriers for bad actors. “A teenager with $100 of API access on a frontier model can do what a nation-state was able to do last year,” Santos said.

Despite those risks, Santos expressed optimism about the opportunities AI creates for defenders. He described how organizations use AI-powered tools to simulate attacks, identify vulnerabilities, and strengthen security posture at a speed that was previously impossible. “We can flip the table,” Santos said. “We do have the opportunity right now to accelerate and modernize.”

A key takeaway was that while AI has expanded the capabilities available to threat actors, it has also strengthened organizations’ ability to identify threats and improve defenses.

Expanding Access to AI Education

The conversation extended beyond technology and into education, led by Dr. Siobahn Day Grady, founding director of the AI & Emerging Research Institute at NC Central University. Dr. Grady outlined the impact of the institute as it is the first AI Institute established at a historically Black college or university in the United States. It is supported by funding from Google.org and serves students from a wide range of academic backgrounds while also engaging community members outside the university.

“AI is for everyone,” Grady said. “This moment is no different than when the internet arrived, and some people got left behind then too.”

Rather than focusing exclusively on engineering or computer science students, the institute works to introduce AI concepts across disciplines. The panel agreed that broad AI literacy will be important as the technology blends into daily routine.

Human Judgment Still Matters

As AI systems become more capable, concerns about accountability continue to grow.

Discussion turned to where AI can operate independently and why human governance remains necessary. The panelists agreed that AI can streamline operations and enhance productivity, but responsibility should always remain with people. “Responsibility belongs to humans,” Siva said. “That will never change, and that is what will underpin wherever AI actually takes us.”

Sglavo reinforced that perspective. “Innovation and creativity are human traits,” Sglavo said. “The technology will not solve our problems. We have to solve our problems using that technology.”

 AI’s Human Impact

The most memorable discussion highlighted the people that utilize this technology, and the positive effect AI has had on their lives.

Lopez shared an example from Lenovo’s work with the Scott-Morgan Foundation, which uses AI technology to help people living with ALS preserve their voice, stories, and likeness through digital avatars. The project also sparked discussion around privacy, ownership, and personal rights, highlighting broader considerations for policymakers, technology companies, and communities as advances in AI continue to outpace the laws and regulations designed to govern them.

Looking Ahead

The panel covered a variety of topics, but the following remained consistent throughout the conversation.

• Organizations must invest in strong data practices before scaling AI.
• Cybersecurity strategies will need to evolve alongside emerging threats.
• AI literacy will become increasingly important.
• As AI technology is optimized, human governance remains essential.

Panelists encouraged leaders to engage with AI now rather than wait for the technology to mature. “Use it. Build it. Make it better,” Santos said. “We are now in the exponential. This thing will get significantly better next year.”

For North Carolina’s technology, business, and education leaders, the message was clear: the AI era is here. The focus has shifted from understanding what this technology can do to determining how it can be used responsibly and effectively.

MUMBAI, India and NEW YORK, July 28, 2026 /3BL/ – Points of Light, a global nonprofit dedicated to volunteer service and civic engagement, has bestowed its inaugural Volunteer Ambassador & Champion Program Award to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting and business solutions. TCS received the accolade for its Leaders with Purpose program, which trains employees to become leaders in community engagement.

The award recognizes TCS Leaders with Purpose program for empowering employee leaders who champion volunteerism, inspire community engagement, and mobilize meaningful action across teams and the organization. Throughout North America, participants in the Leaders with Purpose program support STEM education and nonprofit organizations through sustained volunteer initiatives that expand opportunities, strengthen community resilience, and help address critical social needs.

“We believe companies have an important role to play in mobilizing people, strengthening communities and creating lasting, sustainable impact,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO of Points of Light. “Tata Consultancy Services’ leadership demonstrates what is possible when service, purpose and partnership come together to address community needs. We are proud to celebrate Tata Consultancy Services and its continued commitment to building stronger, more resilient communities.”

Points of Light announced the award on June 23 at its annual conference in Washington, D.C. For TCS, the recognition reflects a long-standing approach to corporate social responsibility that encourages employees to contribute time, skills and leadership to nonprofit organizations across North America.

“We created Leaders with Purpose to help our people develop the leadership skills necessary to become truly effective at local community engagement,” said Lina Klebanov, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, North America, TCS. “Nonprofits are doing challenging and important work that requires volunteers who listen, learn and contribute as trusted partners over time. I’m proud of the TCS volunteers whose commitment to giving back to local communities made this recognition possible.”

Through the Leaders with Purpose program, TCS employees build relationships with nonprofit organizations and use their leadership and professional skills to tackle community priorities. The program’s capstone project model helps participants transition from learning to action, while giving nonprofit partners access to volunteer leaders who can support projects, mentoring, skills-based service and sustained engagement.

The Points of Light Volunteer Ambassador & Champion Program Award underscores TCS’ broader efforts to advance social impact in North America through employee volunteering, STEM education, digital inclusion and nonprofit partnerships.

Leaders with Purpose: By the Numbers

• 450+ TCS employees have graduated from Leaders with Purpose to date.
• 200+ North American nonprofits have been supported through Leaders with Purpose capstone projects.
• Participation has increased 165% since the program launched in 2018.
• 73% of program graduates remain active volunteers.
• 75% of program graduates are interested in mentoring future cohort members.
• Program alumni collectively contribute an average of 8,500 volunteer hours each year.

About Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS)

Tata Consultancy Services (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) is the technology partner of choice for industry-leading organizations worldwide. Since its inception in 1968, TCS has upheld the highest standards of innovation, engineering excellence and customer service.

It has set an aspiration to become the world’s largest AI-led technology services company and is enabling its clients to transform themselves across the full AI stack, from infrastructure to intelligence.

Rooted in the heritage of the Tata Group, TCS is focused on creating long term value for its clients, its investors, its employees, and the community at large. With a highly skilled workforce spread across 56 countries and 194 service delivery centres across the world, the company has been recognized as a top employer in six continents. With the ability to rapidly apply and scale new technologies, the company has built long term partnerships with its clients. Many of these relationships have endured into decades and navigated every technology cycle, from mainframes in the 1970s to artificial intelligence today.

TCS sponsors 14 of the world’s most prestigious marathons and endurance events, including the TCS New York City Marathon, TCS London Marathon, Tata Mumbai Marathon, and TCS Sydney Marathon, with a focus on promoting health, sustainability, and community empowerment.

TCS generated consolidated revenues of over US $30 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026. 

For more information, visit www.tcs.com.

Follow TCS on LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | X.

TCS media contacts:

Corporate Communications & India	Email: corporate.communications@tcs.com Email: santosh.castelino@tcs.com | Phone: +91 22 67789098
U.S.	Email: andrew.corcione@tcs.com | Phone: +1 646 617 8221
North America Corporate Social Responsibility	Email: eve.pidgeon@tcs.com | Phone: +1 313 605 1026

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Noah Hernandez was the first person in his family to attend college. It was his passion for science and math, and a belief that engineering shapes the future, that led him to pursue mechanical engineering with a focus on thermodynamics, heat transfer and fluid mechanics.

And his participation in Trane Technologies’ Graduate Training Program, helped prepare him for his next role as an account manager for new systems. “HVAC is a lot more complex than people think,” Noah says. “There’s definitely a lot more engineering involved than just making cool air.”

VIDEO: How the Graduate Training Program Prepared Noah for a Meaningful Career in Energy Efficiency

Knowledge, confidence and camaraderie in the Graduate Training Program

Before joining the Graduate Training Program, Noah worked full time as an estimator in his local Trane Technologies office, where he first heard about the program from account managers and leadership. “This isn’t something other companies in our industry really offer,” he says.

“From day one, we’ve been getting real training, and we’re coming out well-equipped for the field.”

Noah Hernandez
Account Manager, Trane Technologies

The program, which mixes deep technical education with real-world learning and leadership development, is designed to close the university-to-industry gap. “I studied all the fundamentals in school — thermodynamics, fluid mechanics — and now I’m seeing how it all fits together in actual HVAC systems,” Noah explains. “It’s powerful to tie that theory to real-life practice.”

Just as important as the technical learning has been the people around him in the program. “One of the best parts of the program has been the camaraderie. We’re all going through this together. Everyone here is smart, driven and collaborative. I’ve made such great friends here.”

Mentorship and growth

Alongside the camaraderie, mentorship plays a central role in the Graduate Training Program experience. Each participant is paired with a mentor who provides one-on-one support throughout the program. “Our mentors are there to help guide us, to talk about where we’re struggling and identify what we need to develop. 

“The Graduate Training Program’s not just growing us technically; it’s growing as people.”

That whole-person development is built into the program’s design. “It’s intense,” Noah admits. “The days are long, but the weeks go by quickly. We’ve learned how systems work, how to manage our time, how to present and understand ourselves and how we learn.”

The Graduate Training Program also dives deeply into sales, including the differences between new systems, service and controls sales, giving each participant the tools to succeed in their chosen track.

HVAC’s role in climate impact

For Noah, one of the most eye-opening takeaways of the program has been HVAC’s role in global emissions. “HVAC systems make up a third of the world’s energy usage,” he says. “I didn’t realize just how big of an impact we can make. And I think that’s really inspiring.”

While sustainability wasn’t the initial reason Noah joined Trane Technologies, it’s become a core part of his mission. “Now that I understand how much our systems matter, I see my role differently. I’m helping engineers and building owners move toward a more sustainable future.”

That shift starts with education. “We’re consultants. Customers look to us for expertise. So, staying educated and sharing that knowledge with our customers is one of the best ways we can contribute to a more sustainable world.”

Building a purposeful career 

After graduating from the program, Noah will return to his office in Texas, where he’ll work with engineers and contractors to lay out HVAC systems for large-scale building projects. But this time, he’s stepping in with confidence, tools and a network of support behind him.

“Trane Technologies is a great company to work for. The culture, the people, the training — it’s all been incredible,” he says.

“If you’re an engineer who wants to make a difference, this is one of the greatest decisions you can make.”

Noah Hernandez
Account Manager, Trane Technologies

Sell something meaningful with Trane Technologies. Ready to make an impact? Explore your future in sales with Trane Technologies.

At WK Kellogg Co, we believe healthy soils are the foundation of resilient farming communities, thriving ecosystems and a more sustainable food system. Through our support of the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund, we are helping expand opportunities for soil health education, farmer-led innovation and youth engagement initiatives across Nebraska.

The Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund is working to strengthen the future of agriculture by investing in projects that advance regenerative agriculture, soil biology, water stewardship, biodiversity and hands-on agricultural learning. Together, these efforts are helping producers, students and communities explore practical approaches that improve soil health, strengthen farm productivity, protect natural resources and build resilience for future generations.

One example of this impact is Battle Creek High School FFA member Claire Schmidt, whose award-winning agriscience research demonstrates the leadership and innovation emerging from the next generation of agricultural stewards. Schmidt won the Nebraska State Agriscience Competition in the Environmental Service/Natural Resource Systems category with her project, “Optimizing Nitrogen Application to Maximize Crop Yield, Economic Returns, and Soil Health.” Supported through funding from the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund and an anonymous donor through Nebraska Community Foundation’s Youth Engagement Grant, her research showed how optimized nutrient management can improve economic returns while supporting soil health and protecting water quality.

The Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund continues to invest in farmers, educators and community organizations working to advance soil health knowledge and adoption throughout Nebraska. By supporting locally driven solutions and practical on-farm learning opportunities, these investments help create agricultural systems that are productive, environmentally responsible and economically sustainable.

Here at WK Kellogg Co, we are proud to support this work alongside other donors and community partners who share a commitment to sustainable agriculture, natural resource stewardship and agricultural education.

As a result of this collective investment, the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund will increase its maximum grant award to $2,500 for the next two grant cycles, creating additional opportunities for farmers, educators and students to pursue innovative soil health projects that deliver lasting environmental and community benefits.

“We’re proud to support the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund and its efforts to expand opportunities for soil health education and innovation,” said Sarah Ludmer, Sustainable Business Officer at WK Kellogg Co “Healthy soils are foundational to resilient farming communities, thriving ecosystems and a sustainable food system. Investing in soil health helps create opportunities for farmers today while supporting future generations of agricultural leaders.”

Supporting initiatives like the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund reflects WK Kellogg Co’s broader commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture and building resilient communities through its Feeding Happiness sustainable business strategy. By investing in soil health education, farmer innovation and youth leadership, WK Kellogg Co is helping create positive outcomes for people and the planet while supporting the long-term sustainability of the agricultural systems that help feed communities across the country.