Mosopefoluwa Fayeun
Principal Partner, Albert and Abraham LLP
Lagos, Nigeria
If you could describe yourself in one word, what would that be and why?
Strong. Up till the nearest past I doubted myself, delayed gratification and I let impostor’s syndrome set in because I thought there was a ‘right time or age’ to do things. I had to be old and look a certain way to be taken seriously in the rungs of the corporate ladder however that has changed. Nowadays, I take the bull by the horns and seize my corporate star moments.
Pledge 1% provides a framework for businesses to do good. Do you think it’s important for today’s corporate leaders to prioritize social impact? If so, why?
Absolutely. As Howard Zinn said small acts when multiplied by millions of people can transform the world so pay it forward. Social impact is not limited to the advantages of corporate social responsibility but extends to how we help vulnerable social classes climb the corporate career ladder.
Do you give back to the community with your team and work? If so, what does this look like?
Yes. Since 2016 I have been running Jael, Nasibah and Moremi where I help abused women get justice, integrate them back into the society and build a career for themselves through quality mentorship.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
“Law is a craft, your craft, so hone it”. I have in turn taken it to mean that life is a craft, my craft so I hone it!
“I have in turn taken it to mean that life is a craft, my craft so I hone it!”
This year’s International Women’s Day themes are focused on investing in women and inspiring inclusion. What can we do to make today’s workplaces more equitable and inclusive for women?
Its funny because in my current role, I have a special bias for helping women owned businesses scale and the most important factor to scale is investment. Sometimes all a business needs is that first check to fly so to further diversify the pool, invest in more women.
Workplaces need standard operating procedures on diversity targeting employees from the recruitment stage, everyone has to hang their biases at home.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
Break outside the boxes; do away with stereotypes and just be yourself. Every other person will adjust. To you of course.
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
The Firm is expanding so definitely training more hands to manage our booming clientele. Personally, It is always at the top of my list to get more degrees and certifications where it relates to businesses and the law.
Miranda Elliott
Digital Marketing Manager, Ostendio
Herndon, USA
If you could describe yourself in one word, what would that be and why?
Optimistic – Staying optimistic and open-minded is my go-to strategy for tackling whatever comes my way, whether at work or in my personal life. It’s all about believing in the goodness of people and finding unique ways to lend a helping hand through volunteering and giving back.
Looking ahead, I’m hopeful for a future where women leaders shine bright and get the recognition they truly deserve!
Pledge 1% provides a framework for businesses to do good. Do you think it’s important for today’s corporate leaders to prioritize social impact? If so, why?
In the post-pandemic era, employees of all backgrounds and ages prioritize work-life balance. For many, working for a company with a strong social impact philosophy is crucial when choosing an employer.
Studies show that younger generations, in particular, value employers who prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion, along with social responsibility. Ostendio joined Pledge 1% in 2017 and, despite being a small organization, Ostendio’s founders have prioritized giving back since day one. Not only is this the right thing to do but we’ve found that this approach attracts employees who value the impact of their work on the community, enhancing retention and satisfaction.
As one employee shared in our recent company culture survey, “It makes me happy to go to work again… it’s focused on being good in the world.”
Do you give back to the community with your team and work? If so, what does this look like?
At Ostendio, with our team spread across the US and India, volunteering together in person isn’t always feasible. But that doesn’t hold us back! One way we overcame this challenge was to partner with organizations, like Goodera, to create opportunities for us to volunteer together virtually, bridging the challenges faced with distance and time zones. We coordinate volunteer days and share ideas and stories on Slack to keep each other motivated and engaged.
Additionally, Ostendio generously matches employee donations up to $1000 per employee, amplifying our impact on causes ranging from animal rescues to environmental conservation and beyond.
Ostendio also offers our security and compliance platform on a pro bono basis to non-profit organizations. This means that all employees are involved in supporting these organizations daily as part of their regular jobs. Together, no matter where we are, we’re making a meaningful difference in our communities.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Be kind. It’s a simple yet powerful reminder that everyone’s fighting their own battles. My former boss taught me that nobody wakes up wanting to do a bad job. If someone’s struggling, maybe they’re just in the wrong role or lacking support.
A little kindness can go a long way in making someone’s day brighter. Showing kindness can make a difference, not just in the moment but in the long run too. It’s amazing how far a little bit of kindness can take you!
This year’s International Women’s Day themes are focused on investing in women and inspiring inclusion. What can we do to make today’s workplaces more equitable and inclusive for women?
Creating a welcoming workplace for everyone is a priority at Ostendio, and our Culture Club plays a big role in that effort. I would encourage other organizations to establish employee groups to discuss the issues of inclusion and find ways that work for the culture of their organization.
At Ostendio, we focus on social responsibility and provide DEI training to all employees annually. This helps ensure everyone starts on the same page when it comes to understanding DEI. By raising awareness and embracing our unique differences, we foster an environment where everyone feels valued. Our flexible work policies support work-life balance, and we actively track gender demographics in an effort to ensure equality across all levels of management.
Measurement of any initiative is essential so that you can see over time if you are making progress or need to make some adjustments to meet your goals. Additionally, it’s crucial to recognize that individuals may take career breaks for various reasons, and those breaks should not negatively impact their careers upon their return to teh workplace. It is also important to understand how different people work and share their perspectives. For example, not everyone speaks up in group settings, so we need to train supervisors to understand and appreciate different work styles. When everyone feels heard and valued, that’s when organizations truly thrive.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
Don’t underestimate yourself. I’ve noticed that I tend to downplay my achievements, something I’m actively trying to improve. Research indicates that men are more likely to apply for jobs even if they don’t meet all the qualifications, while women often hold back unless they meet every criterion. So, it’s important to acknowledge your accomplishments, understand your worth in your field, and confidently highlight your successes. Having a supportive network of mentors can also be incredibly impactful.
“Don’t underestimate yourself.”
Early in my career, I was lucky to have a supervisor who championed my promotion and helped me realize my true value, especially when I wasn’t being properly valued.
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
On a personal note, I’m excited to travel to reconnect with family and friends scattered across the globe.
On the professional side, we have new leadership at Ostendio and I’m looking forward to introducing the Culture Club and its achievements to a new audience.
I’m also eager to dive deeper into my role in the Ostendio Culture Club. We’re always brainstorming fresh ways to inspire team members to give back and volunteer. With our generous 6 days of paid time off for volunteering, I’m excited to explore new avenues of community impact and encourage others to join in!
Disney “Diz” Petit
Co-Founder and CEO, LiquiDonate
San Francisco, CA
If you could describe yourself in one word, what would that be and why?
Tenacious. I asked my team for the answer to this question and this was voted the most. I think it’s very kind of them to say it, and I’ll own it. We keep trying and pushing change and innovation in this industry, and we have to keep going while trying to do the right thing.
Pledge 1% provides a framework for businesses to do good. Do you think it’s important for today’s corporate leaders to prioritize social impact? If so, why?
It is crucial for business leaders to prioritize social impact because today’s and future consumers expect impact as table stakes for companies they are willing to do business with.
Do you give back to the community with your team and work? If so, what does this look like?
Yes! LiquiDonate has pledged 1% of our company time, product, and equity to nonprofits through Pledge 1%.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Be willing to do multiple things in your role (even if it’s outside of the scope of your role) to see what you like that might surprise you.
“Be willing to do multiple things in your role (even if it’s outside of the scope of your role) to see what you like that might surprise you.”
This year’s International Women’s Day themes are focused on investing in women and inspiring inclusion. What can we do to make today’s workplaces more equitable and inclusive for women?
Continue pushing on VC’s and other investors to require more equitable funding of female-founded companies.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
When you start a new role, create a Google Doc where you keep a running list of all of the things that you accomplished so that when you get to your performance review or to update a resume, your accomplishments will be there with specific examples and numbers.
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
I am looking forward to continuing to grow LiquiDonate over the course of the year.
Heather Jin
Global Head of Social Impact and Sustainability, Medallia
London, UK
If you could describe yourself in one word, what would that be and why?
Resilient. I am so grateful to my parents for fostering this quality. Growing up, I moved 6 times with my family – including immigrating from Japan to the US when I was 7 years old and attending to 3 different high schools. Through these moves, I learned to find opportunities in change – to meet new people, learn new perspectives, and gain empathy. In the work environment, I believe my resiliency is my superpower as I leverage change (whether it’s a new team, leader, office location, project, etc.) as an opportunity to find solutions.
Do you give back to the community with your team and work? If so, what does this look like?
As I lead our Social Impact and Sustainability practices, my north star is finding the common ground among: what the community needs, what our employees need, and what our business wants to achieve.
For the Social Impact practice, that looks like leveraging Medallia’s superpowers — our people, product, and capital — to support nonprofits that our employees are passionate about. In fiscal year 2023, we donated over $1.1M to support 50+ nonprofits globally and increased employee volunteerism by 60% and fundraising by 111% since September 2021.
For the Sustainability practice, that looks like partnering cross-functionally to determine how we can meaningfully reduce our emissions. Medallia recently committed to becoming net-zero by 2040, becoming the first Experience company with such a commitment. We also committed to set near-term targets with the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), so we’re excited to establish our path to net zero grounded in the latest climate science.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
On the theme of change, one of the best advice I received to help navigate organizational change is to ensure you have a deck at all times that outlines the who, what, why of your role. This deck showcases who you are, what you or your Team has achieved already, and why it’s important to continue investing in the Team. That way, any new leader or teammate can immediately know how to work best with you or your Team.
“On the theme of change, one of the best advice I received to help navigate organizational change is to ensure you have a deck at all times that outlines the who, what, why of your role.”
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
Each year, I set one word as my theme for the year. For 2024, my theme is “peace”. To me, that means finding joy in the little moments; finding balance among priorities for work, family, community, and myself; and building day to day habits to help achieve this balance.
Original post here
Author – Catherine Wylie
The Duke of Sussex has said the mind is “like a muscle” in that it needs to be “honed, trained, rehabbed, and coached”.
Harry was speaking as chief impact officer at professional coaching and mental health firm BetterUp, which has announced that it is teaming up with the Invictus Games Foundation where the duke is a founding patron.
BetterUp will offer one-to-one coaching and personalised assessments to support members of the Invictus community.
The Duke of Sussex (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Wire)
The Invictus Games will take place in The Hague from April 16 to 22 after being delayed by the pandemic.
Harry founded the games to aid the rehabilitation of injured or sick military personnel and veterans from across the globe, by giving them the challenge of competing in sporting events similar to the Paralympics.
Harry said: “At its heart, the Invictus Games is about empowering every single person around the world.
“It’s a worldwide display of resilience, determination, and community for which each of us can draw inspiration.
“I couldn’t think of a better new partner for the Invictus Games Foundation than the mental fitness platform BetterUp.
“The mind is like a muscle: it needs to be honed, trained, rehabbed, and coached.
“The men and women I served with understand this, the Invictus community knows this, and now the world is beginning to see it too.
“I’m honoured to bring the work we do at BetterUp to Invictus and look forward to expanding the support systems that service members and veterans depend on to achieve remarkable feats.”
San Francisco-based BetterUp is valued at 4.7 billion dollars and Harry’s role, which he took on in March 2021, includes product strategy, philanthropy, and public advocacy related to mental health.
He is also involved in the firm’s commitment to Pledge 1% – a movement which encourages companies to donate 1% of equity, staff time, product or profit to their communities.
Harry has said BetterUp envisioned a “world where growth and transformation are possible for everyone, and everyone has access to the support and care they need to thrive”.
Originally published on Coveo
Author: Kiyomi Harrington
We’re thrilled to share that we surpassed a major milestone, donating more than $1 million dollars (CAD) under Pledge 1% , a global movement to inspire, educate, and empower all companies to leverage their assets for good. This is on top of the $1.7 million dollars (CAD) we have contributed to Centraide (United Way), since partnering with them in 2006.
Since joining the Pledge 1% movement in November 2021, we’ve contributed time, products, expertise and money to support organizations that provide learning and growth opportunities, including knowledge-sharing and mentoring, technical access, and financial assistance for young people in vulnerable social groups.
“Our aim is to make the democratization of knowledge a force for good both locally and globally,” said Sheila Morin, Chief Marketing Officer at Coveo. “With the structure of our pledge, we’re able to contribute our time, our technology, our money and our equity to help give equal and unrestricted access to knowledge and education to combat poverty, to reduce inequalities and improve human wellness. We’re proud to share some of the impact we have already had thanks to our Pledge 1% commitment, and we’re just getting started.”
Through the Pledge 1% movement we’re able to direct our support for organizations that are in line with our vision to democratize knowledge through education and technology. As an organization we’ve committed 1% of our equity, 1% of our profits, 1% of our product and 1% of our time through the following means:
1% Equity
In pursuit of our 1% pledge mission to democratize education, we support non-profit organizations that provide learning opportunities and skill development in underserved communities. We’re proud to have donated over C$1,000,000 to our partners allowing them to reach thousands of children across North America. We will continue to build long-term relationships with our partners beyond our donations with skills-based volunteering by our employees, resource-sharing, and asset donations.
1% Time
In 2022, Coveo created a 1% Time Pledge Committee with the aim of reigniting Coveo’s long-standing tradition of volunteering, which had been put on hold due to the pandemic. Since then, we’ve built relationships with partner organizations, enabling us to provide both skill-based and event-based volunteering opportunities. Each year, Coveans are giving their time to help others and giving back to the communities. More than 4000 hours have been given since the launch of the Pledge 1% program with organizations like Maison Bon Acceuil, the Foodbank and Santropol Roulant.
Coveo employees donating 1% of their time
1% Product
We take pride in our partnership with Alloprof, a Quebec-based non-profit that offers parents and students aged 6-17 free, practical resources to help them succeed along their academic journey. Alloprof uses Coveo AI to power the search and recommendation experiences on their website, helping students and parents find resources relevant to them. We’re able to deliver a best-in-class digital experience that embraces their brand and engages users with our headless and atomic technology. By doing so, we help empower students, parents, and teachers to efficiently and effectively access knowledge, saving them time and also allowing Alloprof to deliver a streamlined and personalized service to their clients. In January, we kicked off a project with Actua to start using the Coveo Platform. They will be using the Coveo AI on their intranet to support AI-powered search across their internal website. We’re committed to increasing our support to other organizations that make a difference in our communities through access to our product in the years to come.
Coveo employees delivering Laptops at Maison des Jeunes de Côte-des-Neiges – Chalet Kent
Let’s dig into some of these amazing organizations we have partnered with and see the impact that the Pledge 1% are having on their missions.
LOVE (Quebec) has been changing the lives of thousands of vulnerable youth across Montreal, providing a safe environment to those who have experienced bullying or violence. Their mission is to support their mental health through arts-based activities that help them develop the emotional intelligence and resilience they need to thrive. In 2023, LOVE (Quebec) had an impact on 2463 youth.
Actua, a leading science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education outreach organization in Canada works with a national network of 43 universities and colleges. Actua engages youth from all corners of the country in transformational STEM learning experiences that build critical employability skills and confidence. Reaching nearly a half million youth annually, including 43,668 Indigenous youth, 33,099 Girls in all-girl programs, and 11,162 Black youth across 744 communities across Canada. My 8-year-old daughter got to experience Actua’s impact when she was able to attend the Engineering Science Quest summer camp at the University of Waterloo last summer.
Girlstart, is a US-based national women-led organization, offering year-round out-of-school STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programming for girls in grades 4-8 in Texas, California, Massachusetts, and other locations across the country. They support after-school programs, summer camps and community STEM programming to name a few.
Pour 3 Points, believes in social equality for youth from underprivileged neighborhoods. And that someday, all of them will have the opportunity to develop their potential to become happy, resilient, and healthy adults involved in their community. That is why P3P helps sports coaches become life coaches. By assisting underprivileged youth, coaches help them gain the skills needed to succeed in life and in school.
U-Go, a non-profit that helps ambitious and promising young women in low-income countries to pursue higher education by providing financial scholarships funded by individuals and corporations, just celebrated their two-year anniversary. In such a short time, they have made a huge impact on the access to education for girls from low-income countries. Their access to education not only lifts them out of poverty but has a generational impact on their families and wider community. Available in 9 countries around the world; from Bangladesh, to India, to Vietnam, Tanzania and Nepal – these girls are on their way to becoming teachers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, entrepreneurs and more. Coveo is supporting 108 scholarships for these ambitious and promising young women in the U-Go program. The U-Go program is so successful, it grew by 160% to 2,494 scholars. As their founder John Wood put it, “to visualize, that is like having 19 Boeing 737s lined up on the runway with every seat filled.”
We haven’t stopped there…
We’ve also made donations to several other organizations within the educational, inclusion, and environmental spheres including Interligne,Techspark, Environmental Defence and Centraide.
For the past eighteen years, Coveo has been proud to support Centraide (United Way), an organization that is making a real difference in the lives of people in our communities. Each year, Coveo organizes an employee campaign to generate donations for Centraide. As part of this effort, for every dollar donated by an employee, Coveo also contributes $1. For calendar year 2023, Coveo and its employees committed over C$403,668.88 in donations to Centraide, bringing total contribution to more than C$1,700,000 since the beginning of the partnership.
To learn more about our ESG strategy, the organizations we’ve partnered with and hear some more impact stories — check out these videos.
Michèle Warmbrodt
Director, Investor Relations, Appfire Technologies
Zürich, Switzerland
If you could describe yourself in one word, what would that be and why?
Self-starter. I love being challenged and excel in an environment where I can take initiative and actively contribute to achieving goals. That’s why I enjoy working in a growth company like Appfire so much. I work with awesome humans and can help building this amazing business that will last for generations.
Pledge 1% provides a framework for businesses to do good. Do you think it’s important for today’s corporate leaders to prioritize social impact? If so, why?
I do! As Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben used to say “With great power comes great responsibility”.
Companies and large organizations have the resources to accomplish exponentially more than individuals, and as a result bear the responsibility to do so. Moreover, we live in an increasingly globalized world where state legislation is reaching its limits and companies can easily source socially and environmentally questionable activities to less regulated countries.
I believe it to be a moral imperative that particularly large international organizations address their social and environmental responsibilities and act as role models.
Do you give back to the community with your team and work? If so, what does this look like?
Yes! Be Human is our number one value at Appfire and in 2022, we have launched our community-driven Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, called Appfire Town. Appfire Town impacted 942 organizations in 2023, volunteering 4,000+ collective hours, and donating $550,000 to charitable causes. We also donate millions of dollars worth of product licenses each year to nonprofit organizations and academic institutions.
The most recent Appfire Town initiative I helped organize took place in December 2023. At the Zürich holiday party, we packed parcels containing food and hygiene product which we donated to the Swiss Red Cross for people affected by poverty. Every employee at Appfire is encouraged to organize and participate in initiatives that support social and environmental causes. Currently, a co-worker and I are organizing a blood donation campaign for our Swiss team.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Get out of your comfort zone and just do it! At the beginning of my career, I was lucky enough to work with people who recognized my potential and believed in me. They encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and take on new responsibilities that felt overwhelming at first.
“Get out of your comfort zone and just do it!”
When I succeeded I learned that I grow best when I am being challenged, and that helped me build the confidence I needed to proactively take ownership of my career.
This year’s International Women’s Day themes are focused on investing in women and inspiring inclusion. What can we do to make today’s workplaces more equitable and inclusive for women?
There are many things that come to mind, but two of the most important are:
1. Increase the visibility of women in the workplace, especially in industries that are dominated by men. This can encourage other women to enter that industry and help create an equal work environment and culture. By the way, this also applies to other minorities.
2. Promote the compatibility of work and parenthood. Often the availability of childcare services is limited and many companies only offer full-time positions that do not allow employees to work and care for their children. As it is common in many cultures for mothers to bear the main responsibility for raising children, women tend to scale back their careers when their first child arrives. This not only affects the career opportunities of these women, but also leads to qualified workers leaving the labor market and companies being left without them.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
The same advice I received when I started my career: Get out of your comfort zone and just do it!
As young professionals, especially women, we tend to underestimate ourselves and therefore hold ourselves back from realizing our full potential. But let me tell you, if you work hard enough and believe in yourself, chances are you will succeed. And that holds true throughout your entire career. Apply for that job you don’t think you’re experienced enough for, volunteer to speak in front of your entire team, tell your manager you want to take on more responsibility. Whatever it is, just do it!
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
My resolution for this year is to submit a short story to a writing competition. I love to write but never felt brave enough to let anyone read it. This year is going to be the first time I’m opening up my writing to others and I’m so much looking forward to that experience.
Aniekeme Patience Bassey
Growth Marketing Manager, Orokii
Lagos, Nigeria
If you could describe yourself in one word, what would that be and why?
Resilient. There was a time in my life when I faced significant challenges, both personally and professionally. Despite the obstacles, I refused to give up. Instead, I persevered, adapting to each setback with determination and resolve.
Whether it was navigating through tough times in my career or overcoming personal hardships, my resilience allowed me to keep pushing forward. This quality not only helped me weather the storms but also taught me valuable lessons about strength, perseverance, and the power of resilience in the face of adversity.
Pledge 1% provides a framework for businesses to do good. Do you think it’s important for today’s corporate leaders to prioritize social impact? If so, why?
Today’s corporate leaders hold significant influence over societal well-being. Prioritizing social impact isn’t just noble; it’s essential for fostering a sustainable future. By aligning business strategies with societal needs, leaders can inspire purpose, attract top talent, and build stronger relationships with customers who value ethical practices.
Integrating social impact initiatives isn’t just about doing good; it’s about ensuring long-term success and relevance in an increasingly conscientious market. It’s about creating a legacy of positive change that extends far beyond profit margins.
Do you give back to the community with your team and work? If so, what does this look like?
Absolutely, giving back to the community is a fundamental aspect of both my team’s and my personal ethos. At our company, we’ve implemented initiatives to support the community, ranging from volunteer programs to charitable donations.
One particular experience that stands out is when our team contributed to a fundraising event for a local charity. We collaborated with community members, organized a fun-filled event, and raised a significant amount of money for a worthy cause. It was incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact we could make when we come together as a team to support our community.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
One specific example that resonates with me is when a good friend once told me, “Don’t be afraid to fail; be afraid of not trying.” This simple yet profound advice has encouraged me to take risks, pursue my passions, and push beyond my comfort zone. It has empowered me to approach challenges with courage, resilience, and a growth mindset.
“Don’t be afraid to fail; be afraid of not trying.”
This year’s International Women’s Day themes are focused on investing in women and inspiring inclusion. What can we do to make today’s workplaces more equitable and inclusive for women?
Fostering an inclusive company culture is crucial for creating a supportive workplace where women feel valued, respected and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and talents.
To achieve this, companies should prioritize promoting diversity and inclusion initiatives, offering unconscious bias training to employees, and establishing employee resource groups that focus on women’s advancement. By implementing these strategies, companies can ensure that they are creating an environment that promotes gender equality and encourages female employees to thrive and succeed within the organization.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
Be Confident in Your Abilities: Believe in yourself and your capabilities. You have valuable skills, knowledge, and perspectives to offer, so don’t hesitate to speak up, share your ideas, and take on new challenges with confidence. Advocate for Yourself: Take ownership of your career development by actively seeking out opportunities for growth, advancement, and recognition.
Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself, whether it’s negotiating salary, asking for feedback, or pursuing new opportunities within your organization.
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
This year, I am eagerly anticipating a combination of personal and professional milestones. On the personal front, I feel a growing sense of excitement as I prepare for a significant life event that fills me with anticipation and joy. Professionally, I am enthusiastic about achieving various goals and milestones, embracing new opportunities, and overcoming challenges with determination. Overall, I am looking forward to a year filled with growth, fulfillment, and meaningful experiences.
Erin Dieterich
Sr. Director, ESG & Social Impact, New Relic
Portland, Oregon, USA
If you could describe yourself in one word, what would that be and why?
Creator. I’ve had the opportunity throughout my career to start with a blank slate, build the strategy, vision, programs and team and execute on the Social Impact and ESG portfolio. Seeing the work emerge out of ideas, and finding the connective pieces through the business – while selling and influencing internally to get alignment and get to launch drives me forward.
Pledge 1% provides a framework for businesses to do good. Do you think it’s important for today’s corporate leaders to prioritize social impact? If so, why?
There has never been a more important time to continue to press for the important role companies can have in making a positive impact on the world. I’m thrilled that we’ve moved into a new chapter where there are lots of examples of companies doing well and doing good – these examples help us know that it’s not one or the other, it’s both. If strategically aligned corporate social impact work can and should support the problems the company is trying to solve.
Social Impact work can also bring customers and employees to the table, increase retention, attraction and innovation and help build culture and brand.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
One piece of advice I think about a lot is ‘to thrive in this work you need to be patiently persistent’.
This work doesn’t always get top priority, not everyone understands it right away – but you still stick with it, you chip away, find your influential champions and you keep going. Sometimes I’ve had to really work hard on the patience side of this – it’s so hard to see the opportunity and not be able to grab it right away. But being patient, and understanding that any company has seasons and it’s not always the right season to push a new program/initiative, etc has been critical in succeeding. Patience is key in knowing and thriving in the fact that some pieces are going to take longer than others to put in place, but you don’t sit back and forget the opportunity – that’s the persistence piece, you keep at it, finding the new angle, the different path forward, looking for the piece or the person whose challenge is shared so you can both succeed together.
“To thrive in this work you need to be patiently persistent.”
This year’s International Women’s Day themes are focused on investing in women and inspiring inclusion. What can we do to make today’s workplaces more equitable and inclusive for women?
We can ask more questions about what women want, what they need and what their ideas are.
We can action those ideas and give the person whose idea it was the reigns to lead. As a female ESG leader, I try to connect with other women leaders in the space as much as I can — and to provide advice, ideas, opportunities to bounce ideas off of each other, or a place to find camaraderie and connection and make folks feel less alone in their work.
I know, in return I am so thankful for all the women who do this and have done this for me – I think of them as my unofficial team – we’re all building each other up, and pulling for each other to succeed.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
Don’t be too concerned with what the pathway is – how many years you think you should be in each roll, what titles you should have. Don’t let the destination (be it a title, a company) be more important than what you learn along the way.
Read everything, soak in the information, understand the company you are working for, and the industry you’re in. ESG role require you to understand the business, that means all of it – be curious – ask questions, make connections and offer support and help where you can. You don’t have to have a Social Impact, Sustainability or ESG role to do this work – you can find a company you are passionate about and be an leader from any role.