As the Chief People Officer at Nestlé USA, I understand that being an effective and strong leader is itself a full-time job. The best managers I’ve known or worked for over my career know how to be effective: creating the right culture and communicating clear objectives and strategies cultivates a highly motivated and performance-driven workforce. Strong leaders also understand that leading others is a privilege that is earned every day. At Nestlé, we know we can only serve our consumers if our employees are all-in at every level of the business.

For the sixth consecutive year, Bristol-Myers Squibb employees in Germany, in partnership with the city of Munich, participated in “Patenprojekt München,” an initiative to provide homeless and refugee families with gifts at Christmas.

I’m particularly cognizant of this today as we launch our 2018 Corporate Social Responsibility Report. This is a big change from the first CSR Report that I stewarded and co-authored in 2005. Like any first-generation product, there was a great room for improvement. However, every year as we meet a goal and work towards the next, as we expand existing partnerships and establish new ones, as we uncover new ways our technology can be leveraged to benefit our world, we have a stronger story to tell. Here are highlights of where we’ve come, and where we are going.

Kris was raised on a farm, learning at a young age the definition of hard work and perseverance. After graduating with an undergrad degree in Electronic Engineering Technology, she began her career as an engineer and technical writer. Currently she is a Senior Advisor for IT Business Consulting at Dell Technologies. Yes, she is a rising female talent in the STEM industry, but there’s so much more to Kris.

As a child, Tim Rios remembers going food shopping with his parents. He and his siblings weren't allowed to enter certain aisles in the supermarket because the adults didn't want their children to get tempted by unhealthy snacks and especially food the family couldn't afford. "My parents worried all the time about getting enough healthy food on the table," Rios, whose family came to the U.S. from Mexico in the early ‘80s, says. "When I got married, for the first year, I would ask my wife for her permission to open a bag of chips."

For centuries, apprentices have learned from masters of their craft by shadowing and taking instructions from their masters to gain new skills so that precious knowledge is passed to the next generation.

It is a tradition CLP has enthusiastically embraced. But in an era of rapid technological advances and a highly sophisticated customer marketplace, apprenticeships have evolved to combine mentorship with the best possible classroom training.

I began as a product copywriter, responsible for writing thousands of item descriptions. I progressed to become a senior manager on our site merchandising and customer experience team. At the same time I was expanding my focus on customer experience, I was also losing my eyesight.

By 2015, I was in the thick of vision loss, but refused to let anyone see the battle I was fighting inside. I came to work every day without using a white cane or guide dog, because I was afraid of what people would think if they knew I had a disability. Would their perceptions of my abilities change? Would this impact my career growth?

Drivers have more electric vehicle choices than ever. And, the number of choices is growing. Today at the Los Angeles Auto Show, more than 30 EV models were shown, including a pickup truck and SUVs. On top of more vehicle choices with longer driving ranges, driving an EV is about to become even more affordable.

Earlier this year, 21CF set the goal of making a difference in the lives of 1 million people around the world in 365 days. The 1M/365 campaign was a powerful way to harness the collective impact of colleagues across 21CF in a unique year. From volunteering time to providing funding and other resources to worthy non-profits, the company aimed to make a positive impact wherever and however it could.

What do cork, coffee cups, lettuce, and excessive travel have in common? They are all areas of personal choice that have an environmental impact, and they are all things we will be discussing with our guest today on Sea Change Radio.