Henkel’s Post

Today I had the opportunity to attend the Rainier Scholars Internship Equity Forum. I learned about ways to create more equitable and inclusive workplaces and heard directly from current students about strategies to best support their learning and success in a range of internship settings. It was fabulous and I applaud everyone involved! The moments when my current L&D role connect with my previous higher education roles are some of my favorites. I want to give a shoutout to Sruti Bharat, CEO of Future Map, for a stellar presentation on managing across generations that skillfully acknowledged generational stereotypes while appropriately shifting the focus to structures and systems that drive turnover (and which often negatively impact marginalized individuals) and calling for organizations to improve those structures in order to create more inclusive workplaces for all generations. As an elder millennial myself, I'm ready to move on from flippant comments about how entitled my generation is and get to work improving work. From my notes on Sruti's presentation, here are some of the top structures and systems to consider improving: 1) Flexibility and remote work Remote work matters more for women, trans, and non-binary populations 2) Learning opportunities and internal mobility Within the same organizations, younger workers tend to rank L&D opportunities lower 3) Employee burnout Workers under 30 and women are most likely to be burnt out; and burnt out employees are 2.6x more likely to be actively job searching 4) Health, wellbeing, and work-life balance 53% of employees (mostly women and parents) are more likely to prioritize work-life balance

Diverse teams magic One more video for you and a short summary below. The other day, I came across an interesting ad in my news feed—a summer 2025 internship campaign from GCHQ, MI5, and MI6. The offer is targeted at university students in their penultimate or final year (for the 2024/2025 academic year) from Black, Asian, mixed heritage, or other ethnic minority backgrounds, and those from socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds. What does this signal? It’s a clear message that GCHQ, MI5, and MI6 are actively working to increase diversity within their teams. Their work is incredibly varied, and bringing in fresh perspectives is crucial to their success. This is a great reminder of the importance of diversity in our teams and how much value it can bring. Here are a few statistics to keep in mind: ❕️Companies identified as more diverse and inclusive are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors. (McKinsey) ❕️Diverse companies are 70% more likely to capture new markets. (HBR) ❕️Diverse teams are 87% better at making decisions. (People Management) ❕️Diverse management teams lead to 19% higher revenue. (BCG) ❕️Inclusive companies are 1.7 times more likely to be innovative. (Josh Bersin). And when it comes to attracting talent: ❕️2 out of 3 job candidates seek companies with diverse workforces. (Glassdoor) ❕️74% of millennial employees believe their organization is more innovative with a culture of inclusion, and 47% actively look for diversity and inclusion when considering potential employers. (Deloitte) While to my observation, workplace diversity is evolving but still presents challenges. And this message resonates with me because, for over two years, together with IAMPM I’ve been helping people from diverse backgrounds make career shifts into non-technical roles in IT. I always emphasize that their unique experiences and diverse backgrounds enrich team knowledge and enhance decision-making and outcomes. Do you have a great example of positive team dynamics or innovative decisions that were born out of a diverse mix of backgrounds? I’d love to hear your thoughts! #DiversityAndInclusion #Leadership #DiverseTeams #WorkplaceCulture #CareerDevelopment #ITSwitchers

🔍 What does the new generation of employees look for in a job? Is it work-life balance ⛹️♂️, competitive remuneration 💰 or technical challenges 🦾? In this episode of #InternOnIntern, dive into the minds of our interns (Nam Anh Võ & Lac Duy Pham) as they unveil the 🔑 key factors they seek in future employers. 💼 #TomorrowWithUs #TransformTheEveryday #SiemensASEAN

🌟 Every Person We Meet Is Not Ordinar 🌟 In a world bustling with activity, it's easy to overlook the extraordinary in the everyday. But pause for a moment, and you'll realize that every person we encounter carries within them a wealth of uniqueness and brilliance. 💡 Each conversation is a doorway to new perspectives, each interaction a chance to uncover hidden talents and stories waiting to be told. 🔍 From the seasoned professional to the fresh-faced graduate, from the CEO to the intern, everyone has something remarkable to offer. It could be their innovative ideas, their unwavering determination, or simply their infectious enthusiasm. 🌈 Let's challenge ourselves to see beyond the surface, to recognize and celebrate the exceptional in each individual. Because it's these diverse talents and perspectives that fuel innovation, foster collaboration, and drive progress. 💬 So, the next time you meet someone new, remember: they are not ordinary. They are extraordinary in their own unique way. Let's embrace and celebrate the richness of human diversity. #ExceptionalEncounters #EmbraceUniqueness #CelebrateDiversity

This week, ahead of National Interns Day, I had the pleasure of meeting with our Priority Health interns during my annual intern luncheon. It's important for me to set aside time to learn about their ideas, goals and aspirations, and to thank them for their hard work and positive impact. I am always so impressed by their fresh perspectives and relentless energy. It serves as a great reminder that the future of our industry is in capable hands! During our time together, I shared three lessons that have been pivotal in my career: 1. Sweat the Details: Sweating the details builds trust and will help your leader know you are ready for bigger & better things. 2. Understand the "Why": Relying on "the boss told me to do it" is not a hallmark of good leadership. Instead, it's crucial to understand AND believe the "why.” 3. Discover Your True North: Discover and stay true to your true north; it will ultimately lead you down a path you can be proud of! And as we discussed these, they reminded me of these key learnings: 1. Relationships Matter: Many may believe the intern generation prefers virtual work, but they value relationships and in-person interactions much more than we believe. That said... 2. Balance is Important: This group prioritized having a healthy work-life balance and finding joy outside of work. 3. Empowerment is Key: Working on project-based work that fuels their passions makes the experience all the better. By empowering them to work on projects they enjoy, they learn to navigate challenges and come up with innovative ideas and solutions.

Thrilled to share the insightful takeaways from today's interns meet! 🌱 At our discussion, we emphasized the importance of taking responsibility in all aspects of our work. Remember, we don't "shit where we eat" – fostering a respectful workplace environment is key to our collective growth. Promoting our workplace isn't just beneficial for the company; it's a pathway for personal growth too. Let's be proactive ambassadors for where we work. Resisting change holds us back. Instead, let's embrace it and envision our future growth together. In times of uncertainty, trust your instincts and go with the flow. Sometimes, the best path forward is following your heart. Above all, remember: courage is our greatest asset. Let's face challenges head-on and soar to new heights! #InternsMeet #ProfessionalGrowth 🚀 Gratitude: CA Ankush Jain Seemit Jain CA Umar Shaikh Tamanna Pandey Komal Kesari

How to remain stagnant. Don’t try new things. Never ask questions. Just do what you’re told without thinking. Better not risks. Most of all… forget about joining P&G. That is exactly why I’m here — staying stagnant isn’t an option. P&G is THE place to grow. If there’s anything I learned from the internship onboarding today, it’s that P&G is a place where: • People aren't afraid to try • Questions drive innovation • Doing the right thing is paramount • Feedback is a gift & risks are calculated Am officially a #PGINTERN with #BeststartYouCanGet 🌟 Cheers to being the only Design Intern...!!!! ✏️🖥️👩🏻💻 I remain in awe of all my peers from other functions. Thank you Ming Yi Gui & Kai En Teoh for coordinating such a wonderful onboarding experience. You guys are killing it ☄️☄️☄️ Procter & Gamble Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa

🌍 Embracing Diversity: A Global Journey 🌍 As an international student who has had the privilege of studying in both the United States and Germany, I’ve come to appreciate the immense value of diverse thought processes and communication styles. Each experience has enriched my perspective and underscored the importance of embracing differences to drive innovation and success. Currently, I am thrilled to be pursuing an internship at Henkel in Germany, where I am immersed in a dynamic, multicultural environment. This journey has reaffirmed my belief that diversity is not just about where we come from, but how we think, interact, and collaborate. Diverse thought processes encourage creativity, foster problem-solving, and lead to more robust solutions. By integrating varied viewpoints, we can challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Similarly, recognizing and adapting to different communication styles ensures that ideas are not only heard but understood and valued. In today’s globalized world, the ability to navigate and leverage diversity is a key driver of success. Let’s celebrate our unique backgrounds, learn from one another, and create inclusive spaces where everyone can contribute their best.#Diversity #Inclusion #Innovation #GlobalPerspective #InternationalStudent #Germany #UnitedStates #Henkel #Communication #Leadership

The more time I spend with the interns in my team, the more I am reminded of the incredible individuals who took the time to enable and believe in me. Their guidance, support, and unwavering belief in my potential have been instrumental in shaping my career path. It's essential to recognise that each person we encounter is not just another head but a budding professional with dreams and aspirations. As we progress in our careers, it's our responsibility to pay forward the support and encouragement we received, particularly to those following in our footsteps, like interns. Interns are not just temporary hires, they are the future of our industries. It's crucial to brighten the glimpse of their future and not dull it. Empowering them with meaningful tasks, guidance, and mentorship not only enriches their experience but also creates a culture of inclusivity and growth within our companies. Let's strive to be the leaders we wish we had when we were starting out. Let's create an environment where every individual feels valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. Together, we can create a workforce where gratitude, empowerment, and paying it forward are the cornerstones of success.

National Work Experience Week is here! This initiative plays a crucial role in shaping the future workforce by offering students and young professionals valuable insights into different industries. Businesses can make a significant impact during this week by: 1. Offering short-term work placements or internships to provide hands-on experience. 2. Hosting informational sessions or workshops to share industry knowledge and career advice. 3. Organising mentorship programs to guide and support participants throughout their work experience. 4. Providing opportunities for job shadowing or career exploration to help individuals understand various roles within the company. Supporting the younger generation not only contributes to the development of future talent but also plays a key role in advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. By encouraging a diverse range of individuals to explore and enter industries that have been traditionally dominated by men, we can help change the demographics and create more inclusive workplaces. Let’s work together to inspire and empower the next generation of professionals while driving positive change in our industries! If your organisation is looking to adopt an early in careers process and strong DEI strategy then get in contact with D&A Services International Ltd for more information. #WorkExperienceWeek #FutureOfWork #CareerDevelopment #DEI #InclusiveWorkplaces D&A Services International Ltd