Sodexo Commentary

Cross-Cultural Healthy Food Choices

By Dr. Rohini Anand, Ph.D
May 7th, 2012

Dr. Rohini Anand

Traveling for work on a Saturday is not my preferred way to spend a weekend. And yet attending a Saturday morning session of MALDEF’s (Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund) PSP initiative (Parent School Partnership Program) at the University of Illinois in Chicago was an amazing experience.  

 The PSP initiative brings together parents and their children in three cities to educate them on matters of health and wellness.  Championed by Sodexo Executive Chef Sterling Smith and supported by Sodexo chefs and dieticians, parents and children learn about making healthy food choices, portion sizes, nutrition and cooking tips and techniques.

For this event, twenty, mostly Latina, mothers and their children sat intently listening to and watching live cooking demonstrations by Chef Sterling.  Chef Sterling emphasized small changes and education as the key to improving the health and wellness of the entire Latino community.

Chef Sterling had us all mesmerized; moving masterfully from a cooking demonstration to asking for volunteers to guess “good” and “bad” ingredients to challenging us to calculate the calorie and fat content of processed foods. And all this while using a Spanish translator, Isabel Reyes, Director, Chicago Parent School Partnership, MALDEF.

The mothers and students enjoyed the foods, but more importantly learned about ingredients in processed foods and the fat and calorie content. The surprise on their faces when they saw what one serving size of cereal looked like was priceless!

Parents and students taste healthy and nutritious recipes at the MALDEF event. Click on the picture for additional photos of the event.

They learned, tasted and left with recipes for breakfast Quesada’s, ceviche, refreshing tomato and red pepper soup, whole wheat pancakes, fruit smoothies, chicken, rice and beans and a chicken breast sandwich. All these were made from ingredients that were familiar and culturally relevant.

For someone who does not enjoy cooking, I was captivated for three straight hours! Not only did I learn an amazing amount about ingredients, portion size and the best way to cook rice (I had been doing it all wrong!), but I also had the opportunity to taste the most subtle and exotic flavors. My favorite was a red pepper and tomato soup with cheese and avocado!

Everyone in attendance left with a wonderful bag of fresh ingredients donated by our supplier, Midwest Foods, a Women and Minority Business Enterprise.

For me, this was another example of how our Sodexo teams, and especially Chef Sterling, share valuable skills, knowledge and expertise with the communities we live and work in.  I am not sure who gained more from the experience – the students, the mothers or me!

Dr. Rohini Anand is the senior vice president and global chief diversity officer at Sodexo.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Sodexo Commentary | No Comments »
Reading: Cross-Cultural Healthy Food ChoicesTweet This

Redefining the Workplace Experience

By Debra Dailey
May 2nd, 2012

Debra Dailey

How would you define an exemplary workplace experience?  What would convince you that it’s not just a good idea, but an essential element in creating the workplace – and workforce – of the future? 

More and more clients are asking us to assess, design and evaluate their workplace experience. These companies recognize that the workplace of the future needs to deliver organizational value on more levels.

This thinking is evident in our most recent piece of research, the 2012 Workplace Trends Report, and fuels how Sodexo is redefining the workplace experience through toLive. Whether evaluating the utilization and design of the built environment or creating a unified service architecture to maximize human capital, toLive provides a user-centric process that helps businesses capitalize on multiple trends and dynamics evolving in workplace.

The very definition of workplace is changing.

Through research and client engagement, our human capital experts have uncovered four key drivers that align with the workplace, work style and lifestyle needs of the organization and its people. Our collective insight shows organizations must create an experience that supports the employees’ ability toLive more Simply, Connected, Energized and Committed. These drivers not only taken into consideration what is trending now, but what will be trending in the future; and how these trends impact how people work, what motivates them to perform and what they expect to experience from their physical workplace environment.

Consider a few “what ifs…”

What if you could design a road map for your company to increase corporate agility by 25%? What if you can improve operational efficiencies by 20% or engage employees to be 59% more creativity in their critical thinking*?

Where do you begin to build your own exemplary workplace experience? Visit tolive.com to learn more and download Workplace Trends 2012, subscribe to our blog or take the first step in creating your company’s own Journey toLive by contacting us at info@tolive.com. You’ll begin to see how toLive can transform and redefine your workplace experience into one that’s exemplary. Check out toLive by Sodexo – it’s the future at work!

Debra Dailey is vice president, Human Capital and Outcomes at Sodexo.

Sources:

1 International Journal of Production Economics, 2009

2 Muir, 2005

3 Gallup, 2011

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Sodexo Commentary | No Comments »
Reading: Redefining the Workplace ExperienceTweet This

REimagine: Measuring for True Value

By David Love
April 25th, 2012

David Love

Creating organizational value and aligning with the c-suite is top of mind for progressive real estate and facilities executives.  They no longer think in terms of traditional metrics, such as cost per square foot and occupancy rates, but aligning with the strategic imperatives of the C-Suite.  These include attracting and retaining top talent, increasing image value and reputation, along with productivity, innovation, and speed to market.  This new way of thinking is transforming the industry and has us all REimagining success.  REimagine is the focus of the upcoming Corenet Global Summit in San Diego, and I am excited to be taking part in such an exciting event.

Driving business imperatives.  REimagine the function of corporate real estate; and how it delivers value to the larger organization it serves.  REimagine how the successful alignment of assets and infrastructure drive overall business results.  Innovation in the built environment not only reduces cost, but also maximizes collaboration and human performance.  In maximizing human performance, the organization achieves innovation and speed to market.  Two issues that every executive will agree are critical to success.  REimagination equals true alignment with the business.

Click on CoreNet's summit logo for a direct link to their upcoming event homepage.

Measuring what matters. REimagine how you look at results and how the data identifies problems and opportunities which provide a platform for change. More importantly, think of ways that your data answers the critical questions of the c-suite.  Does the physical space lend itself to being a company of employee choice?  Does the space promote conviviality?  What is the ratio of time that employees spend by themselves vs. in joint sessions?  Is that ratio correct for the work function?  Are the ergonomics of the space aligned with the job function – thus reducing health care claims?  In today’s knowledge economy, return on investment is giving way to Value on investment.  Corporate real estate executives who effectively enable the intangibles of community, knowledge, and innovation will emerge leaders in their field and organization. 

The REimagination-ing of our business effectively aligns the assets and infrastructure of an organization to meet its current and future challenges.  In a time when product development cycles are shorter than ever, competition is fierce, and the best talent is harder to find, the need for total alignment and effective collaboration has never been clearer.  The larger return on investment is the success of the facilities management and real estate function and what they can bring the organization by driving business outcomes.

Join Sodexo and other industry leaders as we REimagine, REorient, REignite and REinvent what we do and how we do it. Connect with Sodexo Facilities Solutions at CoreNet (booth 225) or follow the conversation on Twitter #CNGSanDiego through @SDXSolutions.

David Love is a vice president of Facilities Solutions, Sodexo

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Sodexo Commentary | No Comments »
Reading: REimagine: Measuring for True ValueTweet This

Culture, lessons learned and a great meal!

By Steve DiPrima
March 26th, 2012

Though 2012 has been dubbed the ‘year without winter,’ it hasn’t stopped us from getting spring fever. We are all ready to take in an experience that comes with the turn of the season, perhaps a visit to an aquarium or zoo.

A great visit to a museum or a zoo, especially a day in which everything falls into place is probably one you take for granted, right? You probably don’t think about the time and effort spent to get the exhibit just right — not only the look and feel, but also the authentic educational experience. You may not think about the measures the venue has taken to minimize impact on the environment. And, you certainly don’t consider the thought that went into the placement of food venues, the menus or even the service delivery. And, that’s ok — that’s our job.

Take the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., with approximately 2 million annual local, national and international visitors. Their mission includes demonstrating leadership in animal care, conservation science, education, and sustainability and providing an excellent visitor experience. The National Zoo teaches and inspires people to protect wildlife, natural resources and habitats.

Pandas at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park (click for more great photos via the National Zoo on Flickr!)

As Sodexo gears up to provide café, concessions, catering services and new dining options in 22 locations throughout the Zoo, we look to its mission to make sure our offers include education about the health of humans and the planet. Our hope is to assist visitors in making informed decisions, ultimately improving their quality of daily life. The initiatives at the National Zoo include targeted commitments to source local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients, as well as provide varied and balanced food options, and support the local community, which also align with Sodexo’s Better Tomorrow Plan, the company’s global road map to sustainability.

It doesn’t matter if it is a zoo, aquarium or museum. Great experiences and happy visitors don’t just happen. Lots of planning and hard work goes into creating those memorable experiences. So get out there and check out one of your local attractions this weekend. When you do – consider what the venue has to offer, not just for the fun experience, but also for the culture, lessons learned and of course a great meal.

Steve DiPrima is the president of Sodexo Leisure

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Sodexo Commentary | No Comments »
Reading: Culture, lessons learned and a great meal!Tweet This

Honoring International Women’s Day Through Mentoring

By Lorna Donatone
March 8th, 2012

It has been more than one hundred years since the first International Women’s Day was honored and observed through marches that sought to highlight the issues of women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and to end discrimination.   And while progress has been made as the century passed, women continue to face many challenges both in society and the workplace.  While cracked, the proverbial glass ceiling is still there and prevents a talented group from making a full contribution to the success of companies.

For women like me who have advanced to a position of leadership and influence, there have typically been a few mentors or influencing figures who have helped navigate and guide us during key parts of our own leadership journeys.  Their advice and support often pushed us to reach further and provided the encouragement needed to achieve our goals.  Unfortunately, many women climbing the corporate ladder do not actively seek out mentoring relationships because they see it as a sign of weakness, but there is great strength in the humility of asking for help.  And for those that have succeeded, it is important that they reach out to other women and share their experience and pay it forward.

So as we celebrate International Women’s Day, I encourage other women in business to seek out mentoring relationships.  For emerging leaders, this is an opportunity to learn from women that have already overcome some of the obstacles you currently face and for my fellow executives, mentoring presents a great opportunity to use your unique and hard-earned wisdom to contribute to even more women flourishing in the boardroom.  It is really amazing to see the progress women have made in business, but it is even more exciting to think about what the future holds, especially when we leverage our strengths through mentoring.

Lorna Donatone is COO and president of Sodexo Education

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Sodexo Commentary | No Comments »
Reading: Honoring International Women’s Day Through MentoringTweet This

Sodexo Steps up for Vets by “Joining Forces” with White House

By Michael Montelongo
February 16th, 2012

There are many things about this great nation for which I have great pride; our freedom, our resilience, our spirit of lending a helping hand.  So when the Commander-in-Chief recently asked the nation to do more to employ our veterans, I knew as a company, Sodexo could and would heed the call.  Fast forward a few weeks and I am happy to report that Sodexo has pledged to support Joining Forces, an initiative launched by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to assist military service members, veterans, and their families.

There are many things that make me proud to work at Sodexo, but undoubtedly at the top of the list is our company’s long, rich history of working with and supporting our military.  As a Quality of Daily Life services company, Sodexo solves mission-critical challenges every day for our clients.  Sodexo’s partnership with Joining Forces is just another illustration of our willingness to take action on the important issues facing our country.

Through our commitment to Joining Forces, Sodexo stands ready not only to hire more of our nation’s veterans, but also to train them and provide opportunities for career development.  We are committed to maintaining our leadership as a top employer of choice, including as a G.I. Jobs Top 100 Military Friendly employer and our status as a “Patriot” company with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) program.

In addition, as our heroes come home and begin careers in the private sector, we remain committed to fighting another war – on childhood obesity.  Through our successful corporate partnership with the First Lady’s Let’s Move! campaign, we are committed to ending the epidemic affecting millions of children.  

We are pleased to again reunite with Michelle Obama for Joining Forces, where Sodexo will assist in maximizing hiring efforts for veterans, provide tools for veteran employees to engage in networking and mentoring once on board, and offer job transfer and flexible work options beneficial to military families.

I know first-hand that hiring a veteran can have an enormously positive impact on that person’s life, but it also has a profound effect on his/her family.  I know because I joined Sodexo having served a career in uniform and as a presidential appointee in the military and I know what it’s like to transition into the private sector.  It’s challenging, but if one connects with the right company, it’s incredibly rewarding!

I encourage veterans and transitioning soldiers to visit sodexohiresheroes.com  for career opportunities.

Michael Montelongo is senior vice president and chief administrative officer for Sodexo.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Sodexo Commentary | No Comments »
Reading: Sodexo Steps up for Vets by “Joining Forces” with White HouseTweet This

The Catalyst Award: A Sodexo Team Effort

By George Chavel & Dr. Rohini Anand
January 30th, 2012

Recently, Catalyst, the leading organization working to expand opportunities for women and business, announced that Sodexo is a recipient of its prestigious 2012 Catalyst Award.  The Catalyst Award honors innovative organizational initiatives that address the recruitment, development and advancement of women and minorities in the workplace.

Sodexo, one of only two companies honored this year, was recognized for our multi-pronged diversity and inclusion strategy that resulted in systemic culture change for the organization.  This win acknowledges the significant progress Sodexo has made and underscores our position as a benchmark organization for diversity and inclusion. 

It is only fitting that we dedicate this award to you, the 120,000 employees of Sodexo!  Your individual and collective commitment to diversity and inclusion has changed how and why we do business, making Sodexo a stronger, more agile company.  Whether it is your involvement in Employee Networks, Mentoring, Emerging Leaders, Champions of Diversity, Cross Market Diversity Council, diversity learning opportunities or diversity-related events, your participation has been the single most important factor in our success. Without your commitment and continuous support, this award and the progress it demonstrates, would not have been possible. 

As we celebrate this tremendous accomplishment over the next weeks and months, please know that we  appreciate all you do every day to support our commitment and advance our mission of creating a more diverse and inclusive organization.    

George & Rohini

George Chavel is president & CEO of Sodexo North America and Dr. Rohini Anand is the senior vice president and global chief diversity officer at Sodexo.

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Sodexo Commentary | No Comments »
Reading: The Catalyst Award: A Sodexo Team EffortTweet This

Does our Workplace Trends Report hold the answer to the future?

By Aster Angagaw
January 18th, 2012

Employers take note: Regardless of age, race, gender or generation, employees expect a much different workplace experience. An experience that is as much individual as one that embodies your corporate culture.   Are you ready with solutions that will keep your workforce engaged and highly effective?

Regardless of industry, there is a common thread that brings success to all organizations.  That common thread is people. I believe Sodexo understands this on many levels, not only as part of the service industry, but as a company that places high value on a culture of caring and inclusion.  For Sodexo and many other organizations, the challenge is how to attract, retain and harness the best talent in your industry.

With that in mind, our Sodexo researchers sought to understand what is critical for clients, end-users, and what the benchmarks are in the overall market when it comes to the workplace.  And more importantly,  how each of these factors shapes the outlook for 2012 and beyond.  The research team recently presented a unique collection of trends in the 2012 Workplace Trends Report that represent a fascinating collective scan of the trends important in the workplace today.  Whether people work physically or virtually, many of the bellwethers that emerged were not a surprise, but rather demonstrate topics which have reached critical mass.

Click here for access to the Sodexo 2012 Workplace Trends Report

The Workplace Trends Report outlines developments that influence both employees and employers.  Our experts predict these trends are the direct link to designing environments which enhance individual performance, foster collaboration, and contribute to the holistic well-being of employees.  We know that the creation of great space for your people to come together brings tangible outcomes and return-on-investment to your organization.  Successful organizations place significant value on practical incentives and benefits, but there is more according to our toLive team of workplace strategists.  Linking human capital solutions to practical business outcomes also shows employees they are an important part of mission-critical success.

Aster Angagaw is senior vice president of market development for Sodexo.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Sodexo Commentary | No Comments »
Reading: Does our Workplace Trends Report hold the answer to the future?Tweet This

Being a Good Corporate Citizen Begins with Human Rights

By Dr. Rohini Anand, Ph.D
December 10th, 2011

Dr. Rohini Anand

I am proud that Sodexo is joining the celebration of Human Rights Day. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion, social responsibility, and human rights is essential to our mission to improve the quality of daily life for all the people we serve.

Sodexo, like any organization, is not perfect.  But we continue to review and improve our efforts and are committed to resolving issues as they arise.  We are celebrating a 10-year diversity journey that has transformed our corporate culture. We continue to make progress in the integration of diversity of thought and inclusion of people leading to a systemic culture change. View our 2011 Diversity and Inclusion Report here.

Sodexo is also committed to respecting and promoting the application of Human Rights in the workplace. We have been a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact since 2003 and have maintained “Advance Level” since its establishment in 2010. Sodexo is committed to respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

Business participants in the UN Global Compact commit to making the Global Compact’s ten principles part of their business strategies and their day-to-day operations.  Companies are required to issue an annual Communication on Progress (COP), a public disclosure to stakeholders (e.g., investors, consumers, civil society, governments, etc.) on progress made in implementing the ten principles of the UN Global Compact and in supporting broad UN development goals.  I encourage you to view the full 2011 UN Global Compact Communication on Progress report here.

Being a responsible corporate citizen is at the core of Sodexo’s business. We set the benchmark in areas such as sustainability, diversity and inclusion, wellness, and the fight against hunger. We are now taking our leadership to the next level with a sustainability plan that will affect 80 countries, 33,400 sites, and our 391,000 employees.

We call this “The Better Tomorrow Plan.”  Click here to learn more about the plan and Sodexo’s 14 commitments to social responsibility.

Dr. Rohini Anand is the senior vice president and global chief diversity officer at Sodexo.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Sodexo Commentary | No Comments »
Reading: Being a Good Corporate Citizen Begins with Human RightsTweet This

Remembering an Executive, Philanthropist and Friend..

By George Chavel
October 30th, 2011

Bob Wood, my good friend and long-time Sodexo teammate, passed away this weekend.

In addition to being a man with a huge heart whose countless civic and philanthropic efforts touched many, Bob was the former chairman of Wood Dining Services and executive vice president of client development at Sodexo.  Bob lived a life of extraordinary service to employees, clients, and community, and we are all better for his example.

Bob’s career with Sodexo spanned five decades.  In 1959, he began working for Wood Dining Services, a company founded by his father.  He grew to hold various operational and managerial roles and helped to build the business from a small regional company into a noted North American player. In 1997, Bob succeeded his father as chairman of Wood Dining Services and was instrumental in the successful integration of Wood with Sodexo in 2001.  His numerous and significant contributions included the development of the Clients for Life® philosophy throughout the United States and Canada, as well as a dedicated commitment to the growth of many Sodexo employees.

Bob Wood

Bob’s service at Sodexo was equally matched by his service and dedication to his community.  I encourage you to read Bob’s obituary in his hometown newspaper, which describes wonderfully the breadth and depth of his community involvement.  Throughout Pennsylvania and beyond, Bob worked constantly to improve the quality of daily life for people he touched. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with Bob’s family and friends in this difficult time.  I hope that we all find some comfort in our memories of Bob and in the spirit of his example.

Those wishing to honor Bob’s memory are encouraged to make a donation in his name to: The Ilene and Bob Wood Fund at the Community Foundation; United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley; Allentown Art Museum; Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley; or volunteer at the soup kitchen, shelter or other organization of your choice.

George Chavel is president & CEO of Sodexo North America.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Sodexo Commentary | No Comments »
Reading: Remembering an Executive, Philanthropist and Friend..Tweet This

« Older Entries