Lessons in Culture Management from Interface & Virgin Unite

by | May 7, 2012

This article is included in these additional categories:

Two types of memories stand out from GLOBE 2012, a renowned bi-annual Vancouver event that took place this spring: deeper connections forged with old friends and new connections established with others who we can now call new friends.

Those connections may have occurred while relaxing on a couch between sessions, sharing a bite over lunch, relaxing at a bar in the evening, debating after a seminar about the topics presented or even at the airport waiting to catch a plane home. GLOBE is about much more than the topics discussed or the people who attend; it’s about everything that comes together to make this a must-attend event for the sustainability professional.

It’s the culture that makes GLOBE something special.

Culture & Change Management

It is no surprise that when we discuss the recipe for sustainability leadership the answer always comes down to the same variable – culture. Focus on culture change and your employees and stakeholders will find the answers to your toughest environmental and social challenges. To paraphrase Bill Clinton in the 1990s – it’s the economy stupid. Focus on the economy and you’ll win elections. Focus on corporate culture and you’ll become a sustainability leader.

Heard the Interface story? In case you’re thinking “yes, heard it many times and while it’s a great story filled with insight and inspiration, we’ve learned all that we can from Interface,” there’s more.

In a panel discussion titled People Power: Improving performance Through a Corporate Culture of Sustainability Leadership, Erin Meezan, VP of Sustainability at Interface, and Jean Oelwang, CEO of Virgin Unite, shared stories of their cultures of sustainability with the GLOBE audience.

Interface: A Culture of Learning

Meezan described a company that is built on a culture of learning. Every employee in the company is asked for their feedback and thoughts. How can we be more innovative? How can we disrupt the status quo? How can we move forward with greater positive impact in the world?

She talked about Innovation Powwow’s and Global Idea Summits where ideas are not only shared but consciously harvested. Is that happening at your place of work?  Imagine how you would feel if you were asked tomorrow, “I want to know your perspective and I plan to share it with everyone around the world.”

Virgin Unite: Screw Business as Usual

Additional articles you will be interested in.

Stay Informed

Get E+E Leader Articles delivered via Newsletter right to your inbox!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Share This