Culture, Engagement and Communication Manager, Mérieux NutriSciences

Chief culture officer since February 2014 at ABC Research Laboratories, which was acquired by Mérieux NutriSciences.

What prepared her for the role

After the company was acquired, the workforce grew from 75 employees to 1,300. I accepted a new role as culture, engagement and communication manager in April 2015. What most prepared me is my intrinsic passion for people. Of course, that’s not to say that my experience and skills in the food safety industry didn’t help. But developing my core competencies, such as understanding team dynamics and respecting others, has made the biggest difference.

Impetus for creating the position

To stay profitable and grow, you have to think about the people who work in your organization. They are your No. 1 asset. Focusing on the ins and outs of employees’ everyday lives shows people you care. We care about communicating with our employees; we care about keeping them engaged. We understand that their livelihood is our livelihood.

How culture advances the organization’s mission 

To be successful, we have to unleash the power of our people. We need to show the world that we value excellence, integrity, accountability and initiative. By focusing on communication and fostering an environment that engages our people, we will achieve our mission.