UNLEASH America: Put people first

The pandemic saw the world change, and workplaces had to adapt quickly. Many businesses had to become agile and readdress how they catered to the needs of employees. 

As part of our UNLEASH America show Dimitra Manis, executive vice president and chief purpose officer of S&P Global, detailed the key elements required to rebrand internally and avoid the pitfalls that have led to the ‘Great Resignation.’

Manis takes a ‘people first’ approach, so naturally, she has been involved in organizational cultural changes.

Becoming a ‘people-first’ company

The culture of organizations has been a tricky sticking point for many as they have managed a dispersed workforce. Speaking about implementing a positive working culture, Manis noted how small steps can make all the difference.

Manis said: “It started with wearing jeans, super simple years ago. As a financial services company, we tended to sort of wear formal dress, suits heels, and never sneakers. 

But it’s not about the clothes: “It’s about the movement and we didn’t stop there. Every few months, we came out with a new set of ‘people-first’ initiatives, that, for example, expanded parental leave for all parents, not just mothers. We also increased our support for education and we provided student matching student loan matching.”

Alongside benefits, S&P Global also wanted to build its employer brand to create a sense of belonging for its employees. This strategy can help with recruitment, engagement, and retention.

However, Manis highlighted the need for an employer brand or mission to be authentic and unique to the business.

Manis discussed how her team looked at the history of S&P Global to guide its internal mission: “We know that 70% of people say they want to work for purpose-led companies. We also know that customers are more likely to trust and want to work with purpose-led brands.

As a result, “We use our rich history to identify our purpose, and our purpose is to accelerate progress. We provide insights and intelligence needed to make decisions with conviction, which in turn accelerates progress in the world” noted Manis.

Understanding what your company stands for is a stride in addressing the purpose that many employees need. Beyond that, Manis rightly points to listening, implementing feedback, and continuing workplace evolutions.

If you want more from UNLEASH America but can’t make it to Las Vegas, check out our website and our social media channels