LEAD Network Ambassadors

LEAD Network Ambassadors

LEAD Network brings together companies to drive coordinated action across the wider industry. Representing our corporate Partners are the Partner Ambassadors – passionate individuals who are thought-leaders in D&I. Together, they form a unique committee that meets eight times a year to discuss our sector’s biggest questions and challenges.

In this diverse group, drawn from many different functions and backgrounds, we have built trust and a safe space to speak openly so that we can explore mid-to-long-term solutions. Participants share best practices and run deep-dive workshops, all informed by the latest research.

Each Partner Ambassador goes back to their company, ready to influence colleagues and implement what they have learned. As LEAD Network grows at pace, the Partner Ambassador group maximizes the involvement of our partner companies. It ensures that each company – no matter its size – gets the greatest possible benefit from its involvement.

We are grateful for their current contributions to LEAD Network and the industry.

“I am honoured to serve as a LEAD Network Ambassador representing Ahold Delhaize. This opportunity combines two of my passions: diversity and inclusion; and lifelong learning. I look forward to collaborating with individuals who share my passion as we work to further gender equity in the consumer goods industry.”

“At Johnson & Johnson, we believe that if you are yourself, you’ll change the world. These words have motivated me to do what I can to create an environment where those I work with can be themselves, feel included, and truly excel. I am deeply honored to take on the role of Partner Ambassador for LEAD Network. Working hand in hand, uniting our SuperPowers, we can achieve our mission to eliminate gender inequality!”

“At METRO, we are committed daily to providing customers and employees with an open and supportive welcoming environment. An open working environment sets the course for all employees to develop their potential and strengths and confirms that diversity and inclusion lead to better business results. Supporting women’s professional and personal development is essential to our diversity agenda. I’m honored to be a Partner Ambassador for LEAD Network to advance diversity and inclusion within METRO supported by this outstanding community.”

 “I bring a relentless curiosity about people to my role of Partner Ambassador. Under PepsiCo’s mantram‘What makes you unique, makes us better’ I know that together we can achieve so much more, with inclusion creating advantages for businesses and for the people at the heart of them.”

At Reckitt, we are creating an organisation driven by purpose. Giving equal opportunity to everyone to succeed in an inclusive culture is very critical to that. It ties in very well with my personal purpose of leading change by doing. As a LEAD Network’s partner, we want to learn and contribute through our network by living that purpose in our organisation and beyond.

‘Let’s work from purpose for the good of others’

“Amazon’s culture of inclusion is reinforced within our 16 Leadership Principles, which remind team members to seek diverse perspectives, learn and be curious, and earn trust. We are a company of builders who bring varying backgrounds, ideas, and points of view to inventing on behalf of our customers and we are committed to diversity and inclusion and always look for ways to scale our impact as we grow.
I’m honoured to be a Partner Ambassador for LEAD Network and to help move the needle for diversity and inclusion and to support LEAD´s vision to create a diverse workforce where both men and women are enabled to contribute their full potential and lead their organisations to the next level of value creation.”

“I am very honored to be representing Asahi Europe & International as a Partner Ambassador on the LEAD network. I am really excited to start driving diversity and inclusion within our company, and to collaborate with and learn from the LEAD network partners and ambassadors.”

“We’re delighted to be partnering with LEAD Network, driving representation is so important to us, and we are looking forward to unlocking the collaboration opportunities LEAD Network enables.”

“Probably I work for the coolest company in the world: the world market leader in cocoa & chocolate, a leader in sustainability and innovation – and by joining the LEAD Network also demonstrating its commitment to creating an environment where diverse talent can thrive, develop and get to the top of the company”

“Beiersdorf is fully committed to building a company that reflects the rich diversity of the communities in which we operate and the consumers we serve globally. This will be anchored in a truly inclusive culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging and has equal opportunities to succeed. Diversity & Inclusion is a global imperative that requires strong focus and great partnerships. As such, we are delighted that we will accelerate this agenda together with LEAD and its strong network of partners and are very much looking forward to a fantastic collaboration.”

“Being part of the LEAD Network is a great way of learning what other organisations are doing to promote gender balance and sharing our own learnings with other members. It’s a fantastic group of hard-working, dedicated and passionate individuals; one that I feel very privileged to be a part of. Driving the Inclusion and Diversity agenda can be a daunting – and sometimes lonely – task and at it really helps to know that I’m part of a supportive community committed to making real change happen.”

“As an Inclusion Lead at Co-op Group, I have particular focus on race & ethnicity in ensuring individuals starting point in life should never determine where they end up and that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their own personal definition of success. My purpose is in removing barriers for disadvantaged groups and ensuring equity in our opportunities for the communities we serve.
I also Chair ‘RISE’ internal Colleague Network (the diversity, cultural & religious colleague network group at Co-op) which supports the strategic ambitions and goals of the business. The Network has a responsibility in being the voice of marginalised racial groups and under-represented groups; to ensure their viewpoints, their lived experiences and values are considered in any changes or decision-making process.”

I am thrilled to belong to this organization and to have the opportunity to network with people that have the same purpose of developing female talent and implementing solutions to eliminate the common bottlenecks in their path to advancement.
I am eager to learn what other retail companies are doing to achieve this goal and to share COSTCO initiatives to drive inclusion and to encourage women leaders.

“The first ten years of my career, I worked in the meat sector as a scientific advisor, and I had to bring lots of coffees around being the only woman in the meeting rooms. And while I did it with a smile, it immediately gives you the sense that you have less authority. I ultimately gained respect but I had to work double as hard as my male colleagues to get there but it’s absurd and especially disheartening for young women in science, technology and engineering to see they are given less credibility simply based on the fact that they carry the X chromosome.

Inclusion is a choice. And Diversey is determined to move that needle in the right direction by creating a diverse, equitable & inclusive work environment where everyone feels free to be themselves. As the Lead ambassador for Diversey, I’m honored to be part of this journey to help support structures we should be building to reduce stress on families and making women believe it’s possible to combine a high demanding position and family. LEAD is all about making sure there are more tailwinds than headwinds when it comes to work and family and the integration of the two and that’s essential in my view.”

“In Ecolab, we believe the best teams are diverse and inclusive. We have a shared vision with Lead Network on the importance of equal gender representation in our businesses and increase of female leadership population.

Our journey of DE&I in Europe has started this year with a focus on empowering women, by launching EmpowHer gender equality program and we believe that our participation in Lead Network will enable us to maximize the returns of this inspiring initiative.”

Currently working as a Global Talent Manager for FrieslandCampina, with whom I have worked for almost 9 years.

I am delighted to be joining the LEAD Network as whilst diversity is a core part of our culture, the COVID19 crisis has highlighted the importance of inclusion, to both quickly respond to a crisis but also to support our employees through these challenging times. Within our unique organization we have evidenced the open sharing of best practices and experiences, learning from one another, and connections between colleagues globally of all disciplines to overcome challenges. It has proven the critical importance of leveraging diversity and inclusion for business success. We want all our employees to be able to bring their whole and best selves to work, and to feel enabled to contribute to their full potential; and being part of the LEAD network we see as being a core element in helping us to achieve this ambition – to connect, share, learn from and inspire each other.

“At GXO, we believe that a diversity of talents and perspectives is fundamental to accelerating our business growth and game-changing ambition.  I am honoured to represent GXO as a Partner Ambassador at LEAD Network. Led by our value “Be Inclusive”, we build a culture of belonging that respects every team member and constantly finds ways to meet their diverse needs.

This is a pivotal partnership in our journey to support gender diversity and female leadership in the logistics industry. l look forward to sharing and collaborating with like-minded partners who share a passion for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging.”

“We’re using the power of our business and brand to make a real difference within ICA and beyond. At ICA, you can reach your full potential, no matter who you are, your circumstances, or your experiences. Through LEAD Network, I want to contribute to a more diverse and inclusive retail industry and society and learn from others so that ICA can become even more inclusive. Together we create a better business result. We work actively with our customers, employees, and partners to make everyone feel welcome, respected, and appreciated. ICA aims to contribute to a more inclusive society by being transparent with our values and view of our fellow human beings, the type of workplace we represent, and the social development we want to contribute to.”

“I am excited to represent Ingredion EMEA as a Partner Ambassador in the LEAD network. This will give me the opportunity to learn from other companies best practices and think about how to apply them within Ingredion. l am delighted to collaborate with people sharing my passion about female talent development and at the same time help consciously drive our business practices towards gender equality.”

“I believe that diversity not only enhances results and is essential for innovative thinking, but it is also very beneficial to one’s own personal development and growth. I am a strong supporter of advancing diversity in the workforce. But there is still a lot that needs to be done and therefore I am proud to be a member of the LEAD Network and serve as an ambassador representing Kalypso: A Rockwell Automation Company to support LEAD’s mission to attract, retain and advance women.”

Representation and accessible role models matter. Therefore I make it a personal mission to be present, to mentor many (female) leaders and to speak frequently about this important topic. Sharing experiences, having open discussions. I found it very difficult to choose a path that was not engrained in the culture I am from, where part time working for mothers is still very much the norm. I felt I had to justify my choices all the time, where my husband – who made the same choices- never had to. This, for me, is the power of LEAD. Sharing experiences, giving access to role models, becoming better together and lifting barriers that prevent us to live in a 50-50 society on senior roles. At Kellogg, I always felt my achievements were the only thing that matters. I was promoted during maternity leave twice.

The most remarkable insight for me over the last years has been that very often, tiny adaptations – very easy to implement for the company, can make a massive difference to our female leaders and allow them to continue flourishing both at work and at home. So I really want to share this Kellogg’s Make it Happen Culture with the LEAD Network as well as how we are making strong progress towards our 50/50 gender parity pledge for managers and senior managers. I am happy to play a humble role in making Europe more diverse. In my jobs, I am strongly advocating diversity, not only on gender, but also on multi-cultural, age and diversity of thinking. My biggest ambition is to make this a normality in a world where we won’t need to fight for these basic rights anymore.

“At KraftHeinz, ‘We Demand Diversity’ is one of our values. We’re committed to creating an inclusive environment for our employees, partners, customers, and consumers, knowing that diverse backgrounds and perspectives make us a stronger, more interesting, and more innovative company. For this reason, I’m a proud Partner Ambassador for LEAD Network – joining forces to advance women in the FMCG industry.”

Colin joined The Kraft Heinz Company in 2018 as program manager, responsible for the product innovation processes and pipeline. Because of his passion for Diversity and Inclusion, he was active in the LGBTQ+ employee network and soon transitioned to a full-time diversity role. Currently, Colin is responsible for DEI&B Internationally (EMEA/LATAM/APAC). His background in innovation management helps drive progress on the DEI&B initiatives as he always says: “DEI&B is like HR innovation.”

“I firmly believe that the company’s role has considerably evolved: D&I initiatives are no longer seen as a cost center but as a source of value creation.”

“Working in an environment where we can bring our whole selves to work is important to me. At McCormick & Company, we know that diverse and inclusive teams are not only high-performing, they also have more fun! Joining the LEAD Network is a key step on McCormick’s journey towards gender equity, and through this partnership, I’m excited to see what we can achieve together.”

“I’m very enthusiastic and excited to be a part of Lead Network. I expect to improve my collaboration and knowledge in diversity and inclusion with best practices in global arena.”

“I believe on the power of DIVERSITY and INCLUSION as a strategy to achieve best results. LEAD Network is helping us in our journey to Diversity and Inclusion.
I volunteered at the LEAD Network conference in Brussel and since then I have been closely connected to the LEAD Network . It provides guidance and encourages women in my organization to not just trying but doing to take on leadership roles”.

“I’m honoured to be a Partner Ambassador for LEAD Network so that we can advance diversity and inclusion within PA, and collaborate with other members to improve opportunities for women in business. I’m dedicated to giving PA’s future female leaders and allies an environment within which to influence and drive inclusivity in consultancy and in the consumer goods and retail sector. At PA, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. As we find ways to create an even more inclusive and diverse place to work, we’ll unlock the ingenuity of even more people to help build a positive human future.”

“Equality, diversity and inclusion are not female issues, it is a topic we all women and men should elaborate on and fight with all the prejudices we might have. That addresses why I strongly believe that it is not important the title you have on your business card to use your voice, to lead by example and to empower. It is а state of mind and character you build and shape all your life.”

“I am honored and thrilled to contribute to the LEAD community as an SCJ Johnson Ambassador. I strongly believe in “doing not trying” and an amazing potential behind making all workplaces more diverse and inclusive. I am dreaming about a day when gender equity is a fact, not an aspirational objective. To make the world open and fair for all of us. At SC Johnson, we pride ourselves on being “A family company at work for a better world”. The LEAD mission and efforts perfectly fit into creating a more balanced and diverse world, in which we can all thrive and achieve our full potential. Therefore, I am fully committed to support the cause of promoting fairness and inviting everyone to the table.”

“Diversity and Inclusion have become increasingly important and should be at the heart of the business strategy to ensure we recruit and retain the best talent for our business, based on individual capabilities and potential.

The Lead Network facilitates a community driven by this standard and we are happy to be an active part of it. We look forward to the cooperation as networking is an essential part of building knowledge wealth.”