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- Volunteerism is Good for People, and Good for Business too!
Doing the right thing is always the right thing to do - there are many worthy causes that rely upon businesses large and small to support them. We believe that volunteerism is more than just a nice thing to do but an imperative business initiative. How often have you heard sayings such as; “Volunteers are the heart of our organization – they are the backbone of what we do, we couldn’t do it without them.” It’s not only the millions of volunteers that every year give up their own time, freely, willingly, and with gusto to support their favorite causes but when organizations get behind them, leverage their resources, coordinate the masses, then that’s when significant impact can be achieved. “Over 1 billion people volunteer every year globally – with nearly 63 million Americans for a median average of 50 hours – that’s over 3 billion hours every year. Or, at say an average of $20 an hour, over $60 Billion in equivalent labor donated in the U.S. alone.” Many organizations support philanthropy in many different ways, supporting causes that align with their goals and values, donating time, cash, resources. Giving employees paid time off to volunteer, matching donations, and fund-raising initiatives – there are many ways to support these causes – cash equivalent investments of course, but support-in-kind is of equal importance. “But of course, volunteerism is not just preserved to the United States, you only have to look at the humanitarian aid offered by the world following natural disasters throughout the world, no less so than the volunteerism and support being offered in conflict zones like Ukraine.” The support of the many for the few can not only be transformative in our fellow humans' time of need, but can also be a catalyst that supports camaraderie, a common cause, supporting and promoting the vision, mission, values, and purpose of an organization – and of course a feel-good factor too, of doing the right thing. It’s important however to recognize that it shouldn’t just be the company choosing the good causes, open it up to your employees – it’s likely may are already engaged in volunteerism – harness that, build momentum, show your support, and engage. Here’s a quick checklist for you to explore how you can engage your workforce in meaningful contributions and volunteerism: PURPOSE: Having established your organization's Purpose, Vision, Mission, Values, what organizations are aligned and complementary to your goals. SELECT: Select causes that you wish to support. Often fewer the better to channel and optimize your resources. These may be global, national, regional, or local good causes. STRATEGY: Create your strategy of ways you can help including a combination of cash, time, and resources in kind – there are many ways in which you can help. ENGAGE: Connect with your shortlisted organizations and work together to identify how your organization can help them. What types of support will benefit them the most? PROGRAM: Create a program for the coming year – fundraisers, volunteer days, donation drives, other ways your business can help such as employment assistance. PROMOTE: Now you have the plan, ensure that the program is promoted and communicated regularly with your teams – in meetings, newsletters, in external communications. CELEBRATE: Make sure that you share the success stories both internally, and externally – this will help you garner greater buy-in, support, and of course the feel-good factor. MEASURE: Beyond the feel-good factor, there’s nothing more powerful than understanding (and sharing) the impact of your efforts. No matter how big, or how small, we can all do the right thing by supporting the great causes that exist in this world – the hungry, the poor, and the homeless. For veterans, those suffering from depression, or drug abuse. For those that are subjected to, and are the victims of violence or violent conflicts. For the planet, our elderly, our children – whatever your chosen causes, let’s get together, rally our resources, and do the right thing because we know it’s the right thing to do. “Throughout my career I have volunteered for various causes – from adult education in the UK, to Play Rugby USA – a charity to get underprivileged kids into sport. For the past 10 years or so, firstly whilst on the Board of the British American Business Council, supporting Raphael House – a shelter for homeless families in San Francisco. Raphael House is about Dignity and Respect and is focused on Inspiring Families and Illuminating Hope. Painting, decorating, cleaning, clearing, planting herb gardens, cooking and serving the families dinner, seeing them dining together, appreciating their “home cooked” food, in safe and comfortable surroundings. With the Aramark Building Community, we built a collage map of the bay area, and the following year, a mosaic on the rooftop garden – both sit proudly for all the families to see and the love, care, and support from the community. All of this work has helped me with balance, perspective, and hopefully a better person, and leader too.” – Simon Elliot, Managing Partner, 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions Raphael House of San Francisco is a shelter for families homeless as a result of economic hardship. Since 1971, Raphael House has been looking after families in San Francisco and the Bay Area, getting them back into work and stable housing. Raphael House is a 100% community-supported organization with an unmatched 85%+ success rate. Inspiring Families. Illuminating Hope. This year, 4xi is helping to raise funds for the Raphael House 50th Anniversary, and thanks to all of your support, we’re well on our way to achieving our $5,000 goal. Please help us support this wonderful cause – every little bit counts from as little as $10. Please consider supporting us on our JustGiving Page National Volunteer Month: A quick history National Volunteer Month is held in April every year. It’s a month dedicated to promoting and celebrating volunteerism. Nonprofits often have special projects or volunteer appreciation events during this time. National Volunteer Month and Week aren’t new. Canada led the way by celebrating National Volunteer Week in 1943 to recognize the contributions of women on the Home Front during World War II. Celebrations dropped off after the war, and then interest resurged in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The April week of recognition was made official in 1990. National Volunteer Week debuted in the United States in 1974 and has continued to grow every year since. In his proclamation declaring National Volunteer Week, President Richard Nixon urged all Americans to observe the week by seeking out a volunteer opportunity. He also called upon all communities to “recognize volunteers by observing the week with special ceremonies to honor those who have given countless hours for the betterment of our communities and the American way of life.” Since then, individuals, offices, schools, and teams volunteer their time during this month to make the communities where they live and work, better. If you're interested in learning more, please reach out to us at hello@4xiconsulting.com or you can subscribe to our BLOG below - 4xi: Inspiring a brighter future, together. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side creating an impact in the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy, whether client, employee or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations Human Experience: Customer (CX) & Employee (EX) Training & Development TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Philadelphia | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo
- Will the New SEC Rule on Climate Disclosure Change Anything?
The proposed SEC climate disclosure rule, announced last week, will do two things for certain: 1. Provide consistent guidance to companies on what to report and how, including a minimum level of climate-related goals and reporting, and; 2. Provide comparable data to shareholders and analysts. Comparable climate risk and Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGe) data have been missing from otherwise ambitious corporate commitments. For smaller companies, the rule won’t directly affect them, but non-disclosure may hurt them in the court of public opinion, and institutional buyers of their services will certainly be calling on them for data. We are still years away from being able to compare whose plans are solid, and whose plans are lackluster. This is a golden opportunity for companies to evaluate where they will stack up and set up internal mechanisms to be best of class when their data are actually reported. (1) Companies will have to detail the impact of weather-related risks on their bottom line, and which properties and operations are subject to those risks. They will also have to disclose “transition” risks, such as; How easily might a company adapt to a less-carbon-intensive economy, or insulate its business from physical risks? The proposed rule makes phased-in climate disclosures mandatory, including Scope 1 and 2 GHGe for all companies, and material Scope 3 GHGe for the biggest corporations. (2) Companies will have to provide data about any climate goals adopted, their methodologies, deadlines for achieving them, and how goals will be met including if they use carbon offsets or renewable energy certificates. Are you ready? Our Innovation Partners at vranda have a tool to help you get there and, more importantly, help you decide which path to take. But even if the new SEC disclosure rule is adopted, as expected, it is only a first step. It doesn’t prohibit emissions or set limits, nor does it require GHGe reductions from companies. It doesn’t require disclosure of social or governance goals. The rule simply ensures the reporting of climate progress. "As many have said, sunlight is a great disinfectant. It’s hard to imagine that the new climate transparency required by the SEC won’t make a big difference in getting laggard publicly traded companies to act, and to provide a new bar for those already taking steps." Generating a true Race to the Top may be the best impact of the new rule. FOOTNOTES (1) The announcement ushered in a 60-day period of public comment, which will culminate in a final version, expected in December. The largest public companies would start reporting in 2024, and the smallest in 2026. In other words, Unlike directives, and other policy guidance from the EPA or other Federal agencies, the SEC is quasi-independent, so their rules are less susceptible to change with the political winds. This guidance is here to stay. (2) Scope 1 refers to a company’s direct emissions from its own operations. Scope 2 are indirect emissions, such as from the electricity a company purchases. Scope 3 emissions are the indirect emissions from all other business activities—for example, emissions associated with suppliers and the emissions created by a vendor service provider.) Many environmentalists object to reporting Scope 3 emissions, since they have the potential of overstating action and success, and double counting since the service providers are reporting their own emissions. Where to begin? We're happy to support you with Sustainability Simplified©. Helene York is an environmental and sustainability supply chain expert, adding her talents in strategic sourcing on a global level to 4xi's capabilities. To learn more about Helene download her BIO, or you can contact Helene directly at helene@4xiconsulting.com 4xi: Inspiring a brighter future, together. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side creating an impact on the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy, whether client, employee or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations Human Experience: Customer (CX) & Employee (EX) Training & Development TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Philadelphia | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo
- 4xi Explorers Innovation Directory: Now That's A Bright Idea!
With a unique mix of client-side and service provider-side leaders, over years, the 4xi team consistently heard the frustrations of many of the lack of proactive innovation in the marketplace. That's what inspired us to create the Explorers Innovation Directory - a free resource of carefully curated, best-in-class meaningful innovation. We believe that each of our Innovation Partners makes a difference and creates an impact on those charged with delivering an elevated human experience for people away from home: at work, in education, at rest, and at leisure. Here's a summary of just a handful of our Innovation Partners, the difference they make, and the impact they deliver. We think they're pretty cool, and we hope that you do too! MyFieldAudits is an App-based platform providing operators of dispersed locations to gain access to real-time visibility. Imagine having access to quality and performance checks, audits, standards compliance, and site data from wherever you are, any time of day. OPTIMBUY leveraging decades of experience managing supply chains with multi-billion companies and applying the same science. An initial review of procurement practices will identify target savings levels that go straight to your bottom line. Mashgin is the world's fastest self-check-out system up to 4X faster than that of traditional point of sale. Using Computer Vision and AI technology, Mashgin reduces lines, increases transactions, and overall sales, whilst at the same time reducing cashier labor. "Constant, proactive innovation is the lifeblood of businesses today. It's the difference between standing still and falling behind - keeping ahead of customer and consumer expectations of constant evolution, enhanced service, and an ever increasing pressure to deliver convenience, and impact." - Simon Elliot, Managing Partner, 4xi Global Consulting Biosyn Solutions has developed an ingenious patented solution that creates FDA and WHO approved sanitizers into a soluble format that not only reduces transportation, warehousing, and storage but also reduces carbon footprint and cost too. Zan Compute also provides visibility but through the Internet of Things. Zan's Artificial Intelligence platform is sensor agnostic and can aggregate data from multiple sources to create advanced notifications for building services operations to predict foot traffic, occupancy, and facilities services resource planning. ANTOS Environmental will analyze current waste management performance, create a plan to improve performance, redirect waste to the correct channels, educate, measure, and monitor sustainability impact, and at the same time deliver cost reduction. For more on any of these Innovation Partners, click on the links that will take you to their landing pages, or if you're interested in learning more, then reach out to us at hello@4xiconsulting.com You can explore the full Explorers Innovation Directory HERE. 4xi: Inspiring a brighter future, together. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side creating an impact in the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy, whether client, employee or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations Human Experience: Customer (CX) & Employee (EX) Training & Development TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Philadelphia | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo
- 4xi Expands with Wellness In The Workplace
Welcome to 4xi's latest team member, Brittney Van Matre, her focus is to help clients create innovative work experience strategies with wellbeing at the core. Brittney Van Matre is a work strategy and experience expert, adding to her talents, she is also a coach and emotional intelligence facilitator, helping individuals and teams unlock meaning, purpose, and connection in their work and life. She is available to offer support on a consulting basis for individual projects and ongoing expertise. Introducing Brittney Van Matre Brittney has moved into teaching, coaching, and independent strategic advisory work after 17 years of management experience, including nearly a decade at Nike in the consumer and employee experience space, most recently as the Director of Strategy and Business Operations for Nike Workplace Design. She is now sharing her expertise widely as companies look to reemerge in a post-Covid world and build holistic employee experience strategies with wellbeing at the core. Prior to Nike, Brittney spent four years in management consulting at KPMG where she worked across a variety of industries leading engagement for clients such as Microsoft Online Services, US Department of Energy, Precision Castparts, Flir, and Washington Mutual Bank. As the Director of Workplace Strategy and Experience at Nike, Brittney authored the Nike Workplace Experience (NWX) strategy for the Nike Americas region including Nike World Headquarters, Nike New York, Nike Los Angeles, and Converse locations touching over 25,000 employees. Brittney co-authored the Nike Workplace “Return to Home Turf” strategy covering the end-to-end Covid reemergence process, timelines, and strategy. Brittney’s knowledge of experience and strategy comes from having spent nearly six years in both the CX and EX space at Nike, first in CX creating best-in-class digital and physical consumer experiences at retail using the principles of human-centered design. She worked with some of the world’s largest retail accounts including Dick’s Sporting Goods and Deichmann Group Germany. This eventually led to a role in Nike Employee Experience, leveraging the same ideation and innovation to create unforgettable employee experiences. Beyond her corporate career ventures, Brittney has a strong entrepreneurial spirit that has led her to create both Lead Awake and Nature120 (forthcoming!). These projects have informed how Brittney focuses her work. She leads with innovation at the heart of all she does, injecting new ideas, arriving at creative solutions, and asking the right questions at the right time. Alongside her professional career, Brittney is passionate about personal transformation. Drawing from personal experience and with deep gratitude to the teachers and experiences that have impacted her, she focuses on helping others bridge their inner and outer worlds finding wholeness in themselves and their work. Brittney engages in 1:1 coaching as well as facilitating transformational team experiences. Her bespoke workshops focus on topics such as psychological safety, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, stress management, resilience, leadership, motivation, and flow. Born and raised in the United States and having lived abroad in Europe for several years, she carries a worldwide cultural perspective, an adventurous spirit, and a deep commitment to expanding human freedom. Brittney holds bachelor degrees in accounting and information systems from Washington State University. She is a certified meditation teacher (MTT300) and a certified facilitator with the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute, born at Google. She holds an Ecopsychology graduate certificate with Pacifica Graduate Institute and is in the process of getting her master's degree in Jungian and Archetypal Depth Psychology, also with Pacifica Graduate Institute. Beyond these formal pieces of training, Brittney has also completed two mindfulness-based stress reduction training sessions with the UMASS Center for Mindfulness, graduated from the Power of Awareness Meditation Training, and the Mindfulness Daily at Work training with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, two of her favorite teachers. Welcome on board Brittney, and here's to getting Up Close & Personal. Q1: Where do you live? BVM: Portland, Oregon Q2: What was your journey to 4xi? BVM: My journey to 4xi was serendipitous! I left Nike in June of 2021 to pursue my entrepreneurial ventures and ended up with Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute, serving as an in-house strategic advisor helping craft a vision for their forthcoming for-profit arm. Following that engagement, I decided to focus full time on my own pursuits, one of which included work experience and strategy consulting through the lens of wellness and wellbeing. I began posting articles and ramping up my networking activities on LinkedIn, which led me to Simon. I breathed a breath of fresh air when I read his profile: “I have had the opportunity to, and am passionate about making a difference, creating impact. I believe in the power of human potential.” It seemed like a perfect fit. I reached out and the rest is history. Q3: Why is wellness and the human experience at work so important and how can you make a difference? BVM: Frankly, it’s a necessity. The Millennials alone, who make up the majority of today’s workforce, have lived through major advancements in technology, 9/11, a global pandemic, two economic recessions, political upheaval, racism, sexism, and now, war, all before the age of 40. These are enormously volatile times, physically, emotionally, psychologically, cognitively, and personally. The statistics have become alarming, and leaders must act. We spend such a significant amount of our lives at work, it must become a place of belonging, nurturance, healthy challenge, creativity, and wellness. With my background in strategy and experience combined with my education in psychology and emotional intelligence, I am focused on helping companies build holistic, human-centered workplaces. This includes everything from physical environments rooted in serving diversity, purpose, and wellbeing, to digital connection hubs, to establishing programs and learning opportunities to build belonging and self-awareness, and emotional intelligence. Q4: What are the most interesting innovations you see in the market today? BVM: Advancements in digital mental health have been awesome to watch unfold. Big players like Modern Health, BetterUp, and Spring Health are doing a lot of change the landscape and narrative around mental health care and support, also at work. I am equally intrigued by smaller players such as Nirvana Health, Sesh, and MindFi competing for market share. Beyond mental health-specific platforms, there is a lot happening in the digital tools arena helping employees better manage stress, engage with one another, and prevent burnout. Platforms such as: Culturly: automation of team mood check-ins and culture processes, supplemented with online/live events. Yerbo: preventing burnout through employee check-ins and team dashboards to track morale. ThinkLadder: Mental wellness focus using slack notifications and moderated chat groups Café: YCombinator startup that offers ways for employees to schedule real-life interactions based on locations. And lastly, Salesforce retreat center is the pinnacle expression of wellness in the physical form. So exciting to see this new wave of real estate investments in the experience space. Q5: What was the most amazing wellness experience you’ve had? BVM: My wellness regime is a multi-faceted approach. That is the think about true wellbeing, it is a verb, it is achieved over time and requires commitment and practice. Unfortunately, there are no wellness “quick fixes” out there. Companies must also adopt the same mindset – this is a process, a journey. I try to nurture all aspects of my being, cognitively through therapy, reading, writing, learning; physically through exercise, yoga, and being outdoors in nature; socially and emotionally through connection with friends, family, and group experiences; and lastly, spiritually through meditation, rest, and creativity. Q6: What are the top 3 pieces of advice you would offer to our readers with regards to improving their approach to wellness? BVM: Number 1: Think holistically. As I said before, wellness is not a check-the-box exercise. It goes far beyond a standard total rewards package. Well-being touches all aspects of one’s inner and outer life. Number 2: Think innovatively. Stretch the boundaries, try new solutions, and take a fail-fast approach. Vet a list of options, find new startups in that space, and pilot partnerships with smaller subsets of your workplace population. We must begin to think as innovatively about wellness as we do about things like marketing and product design. Number 3: Do your research, listen to your employees. Do focus groups, talk individually, conduct regular surveys – there are so many ways to find out what your people need, want, and desire. Build your wellness initiatives around listening to your employees. Q7: What is your favorite vacation destination and why? BVM: I would have to say anywhere in the east – Bali, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, and Nepal have been some of my favorites. I am swept away by the food, lifestyle, and culture. I think I was from the east in a past life! Q8: If you could change one thing, anything, what would it be? BVM: Nothing. All events, good and bad, have been orchestrated for my best interests and ultimately, my growth. Q9: What are your passions and why? BVM: I have a growing passion for mental health and reconnecting humanity with nature. I believe most of the problems we are collectively experiencing stem from our disconnect with the more-than-human world. Growing our connection to our inner and outer nature is potentially the most powerful thing we can do at this time on the planet. Thanks, Brittney, so nice to get to know you, and welcome to the 4xi family! 4xi: Our strength is in the power of our collective To learn more about Brittney download her BIO, or you can contact her directly at Brittney@4xiconsulting.com. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side creating an impact in the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy, whether client, employee or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations Human Experience: Customer (CX) & Employee (EX) Training & Development TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Philadelphia | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo
- Permission to Pollute: What Happened to the War On Plastics?
Joel Makower recently noted that a War On Plastic seemed to be breaking through the American consciousness and behavior change was imminent. "Consumer brands have scrambled to end plastic waste.” By eliminating the weight of plastic resins for single-use packaging, or making their packaging recyclable or compostable, a lack of global infrastructure to recycle or compost notwithstanding, Foodservice operators have also pulled back on straws, cup lids, and plastic cutlery. More operators were using china or compostable plasticware. Then, COVID happened. Initially, the focus was on not transmitting the deadly disease by obsessively cleaning every surface, then by using paper masks or whatever kinds of PPE we could get our hands on at the beginning of the pandemic. The number of disposable wipes produced from March 2020-March 2022 is uncountable. In the return to the workplace, the following questions begged to be asked; What kinds of disposables, if any, should we use? Are plastics really important, or were they a victim of viral videos about the Great Garbage Patch or sea turtles dying of ingesting plastic? Like most topics in sustainability, the answer is more interesting and multifaceted than any set of campaign posters would have you believe. Where to begin? We're happy to support you with Sustainability Simplified©. Helene York is an environmental and sustainability supply chain expert, adding her talents in strategic sourcing on a global level to 4xi's capabilities under our banner of Sustainability Simplified©. To learn more about Helene download her BIO, or you can contact Helene directly at helene@4xiconsulting.com 4xi: Inspiring a brighter future, together. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side creating an impact in the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy, whether client, employee or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations Human Experience: Customer (CX) & Employee (EX) Training & Development TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo
- Welcome - How To Make Your Workplace More Appealing
Welcome is a powerful word. It is a salutation, a greeting, or an acknowledgment of arrival when a guest or customer enters a place of business. The act of greeting someone with a welcome; "welcome back Mr. Smith, welcome to the hotel" extending a warm welcome, is appropriate hospitality. Stop and think about a moment when you were welcomed. Were you on vacation? Or at your favorite restaurant or coffee shop? Or maybe you were welcomed home or into your community? How did it feel to be welcomed? "For me, welcome sparks warmth, hospitality, a friendly greeting, and a new opportunity to connect. It sets a positive tone when you enter a hotel, restaurant, or place of service. I tend to let down my guard when greeted with a welcome; immediately I am available and ready for a great hospitality experience." Working in the hotel industry, I have had the pleasure of creating many welcoming moments. When I transitioned from hotels to NY Planning Manager for JPMorgan & Chase Co., I needed to adjust from greeting guests to greeting employees and clients. I often share my first day of work at JPMorgan Chase & Co., as I nervously walked on the elevator, depressed the floor number, looked up, and almost welcomed everyone in the elevator. Ha! Can you imagine! Thankfully I caught myself from the embarrassment- I reflect on that day often." Now, what would it feel like to be welcomed at work? Imagine your employees, guests, or tenants were provided with a warm welcome as they walk through the lobby. Would they start the day feeling safe, productive, and comfortable? Perhaps they stop in at the café to grab breakfast or attend a meeting on the conference floor and the amenity space is well-designed, energizing, and welcoming. How do you think they would feel? "We may not be ready for elevator greetings but, I believe we are craving amenities that make us feel welcomed." I am here to help build scalable, welcoming moments. I can optimize your welcome protocol in the conference and meeting space and throughout all your workplace amenities. Together, we can operationalize your amenities, build your workplace programming, welcome back engagement in your meeting and events, and help impact collaboration and employee satisfaction. It all starts with a warm welcome. Jennifer Durning is available to offer support on a consulting basis for individual projects and as an ongoing expert. Her skills include contract and vendor negotiations, budget forecast and oversight, optimizing conferencing and amenity spaces, conference and event operation training, and designing and executing events. Jennifer and the entire team at 4xi are here to help you drive positive change and impact. To learn more about Jennifer download her BIO or you can contact her directly at jenniferdurning@4xiconsulting.com. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side creating an impact in the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy, whether client, employee or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations Human Experience: Customer (CX) & Employee (EX) Training & Development TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo
- 4xi Helps TK Elevator Open State-of-the-Art Innovation Center in Atlanta
March 7, 2022, Atlanta, Georgia 4xi is excited to share the completion of a recent project with TK Elevator at their new Innovation and Qualification Center (IQC) in Atlanta Georgia. 4xi had the opportunity to assist TK Elevator with their conference center’s operational implementation plan. Our experienced hospitality consultant, Ann McNally, led the project and built a wonderful rapport with the TK Elevator executives from both the real estate and communications teams. The TK Elevator team is committed to excellence and the 4xi team was able to align with their vision to bring the conference center and guest experience plans to life. 4xi delivered on all facets of the project by working with the TK Elevator team to build conference center standard operating procedures, customer journey maps, an estimated budget, and assisting with the hiring process for the team. “We were on a tight timeline and had multiple priorities so needed a firm to help us prepare for the opening of the conference center and 4xi was an excellent partner. 4xi made the process seamless and by meeting with us weekly kept us on track with several tasks through completion. We cannot thank 4xi enough for their expertise and advice throughout the entire project.” - John Anderson, Head of Real Estate About TK Elevators Opening TK Elevator celebrated the opening on February 9, 2022, as the elevator industry leader continues investing in R&D and innovative mobility solutions that will address the needs of current and future customers throughout North America and around the world. The three-building complex at The Battery, Atlanta features 205,000 square feet of office space and includes the 420-foot-tall Innovation and Qualification Center (IQC) with the tallest elevator test tower in North America. The general contractor on the IQC was Brasfield & Gorrie while Gensler served as architect. The IQC was built on land owned by The Braves Development Company. The cornerstone of the new headquarters is the IQC, which includes industry-leading R&D and software labs, a digital showroom, engineering offices, and training facilities as well as event and meeting spaces located at the top of the building. Anchoring the North American research and development facility is a modern elevator test tower. The IQC also features more than 11,000 square feet of LED mesh with a 2.4-million-pixel virtual resolution that will illuminate the Atlanta skyline while also symbolizing TKE’s bright future in North America. For more information on TK Elevators, go to www.tkelevator.com/us-en/ For more information on 4XI Global consulting go to www.4xiconsulting.com If you need help building operational plans for your onsite food service or conference centers reach out to Ann McNally at 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions.
- Technology & Innovation That Truly Solves Problems With Zan Compute
In this podcast, Mouli Chandramouli, SVP of Customer Success at Zan Compute discusses technology, innovation, and customer focus with Tony Johnson, 4xi Global Consulting, CXO. Success starts with knowing - A great customer experience is about solving real-world problems. When a company is deploying technology solutions pre-planning is crucial to creating seamless ease of use for occupants. Product knowledge education is key, make sure that your customers truly understand how to use your products for their maximum benefit. To learn more about Zan Compute and their Smart Bathroom Technology, contact us today to set up an introductory conversation to discuss how smart restroom technology, occupancy monitoring, or any of our technology-enabled solutions are designed to improve the lives of your customers, clients, and building occupants. Zan Compute: Safety | Efficiency | Visibility DOWNLOAD information on Zan Compute set up a DEMO, or you can email us today to set up an introductory exploration at-hello@4xiconsulting.com At 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions, we are dedicated to the quest of driving a better Human Experience (Hx) and exploring alternative ways to operate better, be more efficient, and drive better experiences. To that end, we believe Zan Compute is the perfect solution to deliver an elevated occupant and visitor experience by driving efficiency and at the same time reducing cost. 4xi: Inspiring a brighter future, together. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side creating an impact in the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, at rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy, whether client, employee or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations Human Experience: Customer (CX) & Employee (EX) Training & Development TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo
- Happy St. Patricks Day One and All!
We believe that inclusion starts with understanding, and what better way than to learn, understand, and celebrate together. On this St. Patrick’s Day, the shamrock and its symbolism bear mention on how important unity is in our world, to our human experience, and in our work experience. In Irish culture the shamrock represents the birth of Spring and new beginnings, this optimism is not only key in team building but it's what drives us and our employees to engage and grow every day. A deeper meaning of the shamrock was born in the 1600s when the shamrock was worn to show support of Irish Pride and heritage. Whatever our roots, we all have a group, countries, and ideals that we show support for, and meshing those ideals is ever more important in our world as we build understanding and inclusivity for all human beings, no matter their culture or beliefs. On this March 17th, we celebrate our Irish cousins and also pray for peace for those suffering in Ukraine, we wish for harmony, for understanding, and for peace to prevail for everyone, everywhere. Sláinte! 4xi: Inspiring a brighter future, together. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side creating an impact in the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy, whether client, employee or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations Human Experience: Customer (CX) & Employee (EX) Training & Development TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo
- Can You Articulate Your Company's Growth Strategy?
Strategic Growth – what does it really mean? Power words like strategy, growth, diversification, portfolio and other lofty descriptivism for business are used interchangeably. These global terms are used to discuss how to develop, how to increase revenue, how to create more jobs and in short, there are myriad ways to ‘grow’ in the world of business. Let’s remove the veneer for a moment and deal with what it really takes for a company to BE MORE. "Typically, there are 4 growth strategies: market penetration; product development; market expansion, and diversification." Each strategy has a plan, a set of targets, and some actionable steps. For many companies, the road to growth can be a struggle often requiring a lot of investment, time, and effort. In essence, the eye on the prize of a target or strategy can be all-consuming, to the point of leaving basics to the wayside. Growth Through Care True strategic growth comes from strategic partnership and delivering excellence. The most important aspect of growth is to start at home. Know your current customers intimately and well. Give ‘them’ the highest quality service, support, care, consideration, and attention. Your current customers are the basis of your growth. They have the ability to help you expand into ‘like’ markets with stories of wonder to tell others. Knowing that your customers will be your best advocates, is the foundation to growth and bringing in ‘good’ business. Hunting without a story; knocking on doors without customer accolades turns a growth strategy into an uphill battle, not a smooth sail. With true customer care, customer satisfaction and customer experience par excellence, the journey to growth is often much shorter. "89% of companies now expect to compete mostly on the basis of customer experience.” - Gartner Research Statistics show that businesses can increase revenues between 4% and 8% when they prioritize better customer service experiences. To the Gartner Research data above, 89% of companies with "significantly above average" customer experiences perform better financially than their competitors. The data is clear, with customer excellence you will grow but without it, you are going to struggle with or with a formal strategy. Before tackling a strategy for growth, increasing revenue, or bringing in new customers, start with understanding how you are caring for your customer base now. Identify the key milestones of customer satisfaction and document them; what aspect of your product/service had the biggest impact on customer satisfaction; determine why care fell short and develop solutions to improve. Engage your leadership team to be part of the growth discussion with the following questions: Are you capturing enough detail, data, and story on each customer? Do you have good analytics to draw from? Do you have enough bench to truly engage with your customers regularly Are they indeed happy? Have you asked what you can do for them over and above your current deliverables? Do you have a solid account plan process in place? There is an endless list of questions that need to be asked long before pen is put to paper on a growth strategy. In short, do you have your TRUE NORTH©? Strategic growth means finding your TRUE NORTH©. Take a step back and look at your successes; measure your value proposition and truly understand the difference your products and services make to each of your customers. You may just find that the fastest route to revenue is not moving forward at a high rate of speed but by looking back and understanding where you have been! Dina Wiltshire is 4xi's Strategic Partnerships & Growth lead - she works with clients who are seeking opportunities to improve, grow, and thrive. In addition to growth, Dina has a wealth of experience in a number of areas of business from leading call centers and call center design, to operations, and project management. Dina and the entire team at 4xi are here to help you drive positive change and impact. To learn more about Dina download her BIO, or you can contact her directly at dina@4xiconsulting.com 4xi: Inspiring a brighter future, together. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side creating an impact in the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy, whether client, employee or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations Human Experience: Customer (CX) & Employee (EX) Training & Development TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Philadelphia | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo
- vranda: Why Doing the Right Thing is the Right Thing to Do!
At 4xi, we work with a wide range of clients in business, education, healthcare, and leisure. Everyone is grappling with how to focus their efforts effectively to succeed in their core purposes and be true to the newer imperatives of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) whether they are public or private, a service provider or a producer. The number of platforms and approaches can be dizzying. In the end, everyone has to count their progress toward the goals they set. Of all of the options, we’re especially enthusiastic about what vranda is offering. Many software platforms count only Scope 1, 2, and 3 carbon emissions. Some calculate water usage. A few track food waste and now, food donations. vranda takes a bigger picture view that helps clients think about what they’re doing, why they’re doing it, and point to options along the way as circumstances change. "What our clients need is a seamless and scalable approach to reporting data for many global, science-based, reporting platforms, and an approach that goes beyond carbon and incorporates other elements of social and environmental responsibility." All platforms spit out data; what matters is how comprehensive it is, and how to interpret it. That’s what vranda does, uniquely. The goal is to drive impact and every client needs good data to start. What you do with that data is where we partner with you and vranda, to help you set or modify goals, to keep you competitive and responsible. Because doing the right thing is simply the right thing to do! At 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions, we’re dedicated to the quest of curating best-in-class innovation: products, services, technologies, or "things" that deliver impact. Check out our Explorers Innovation Directory for more. Visit vranda or set up a DEMO or you can email us directly to set up an introductory exploration at hello@4xiconsulting.com. Simon Elliot is Managing Partner of 4xi Global Consulting – a boutique firm focused on advancing the Human Experience of people away from home. Supporting clients in driving impact in ESG performance and advocating for positive change. Helene York is the sustainability lead at 4xi Global Consulting and has spent a career in driving ESG initiatives globally with some of the most progressive organizations in the world of food and facilities services. 4xi: Inspiring a brighter future, together. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side creating an impact in the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy, whether client, employee or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations Human Experience: Customer (CX) & Employee (EX) Training & Development TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo
- Guest BLOG: LinkedIn Tips & Tricks from Brynne Tilman
Brynne Tilman CEO, Social Sales Link One of the biggest misses on LinkedIn for social sellers is that they connect and forget. The average B2B sales professional has over 2,000 connections, most of whom they are ignoring. And, on average, 10% of their connections are people they’d love to have a conversation with, yet they spend all their time on net new connections and rarely nurture the ones that they already have. "I call this conducting CPR on your connections. Yes, we are breathing life back into our network, but it also about identifying the clients, prospects, and referral partners that we want to engage." Practical Tip: Begin by exporting your connections: Click the Me in the dropdown menu. Click Settings & Privacy (may default here) Select Data Privacy Click on Get A Copy Of Your Data Click on Connections Add your LinkedIn email and password Click the Download Link in your notification email (arrives in about 10 minutes) Click Download Archive Open Your Connections CSV file Add a column on the right-hand side of the spreadsheet and Mark each connection as CPR Engage your network by providing insights, asking for their point of view on a topic or a poll, or sending them a personal video message from the LinkedIn app. TRUE NORTH© - Win better, retain better business. Brynne Tilman is the CEO of Social Sales Link. She is a LinkedIn Author, LinkedIn & Sales Navigator trainer. Brynne helps professionals transform the way they sell by converting connections to conversations, to clients. Brynne is also the host of the Making Sales Social podcast. Contact us to learn more about TRUE NORTH© including Brynn and Social Sales Link: hello@4xiconsulting.com 4xi: Inspiring a brighter future, together. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side creating an impact in the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy, whether client, employee or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations Human Experience: Customer (CX) & Employee (EX) Training & Development TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo











