HR Professionals as Diversity Leaders | hrprosmemphis.com

Shannon A. Brown, SVP/Chief Human Resources & Diversity Officer for FedEx Express, is the company?s
most senior HR executive. He provides strategic direction for all human resources practices, policies and?operations for FedEx Express. Brown, who also has been Senior Vice President of HR for FedEx Ground,?began his career at FedEx more than 30 years ago as a package handler at the Memphis hub. He has attained?numerous awards during his career, including the FedEx Express Five Star Award ? the highest employee?honor ? and the FedEx Express CEO Five Star Award.

FedEx always has been committed to diversity, not only within the company?s workforce, but also throughout?its global reach of more than 220 countries and territories. ?It makes sense that our values reflect a sincere?respect for all people and cultures,? Brown said. ?We encourage diversity because it?s the right thing to do,?and it makes business sense from a global perspective. ?

FedEx also supports a number of diversity-related mentoring programs, including the: Magic Johnson?Foundation?s Taylor Michaels Scholarship Program; National CARES Mentoring Movement (NCMM), founded?by Susan Taylor, former Editor-in-Chief of ESSENCE

---

Cleveland Heads Up Diversity and Inclusion for First Horizon

Cindy Cleveland is responsible for talent initiatives including talent review, leadership assessment,?succession planning, and managing the organization?s diversity and inclusion strategy. She also assists?with performance management and employee development programs. Prior to joining First Horizon, Cindy?served as a college administrator in leadership training and development. She earned a B.S. in marketing?from Wilmington College and an M.S. in personnel services from Miami University. She has been in Human?Resources at First Horizon for over 13 years and has served in her current role for two years.?FHN?s Emerging Leaders Program and Corporate Mentoring Program?Two diversity initiatives that Cindy currently leads are the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) and the Corporate?Mentoring Program. ELP, an initiative of First Horizon?s Diversity Council, is a rigorous 10-month program?designed to accelerate the leadership capability of high-potentials and create a diverse talent pool ready?for next-level responsibilities. The Corporate Mentoring program, now in its second year, has matched over?370 employees in mentoring relationships to support and accelerate the development of employees to?achieve organizational, professional and personal goals. Other current initiatives include diversity/inclusion?culture training for leaders, employee resource groups, and external/internal benchmarking of First Horizon?s?workplace, workforce and marketplace diversity strategies.

---

Quinn Thompson Leads Diversity and Talent Acquisition for IP

Quinn Thompson has been with International Paper since 1992. She is responsible for leading the development,?execution and monitoring of a global diversity strategy, executive recruiting, staffing policies,?systems, metrics and analytics, vendor management, employment branding and workforce planning.?She is a graduate of the University of Denver with a Masters of Technology Management degree. She also has?a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Business Administration and Human Resource Management Certification?from the University of Phoenix.

IP Sponsorship:?The Chairman?s Diversity Council placed Sponsorship on IP?s Diversity Agenda and launched the program?in July 2008. While the original employee group requesting Sponsorship was from a specific demographic?group, over time the program has evolved and all eligible talent could be considered diverse (regardless of?demographic group) and are eligible for Sponsorship. The program participants are reviewed annually with?the intent to promote management practices that support the learning, development, exposure, cultural and?business acumen required to groom future leaders, create a pipeline of diverse leaders, provide guidance for?talent and assist them in understanding IP?s competencies necessary to foster their professional growth and?to demonstrate leadership behaviors consistent with being an effective sponsor.?IP Focus Groups and Forums:?International Paper hosts multiple Diversity Focus Groups and Forums each year that are designed to offer a?chance to engage employees from all backgrounds and positions. Skill development happens by the participants?being exposed to leaders from manufacturing and staff backgrounds that share their career path and?offer advice. Recent events included Women at IP, African American and Hispanic Forums as well as an Asian?Focus group scheduled to take place later this year.

IP Mentoring Boards:?In addition to IP?s ongoing Mentoring program, the Chairman?s Diversity Council also hosts several Mentoring?Board webcasts. Our Mentoring Boards are led by highly visible Women, African American and Hispanic?leaders throughout the organization. The purpose is to provide group mentoring with opportunity to learn?from leaders with commonalities with as well as an opportunity to benefit from scalable learning (the power?of many vs. the power of few!).These webcasts are scheduled annually and typically take place 2-3 times per?year for each group.

Source: http://hrprosmemphis.com/hr-professionals-as-diversity-leaders/

luke kuechly brad miller chandler jones peyton hillis carolina panthers fletcher cox charlotte bobcats