There may be no truer essence of what belonging feels like than the energy of the PRIDE parade. It is authenticity. It is personal expression. It is identity. It is our capacity, as individuals and as community, to acknowledge and respect our shared human experience – at the highest levels. 

The conclusion of last month’s PRIDE events made me reflect even more about the culture we’re building and the impact of belonging on everything we are striving to achieve. Our ability to authentically attract the best talent; to engage, retain and effectively develop that talent; to have a deep understanding of the needs of our associates and then provide the best resources available for them. A strong culture of belonging means having a team deeply committed to our mission and values because they see their role in them and feel deeply connected to our company and each other. Continuing to grow a culture of belonging allows us to grow our impact in the world.

It also affirms the integral role our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) play in cultivating belonging. Their work and leadership go far beyond helping us celebrate culture and heritage. They foster community, provide pathways and safe spaces to learn from one another and ask questions, enable us to seek to understand and, frankly, to grow. 

Our ERGs also serve as incubators of global connections, diverse collaboration and creativity. They offer unique insights that make us stronger. The importance of what and how we invest in and support the efforts and contributions of our ERGs will be core to the fabric of the future we are creating.

Belonging, to me, is what is possible when the landscape of our individual experiences is seen, honored and appreciated. We are a people-driven company. Our future as an organization is shared. Every one of us has a role to play in supporting a culture in which we all thrive. Because at the end of the day, it is the people – the teams and the leaders that will be driving our innovation and delivering our best-in-class service and insights – that hold the key to our competitive advantage. 

We are all in the business of belonging, and Ecolab’s future is all the brighter for it.