Transcript John M. Saguto Vice President and Director Customer Development Group

John M. Saguto
Vice President and Director Customer Development Group
Nestlé Purina Pet Care Company
Leveraging an Inclusive
Team To Drive Results
Leveraging an Inclusive Team
To Drive Results
“We don't accomplish anything in this world alone...
and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry
of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads
from one to another that creates something.”
Sandra Day O’Connor
“All of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should
have an equal opportunity to develop our talents.”
John F. Kennedy
Creating an Inclusive and
Diverse Workplace
 Why do it?
 Who starts it?
 What is your role?
 Can it really affect business results?
 How is it sustained?
 How do you measure progress? Or success?
Leveraging an Inclusive Team
To Drive Results
 Power of any team depends on the dynamics of the team
 You need to have a champion, someone with passion and
influence, willingness to step out in traffic
 You must have a plan, a vision, or a clear expectation,
and you must stay the course
 Transparency and honesty, a must
 Realize change takes time. It can have setbacks and
disappointments, but leaders must emerge and take charge
 In the long run it is imperative to the overall health and
success of your organization
Creating an Inclusive and
Diverse Workplace
 The Opportunity: Nestlé Purina D&I Project
(Design and Implementation)
 The environment:
 Strong competition
 Success of the past would not sustain the future
 We wanted to create the future
 Senior Management engaged and listening (the
opportunity)
 Several key leaders had an idea to leverage multifunctional skill sets and change the culture within
 Dynamic change opportunity – do you act?
 YES… ABSOLUTELY !!!
Creating an Inclusive and
Diverse Workplace
Here was the situation:
 Current State – mono-functional, work teams, silos
 (Five departments: OM/Inventory, Cash/Collections,
Pricing/Promotions, Adjustments/Deductions, Data Base
Management)
 Future State – multi-functional, integrated work teams
 (Creation of what is known today as the Order and Revenue
Management Department – ORM)
 Create a competitive advantage for the organization
 Create a great place to work – focus on an inclusive and diverse
workforce, new ideas, different approach
 Change or eliminate the rules of engagement
The Results…
 Consolidation of five departments into one – ORM
 No headcount reduction (or minimal)
 Internal cost savings of $12mm annually
 Resource utilization
 Collections Best in Class
 Back Office costs
 Streamlined the order life cycle
 Service level improved  Promotion simplification
 Best in Class customer service
 Formalized mentoring program
The Results…
 Hired for variety of skill sets
 Changed recruiting schools
 Creation of an inclusive and multi-functional workforce
Then (Stagnant)
 Turnover Rate:
Now (Positive)
5%
 Turnover Rate: 20%
 Retention Rate: 98%
 Retention Rate: 80%
 Promote Rate:
 Promote Rate:
2%
15%
Creating an Inclusive and
Diverse Workplace
What Worked
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Diverse Leadership Team
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Clear vision
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Established S.O.P/Charter
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All ideas welcomed, encouraged 
Ownership of the solution
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New track training approach
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New recruiting program
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Best practices established
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Creation of compensatory base
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pay program and special incentives
 Open leadership (bottom up and 
top down)
 Clear goal/accountability
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 Celebrated success along the way
recognize
What Did Not Work
Silo Managers
Lack of vision or silo approach
Personal agendas
Grandstanding
Not my problem
Buddy system training
Fishing at the same fishing holes
Here is how I do it
Clerical pay scale
Top down management
Vague goals/lack of accountability
 Too busy to celebrate or
individuals or team
Creating an Inclusive and
Diverse Workplace
Major Benefits:
 Creation of the ORM Department – a sustainable organization
that is one of the most diverse and inclusive organizations in
all of Nestlé Purina PetCare
 ORM has become a diverse resource pool for all of Nestlé
Purina PetCare
 Instrumental in creating a passion in the Customer
Development Group (Sales) to also build an inclusive and
diverse, high-performing organization
 ORM/Sales and Nestlé Purina at large co-developed a
Diversity Steering Committee that is now in place
What Made This Project Work?
In summary:
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Capitalizing on an opportunity that could have been missed
Passion, Vision, Commitment, Focus
Strong Diverse Leadership Team put into place
Champions, Senior Leadership support, including HR
Clear understanding of what was at stake
Willingness to take risks and create change
Work with a solid plan
Establish goals and timelines
Monitor progress, keep leadership and organization informed
People believed they were valued and we were not turning back
Know and understand key stakeholders
Led by example: D.W.Y.S.Y.W.D. - ALWAYS
Top Ten Tips
To Leveraging a Diverse and
Inclusive Team to Drive Results
1.
Define your objective clearly
2.
Find your Champions or be the Champion –
Senior Management sustainable support
3.
Build a plan and timeline
4.
Start small and build on progress or success
5.
Build a network of allies, including HR
6.
Establish your platform and talk to everyone about it –
invite people in
7.
Change your recruiting process – fish at different fishing holes
8.
Establish a slating process to fill open roles
9.
Leverage your influence and other leaders’ support
10. Build it and people will come, be transparent, be honest!
Leveraging an Inclusive Team
To Drive Results
In closing:
 Leveraging a diverse and inclusive team to drive results can
and will make a difference!!
My Challenge to You:
 Be a Role Model
 Be the Champion in your company
 Step out in traffic
 Create a great place to work
Leveraging an Inclusive Team
To Drive Results
Thank you!
Questions?