Investing in our early career talent will help drive our future as a company. In 2020, our Water and Protection (W&P) business held the inaugural Emerging Leaders Conference, targeting high-potential talent with less than ten years of work experience. Although the COVID-19 pandemic stopped many conferences and events, W&P used this as an opportunity to test as many digital capabilities as possible for potential future use with other internal audiences and strategic customers.

Current W&P leaders led a high-impact virtual experience with professional production and tailored content focusing on improving critical skills and behaviors that will empower young W&P talent to succeed in their roles and beyond. Participants joined small group breakout working sessions and one-on-one “speed networking” meetings, which let young talent ask questions of their peers and mentors in a more personal setting.

When giving feedback after the virtual conference, participants reported a 98% overall satisfaction rating, and 90% of participants made two or more new connections. This conference was broadcast to all W&P emerging leaders in our North America and Latin America regions. In 2021 the team will regroup to determine a strategy that takes in other regions as well.