Sodexo Participates in 2017 Global STEM Talent Summit for Collective Short-Term Solutions to STEM Talent Development Strategies

GAITHERSBURG, Md., April 27, 2017 /3BL Media/ -- Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life services, today joined the nation’s top employers and thought leaders at the Global STEM Talent Summit (GSTS), held April 27-28, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The summit is led by STEMconnector,® the leading organization working with industry, higher education, NGOs and the public sector to provide resources and leadership that supports smart STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) investments. Sodexo’s global chief human resources officer, Gerri Mason Hall spoke to how businesses can work to address STEM talent readiness, retention and mentoring.

This year’s theme is short-term STEM talent development strategies and impact on business performance. “We are building off the success of last year’s first-ever employer-led annual Global STEM Talent Summit and bringing together major industry partners to address the STEM talent gap that exists in our country—and globally,” said Dr. Heidi Kleinbach-Sauter, senior vice president, global R&D, PepsiCo, and chairwoman of the Global STEM Talent Summit. “We have fully transitioned from STEM theory into action and our industry partners are implementing STEM talent development strategies to deliver sustainable enterprise growth.”

“As a company that provides more than 100 technical services to clients in 80 countries, sharing best practices in STEM talent development strategies to drive scale and speed in helping to solve the STEM shortfall is as much an honor as a business imperative,” said Gerri Mason Hall, senior vice president and global chief human resources officer, Sodexo North America.

Participating in the discussion on STEM talent readiness with Mason Hall were other large scale employers who all addressed the challenges of competing for STEM talent against the type of marquis-name high-tech companies that frequently draw the attention of talent. Those participants included Melissa Harper, vice president global talent and inclusion and diversity, Monsanto, Michael Regelski, senior vice president and chief technology officer, Eaton, Sheri Hickock, executive chief engineer, General Motors and Terese Taylor, global technology lead, Credit Suisse. The panel was moderated by Michael Norris, senior advisor, STEMconnector.

The 2017 GSTS strategic partners include Acord, APCO Worldwide, Apollo Education Group, AT&T, BAE Systems, Base 11, BP, Burning Glass, Cargill, Carnival Corporation, Cengage Learning, Centene Corporation, Cigna, Credit Suisse, Dassault Systems, Deloitte, Discovery Education, FedEx, Gulfstream, Honeywell, Hope Street Group, Gallup, GM, Eaton, Indeed, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, ManpowerGroup, Lockheed Martin, Mind Research Institute, Microsoft, Monsanto, Monster, My College Options, The National Press Club, PepsiCo, Pillsbury Law, Pinnacle Group, Smiths Group, Stratasys, Sodexo, Sprint, S&P Global, Tata Consultancy Services, UCI Henry Samueli School of Engineering, Unilever, University of Phoenix, and Walmart. 

 “As disruption is evident, business leaders are shifting focus to talent investments and engagement in STEM and tackling the latest of new technology and skills required for jobs,” says Edie Fraser, Chief Executive Officer of STEMconnector.® “As this GSTS initiative continues, leaders are intent on identifying and proselytizing investments in education proven to strengthen a sustainable, long-term talent pool.”

Sodexo delivers more than 100 services across North America that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life. The Fortune Global 500 company is a leader in delivering sustainable, integrated facilities management and foodservice operations.

Learn more about Sodexo at its corporate blog, Sodexo Insights.