The following was written by Gina Adams, Senior Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs at FedEx. This feature can be found in our recently launched Corporate Systemic Responsibility Report which was the first outcome of our new Responsible Business Diplomacy initiative. TTo download the report and read other testimonies, click here.
At FedEx, keeping the world connected — in good times and during periods of great need — is who we are and what we do every day. With a network serving more than 220 countries and territories, and more than 570,000 team members, FedEx has a strong interest in public policy and issues that affect the global economy, our business, and our customers.
As the Senior Vice President for Government and Regulatory Affairs at FedEx Corporation, I am responsible for promoting the interests of all FedEx Corporation operating companies, including FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Freight, in the political and policy arenas. My team works with Administration officials, members of Congress, the diplomatic community, and industry associations on domestic and international commerce, infrastructure, and transportation issues that can impact our global network.
Engagement and communication with the global community have always been important to FedEx, but the last year and a half have highlighted just how important corporate diplomacy is in uncertain times. As the COVID-19 pandemic affected global supply chains, we worked closely with governments and our suppliers to keep commerce and critical medical and relief supplies moving around the world to where they were needed most.
Investing in your people is key to generating the next wave of engaged corporate citizens in the U.S. and abroad. Across the FedEx operating companies and in cooperation with key organizations, we recruit, retain, develop and provide advancement opportunities for team members from a variety of backgrounds to build a workforce reflective of the world and communities we serve. We constantly develop and share resources, education, and regular communications to enrich, expand and enhance our culture and develop the leaders of tomorrow from within our organization.
The Global Leadership Corps (GLC) is another intensive FedEx enterprise-wide learning experience aimed at exposing high performing FedEx employees to “next generation” ways of doing business: emerging markets, virtual and global teams, diverse cultures, working outside the traditional office, and increased public expectations for sustainable business practices. Between February 7 and March 7, 2020, 16 participants spent four weeks in Bangkok, Thailand, serving as consultants to four local social enterprise organizations, contributing 3,840 volunteer hours of pro-bono consultation. Through intensive collaboration, these team members applied their diverse experience and skillsets to help equip their clients with business plans and processes to better serve their communities.
At FedEx, we believe a connected world is a better world, and that belief helps guide everything we do. Whether we’re transporting vaccines to move the world forward, connecting the world more sustainably, or bringing together a more inclusive global team, I’m proud to be part of a company that has made these important initiatives possible.
