Michelle Robinson, Director, College and External Relations

Across the globe, Sodexo makes significant commitments to all of its employees at each touch-point of their career experience with our company. In the March edition of Career Connections, we told you about Sodexo equipping new employees for success from day one with the Come Alive with Sodexo program. That same commitment continues for the development of its leaders. Sodexo understands the importance of "growing your own." It created the Emerging Leaders Program approximately one year ago and has recently graduated its first class.

Emerging Leaders is a dynamic, challenging program to develop strategic leadership skills. This highly competitive nine-month program strengthens skills in five leadership areas: Building Personal Effectiveness, Executing for Results, Managing Change, Managing and Developing Diverse Talent, and Influencing the Business. These form the link between desired performance and the Strategic Leadership Competency for executive-level positions. Participants come away with insights and enhanced critical thinking skills that enable them to embrace a larger responsibility for the success of the entire organization, make wiser choices within the context of the "big picture" of the business, and champion the concept of "corporate citizenship."

Michelle Robinson, Director of College and External Relations, shares her experience as a participant and graduate of the first Emerging Leaders class.

What prompted you to apply to the Emerging Leaders program? "I had been thinking of ways to become a more strategic thinker and leader. After reading the description, the core concept of the program (developing strategic leadership skills) was in line with my desire to grow my career. I saw it as a development opportunity."

What were key highlights of the program for you? "As a participant in the program, I was able to benefit from the many perspectives of the top leaders and subject matter experts of the organization, gaining their insights on such topics as Managing for Change and Executing for Results. Another highlight for me was the ability to work with such a diverse group of team members ranging from unit General Managers to mid-management support staff. We were divided into small groups and collaborated on projects throughout the nine months. My group was tasked with developing a plan for an individual account that could be implemented company-wide to meet Sodexo’s ambitious growth goals. The research for the project enhanced my knowledge of all that Sodexo does to build a better company."

You recently received a promotion to the position of Director of College and External Relations. How do you believe participation in the Emerging Leaders program prepared you for this role? "It goes back to the goals of the program: developing strategic thinkers and leaders. In this role, I am tasked with developing strategies to assist recruiters in increasing our college hires and enhancing our College Relations program."

Michelle went on to describe an added benefit: the assistance she received from Sodexo’s Executive Recruiters in preparation for her interview for her new position. Through Sodexo’s Enlightenment Program, all graduates of the Emerging Leaders program receive one-on-one guidance from an executive recruiter to help them achieve their career goals and aspirations within Sodexo. Areas of focus include career strategies, job search skills, resume and interview critiques, building a personal and professional network, and managing a career path.

Our ultimate goal? To provide extraordinary opportunities for personal and professional development that results in our employees being able to continually grow their careers with Sodexo!