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Winter
2002 Vol. 11 No. 1
Energizing
the Talent
To develop and market our products and
services in a global economy, we need the broadest possible
contributions of talent," says Dennis Zeleny. "We need
inclusive talents, blending the best of people with
different ethnic backgrounds, races, gender, age, sexual
orientation and religions," he says. "The heart is here
for making DuPont more diverse, and the training is
here to help people see the business advantages of diverse
work teams."
Current issues-from the impact of the
September 11 tragedy to the concerns about the already-weakened
global economy-heighten the need to focus on the human
side of business, he notes. Now is just the time to
continue collaboration, WorkLife balances, and sensitivity
to others. At the same time, the pressures of the soft
economy could deflect attention from the power diversity
delivers. That means the company has to be more diligent
in making progress to diversify the workforce.
Zeleny, who was hired into DuPont just
last summer, already believes it's a great place to
work.
| Dennis
Zeleny, Senior Vice President of DuPont Human Resources,
is a native New Yorker who spent his youth in Crown
Heights, Brooklyn-a true melting pot of races and
nationalities. He believes high-performing companies
beat the competition because they seek and nurture
talent. |
The heart is here for making DuPont more diverse, and
the training is here to help people see the business
advantages of diverse work teams. -Dennis Zeleny
"One thing about coming into a company
at a senior level is making sure that you're getting
straight talk," Zeleny adds. "A number of people reflecting
the diversity of DuPont have been warm and welcoming,
and, equally important, they have been candid, helpful
and very open. I am very appreciative of the coaching
I receive."
To ensure that he continues to get frank
information about diversity in the company and to communicate
his commitment, Zeleny has asked Sandi Bowe, newly named
director of Diversity and WorkLife, to share progress
and problems in his staff meetings. "She adds great
value with a holistic view of all human resource matters,"
he says.
"I was impressed by her immediate attention
to the needs and fears of employees who are Muslims
or of Middle East origin, after September 11," Zeleny
says. "She took the initiative to contact our Legal
function, asking them to prepare documents verifying
employment for all DuPont employees who travel on company
business. This kind of initiative not only helps ease
travel concerns for our diverse employee base, but it
makes us a better company-one that our people can be
proud of."
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