One of the best ways employers can demonstrate the value of their people is through meaningful opportunities. Opportunity to be themselves, connect with others, develop professionally and grow as individuals. Research over the years has consistently indicated that these opportunities are among some of the most important factors of employee retention – and they are also the differentiators that create a standout culture that draws candidates to want to work for an organization.

At nVent, we make it a priority to uncover new ways to invest in our employees by providing unique opportunities for our people to better themselves as a person and a professional. In 2021, we were intentional about partnering with McKinsey & Company to nominate employees to participate in their Connected Leaders Academy. Initially launched in 2020 to drive racial equity and support Black leaders – it has now expanded to include Asian and Hispanic/Latinx leaders at all career levels. One of the primary goals of the program is to assist companies with developing pipelines of diverse, hard-working professionals who are promotion ready. In the end, this is impactful for increasing representation at higher levels of the organization.

This partnership was a connection point between our Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) initiatives, and the actions we take toward making those strategies come alive throughout our organization. The outcome included improved visibility of skilled professionals who are ready for the next level and a deeper connection to the company as a whole as it displays that our commitment to I&D is sincere. Participants noted that, aside from the strategic business concepts presented, the ability to connect with individuals who look like them has been exceptionally rewarding as they are typically one of the only people of color on their respective teams.

“One of the key elements of our I&D strategy is to focus on the diversity of our talent pipeline.  Partnering with McKinsey Leadership Academies enables us to offer our diverse, high-potential talent a fully inclusive, affinity-based learning experience,” said Laura Brock, vice president of Inclusion & Diversity. “What does that mean? By design, all participants in a classroom share a visual similarity (i.e. “everyone looks like me”)!  What is the impact? It creates an environment for powerful storytelling, sharing and learning in an uninhibited way. What is the outcome? A sense of belonging for our employees who see their potential as future leaders at nVent.”

People are nVent’s most important asset and growth is at the heart of who we are. As we continue to offer the program in 2024 and beyond, we celebrate the 100+ leaders who completed the program thus far:

• Leadership Essentials – 39 graduates
• Management Accelerator – 58 graduates
• Executive Leadership Program – 12 graduates

At nVent, we value innovation, inclusion, and growth. Learn how you can join us to bring bold ideas, be authentic and build the future of a more sustainable and electrified world: nVent.com/careers.