LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR SPEED, TECHNOLOGY AND CUSTOMER FOCUS IN ARIZONA
At the end of March, our company inaugurated a new Advanced Engineering Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, with the goal of capturing key local tech talent and accelerating our company’s growth in precision agriculture technology.
Kavita Vir, Director of Technology at the new center joined the company through Raven and since then, has been hard at work helping to get the newest office set up. To date, the Scottsdale office is home to 14 full time employees and 8 interns, and it continues to grow, with a target of 40 employees by later this year.
“Several experienced Raven team members relocated from Sioux Falls to Scottsdale, and we have continued building out the team with new hires from the Phoenix metro area. The atmosphere we want to create here is one that is inclusive, collaborative, team-focused and promotes open communication. Essentially, work hard and play hard,” explains Kavita.
In addition to focusing on engineering for AI(Artificial Intelligence), machine learning and perception, the office will leverage CNH Industrial’s existing R&D facility in Casa Grande and the grounds in Maricopa for winter testing, creating an important connection between digital, iron and experiential learning. Furthermore, as the center develops, it will also become a hub for data science, an important area for driving a Customer First approach.
“I’ve worked in data across a variety of industries, from FinTech to consumer brands, and though the applications of data may differ, the focus is the same: extracting insights from data to improve and influence the customer experience,” she notes.
In attracting talent, this view is key to building a robust team of tech-savvy individuals who are able to transfer their skills to a new industry. As Kavita summarizes it: “Generally, the new tech employees we talk with don’t know much, if anything, about agriculture. But when we talk to them about focus on autonomy in agriculture, it’s just the most exciting thing to them.”
Generally, the new tech employees we talk with don't know much, if anything, about agriculture. But when we talk to them about autonomy in agriculture, it's just the most exciting thing to them.
Kavita Vir, Director of Technology
BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY
We want this group to be a resource for professionals within CNH Industrial to reach out to support and mentor one another
Valerie Breneman, Senior Analyst
It’s important to understand that LGBTQIA+ individuals exist as both employees and customers in the AG and CE industries, too
Chrissy Puga, User Experience and User Interface Designer
In June, several of our colleagues in North America launched the first Employee Resource Group dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community. “PRIDE” stands for Professionals Respecting Individual's Diversity and Equality and its goal is to foster community and networking among the organization and CNH Industrial’s LGBTQIA+ employees, a group which includes differing sexual orientations and gender identities, along with allies.
Valerie Breneman, Senior Analyst (Production, Planning and Control – Shared Services) and a PRIDE member, notes, “Over the past year, our group has grown together slowly, because we wanted to do it right. We use the word ‘professional’ in our name because beyond being a safe space for LGBTQIA+ people, we want this group to be a resource for professionals within CNH Industrial to reach out to support and mentor one another.”
Both within the workplace and outside the company, Employee Resource Groups like PRIDE have a key role to play in catalyzing more inclusive thinking, to the benefit of both our colleagues and our business.
“It’s important to understand that LGBTQIA+ individuals exist as both employees and customers in the AG and CE industries, too,” explains Chrissy Puga, User Experience and User Interface Designer, also a member of PRIDE. “As a community we seek acceptance and freedom. For me, that means being out and proud within my workplace and creating spaces for others to feel the same.”
At the end of the day, notes Valerie, “When we come to work, we are also building our working community to help the company grow.”
“We want everyone to know that at CNH Industrial you can simply be who you are,” concludes Chrissy.
To contact the PRIDE ERG, email pride@cnhind.com.
