Mia Mends, CEO Of Impact Ventures, Sodexo | The Future Of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Mia Mends is the Global Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, and CEO, Impact Ventures, for Sodexo. She is responsible for leveraging Diversity, Equity & Inclusion as a key business differentiator worldwide for Sodexo. She also oversees Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Stop Hunger for Sodexo North America, and leads SodexoMAGIC, a joint venture between Sodexo and Magic Johnson Enterprises. Ms. Mends is a member of the Sodexo Global Human Resources Leadership Team and the North America Regional Leadership Committee. Sodexo is the global leader in Quality of Life services. Operating in 64 countries, Sodexo’s 420,000 employees serve 100 million consumers each day through On-site Services, Benefits, and Rewards Services, and Personal and Home Services. Sodexo is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion and safety while upholding the highest standards of corporate responsibility and ethical business conduct.Ms. Mends mentors passionately—both formally and informally. She has founded her own non-profit, Seven Sisters to Sisters, and serves on the boards of Girls Inc., the EMERGE Fellows program, Catalyst, and the Greater Houston Partnership. She also sits on the Business Leadership Council at Wellesley College and the Harvard Business School African American Alumni Board. She is a corporate director for H&R Block and Limeade. Ms. Mends was recognized in BLACK ENTERPRISE'S 2019 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America feature.

➡️ Talking Points

00:00 — Intro

01:02 — Mia Mend’s Origin Story.

06:05 — Why Did Mia’s Parents Decide To Move To The USA?

10:11 — Where Mia Started Her Career?

14:10 — People Who Helped Her To Grow Her Career

17:07 — How Mia Grew Into The Person She Is Today?

22:09 — Do People Have a Problem Saying Yes?

25:30 — How To Find Your Proper Position In Life?

27:30 — Specialist vs. Generalist

31:21 — Helping Is The Key To Success

35:20 — Post-Covid Life

41:04 — How To Move Your Organization To The Next Level?

45:35 — Why You’re Having Trouble Focusing

48:25 — On EcoSystems

54:35 — Where Do People Connect With Mia?

55:21 — The Biggest Challenge Of Mia’s Career And How She Overcame It

56:53 — Who Is Mia’s Mentor?

57:24 — One Thing To Tell Your 20-Year-Self

57:55 — A Book Or A Podcast Recommendation

59:30 — What Does Success Mean To Mia Mends?