b'SME BUSINESS SUCCESSFrom a purely bottom-line standpoint,8 HIRE FORWARD- Pestun cites a recent survey that found 77THINKING EMPLOYEESper cent of consumers prefer to purchaseWhile skill set is paramount when from companies committed to improvinghiring new employees, the the world. The reality is that there isfuture-proofing soft skill that expectation that every businessis harder to find but today be a socially conscious or sociallygold when it happens: responsible business. avisionarymindset. 7 TER INNOVATIONVisionaries will bring freshFOS ideas into the conversation, THROUGH DIVERSITY helping your business to stay Promoting diversity and inclusion, whereahead of the curve by driving you respect and value the differenceschange and adapting to new tech-and similarities of your employees,nologies and market shifts, propelling customers, partners and communities isthe business into new territories and critical. Internally, diversity and inclusionopportunities, and ultimately ensuring help to enhance creativity, innovation,that it remains competitive and relevant,trends and movements problem-solving and decision-making.even amid the unknown changes ahead. not only in our specific industry, but in other fields, in our Having a diverse team naturally helps aForDelorme,therecanbetwoculture and society, and in the world business be innovative because youreapproaches. One is to hire people whooverall. This helps us to not only prepare inherently considering different view- are forward-thinking and will be the onesfor upcoming trends but positions us points, emphasizes Desrosiers. Youto lead the organization into the futureas leaders in areas that are especially inherently have a diverse ecosystem ofthat has been envisioned. The othermeaningful to us.people, of lived experiences, of knowl- approach has innovation or a forward-edge, of genius and creativity that youthinking mindset coming from leader- 9 INVEST IN EMPLOYEEcan tap into.ship. In that case, he says, you need toDEVELOPMENTensure that youre hiring individuals thatAND RETENTIONDiversity and inclusion are important inare open to implementing that forwardSmart entrepreneurs know that their terms of simple equity, but there is noapproach. If you dont have one or thepeople are their most valuable asset. doubt that it can enhance and future- other, you will have an organizationProviding opportunities for professional proof the business on many more levels.that is really creating its own barriers togrowth through training programs, skill-Notes Desrosiers, Always keeping anmoving forward. building workshops, or career develop-eye towards new ideas and new perspec- ment plans benefits both employee and tives and different perspectives is the wayWe hire people who are looking ahead,employer by creating a team equipped to naturally innovate and have innovationadds Desrosiers, and were curiousto handle the opportuni-be a part of your workplace values and aabout whats coming up next. Its impor- ties and challenges part of how you inherently do business.tant for us to be tapped into shifts,of the future.We are committed to conducting our business and protecting our environment, for generations to come.www.bwxt.com106A CCAB PUBLICATIONSpring 2024'