From climate change to cyber security to employee diversity, corporate responsibility (CR) and sustainability touches every aspect of Symantec’s business. We’ve defined our strategy and are continually working towards our goals to operate as a responsible global citizen. In addition to our dedicated global corporate responsibility team, every day Symantec employees across the world are helping us deliver on this, creating value for both our business and our stakeholders.
We are happy to introduce an ongoing feature of the CR in Action blog – the Sustainability Spotlight - that will profile employees and their contribution to Symantec’s CR and sustainability efforts. Some are members of our CR team, others contribute through our Green Teams or volunteering, some have seen an opportunity and developed programs in their function or region -- all are making a difference.
Today we hear from Claire Scull, Project Manager EMEA Corporate Communications.
What is your role at Symantec and what areas related to corporate responsibility (CR) does your job touch on?
I’ve been at Symantec for six years this August, and have always been actively engaged with CR and local charity activities inside and outside of my professional world -- which increasingly seem to merge into one.
My role at Symantec is within the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Public Relations team, based in the UK, responsible for the day to day operations, planning & reporting of the team, and managing our EMEA agency team. Sitting at an EMEA level I have a good insight as to what happens across our EMEA region, and what local teams are working on specifically around CR.
I am also the UK charity committee PR lead, and sit on the EMEA CR team, as well as contributing to global CR projects. A lot of my involvement in these activities is driven through my own personal passion, however being in the communications team I do get to see and hear all of the other good stuff we do as a company, and get to have input into what and how we do it.
Can you highlight a specific project you have worked on or are currently involved in? Were these part of your traditional role, an initiative that you developed, or part of a larger program/initiative at Symantec?
I am actively involved in an annual Action for Children event, ‘Byte Night.’ Action for Children supports and speaks out for the UK's most vulnerable and neglected children and young people, for as long as it takes to make a difference in their lives. ‘Byte Night’ is the IT industry’s annual sleep out to raise funds and awareness for the charity and the great work they do.
I first became involved with Byte Night three years ago, when a colleague asked me to join in as they were a team member short a few days before the big event. Since then I have become more actively engaged and now sit on the Thames Valley Board helping to get the event up and running each year, supporting fundraising efforts across the Thames Valley, and bringing support, encouragement and motivation inside Symantec to help us with our Symantec team fundraising.
This year we have a FANTASTIC team of sleepers and supporters: Heena Lad, Steve Edwards, Lisa Sellers, Paul Barrick, Sian John, Jennifer Ellis, Lynn Gardner, Lisa Hall, Adam Petherick, Carl Ogden, Elliot Fonte, Jennifer Sawyer, Penny Rose, Hayley Brant, Michelle Brown, Natalie Kini, Nick Shaw, Catherine Lay, Wayne Hunt, Tara Knee, Pamela Kernott, Matt Ellard, and Simon Moor. It is the team that really makes the event happen!
I am also involved with another charity, which I have been fortunate to engage with through a Symantec introduction, TeenTech. I am now the voluntary editor for their newsletter which goes to all of their supporters, sponsors, teachers and schools involved with the charity.
Are you involved in any volunteer efforts at Symantec, such as Green Teams or community volunteer events?
I have also volunteered my time to contribute to the Green Team as I see it very closely related to the charity activities we often undertake, and I can leverage my role in the communications team both ways to provide input and support for the activities we undertake.
Do you see opportunities for others in your area/function to contribute in a similar way?
Employees may already be engaged in various activities and not fully realize the support Symantec can offer them and those they are helping. I would encourage anyone across Symantec to become involved with their local, regional or global CR activities across the charity, green, diversity and or Symantec Women's Action Network committees. If you have a passion, why not channel it and maximize it through all that Symantec has to offer in support of you, your passions and ultimately those it will benefit outside of the company!
CR is an important area for Symantec and its employees to put focus to. I strongly believe that we as individuals, families, communities and businesses all exist alongside each other, and we should all contribute back as much as we take out. Therefore as a global company it is Symantec’s duty to act responsibly in the communities within which it sits and operates, and provide support, development and encouragement to those within that community.