Ball Corporation: Driving Success By Empowering Diversity & Inclusion
Iconic Brand of the Year 2024
Ball Corporation knows its HR priorities – a relentless pursuit of leadership development and human resource excellence, striving for HR process standardization and optimization, and delivering consistent employee experience across borders.
To cover all this and more we sat down for a virtual interview with our Senior Director, Mahi Banerjee, Business Partner to the President of the region. Originally from India and currently based in the UK, Mahi leads HR for the Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and Asia region. Mahi is also a member of our global human resources leadership team in Ball.
The Corporate Profile
Since its founding in 1880, Ball Corporate has been on a remarkable journey to supply innovative, sustainable aluminum packaging solutions for beverages, personal care, and household products. The company currently employs more than 21,500 people worldwide.
At Ball, there is a deeply ingrained belief in progressing toward a more circular future by harnessing the infinite potential of aluminum. The principles that the five Ball brothers founded the company on more than 142 years ago continue to be proudly upheld by thousands of employees today.
Revolutionizing the HR process
Under the leadership of our global and regional HR team, numerous HR initiatives have been implemented to ensure a strong commitment to talent development, process optimization, and embracing technological advancements. These initiatives are aimed at propelling the company forward in a dynamic and competitive landscape.
Examples include the implementation of Graduate programs to nurture fresh talent and cultivate a pipeline of skilled professionals. Succession and talent reviews across all functions and regions have provided valuable insights into the diverse potential within the company, enabling Ball to better support and develop career paths for employees.
Moreover, the expansion of operations with the establishment of two new plants in Kettering, UK, and Pilsen, Czech Republic, has led to a large-scale recruitment drive.
Focus on Diversity & Inclusion
Ball has set a global target to achieve 50% gender diversity at the director level and above and 30% gender diversity at the shop floor level by 2030. This commitment extends to all plants in the EMEA region, spanning from Sweden to Myanmar. The company’s reach across diverse geographies and markets means it must take a tailored approach to its gender diversity initiatives.
For example, strategies in Denmark differ from those in Saudi Arabia due to the unique cultural nuances and challenges present in each location. These initiatives have a great emphasis on cultural diversity and help advance Ball’s goal for its workforce and leadership to reflect the communities where it does business.
Combating the challenges
A major challenge in the manufacturing industry is high turnover rates within the workforce, which is observed across markets globally. Ball Corporation acknowledges this as a prevalent trend affecting companies worldwide and is therefore increasing its focus on employee engagement initiatives. Ball surveys its employees to identify areas for improvement and to better understand their needs; exit interviews are conducted and reasons are tracked in order to implement proactive measures to address them where appropriate.
Ball Corporation aims to be a place where employees can have long and satisfying careers. Emphasis is placed on succession planning and creating development plans to empower and promote internal candidates before undertaking external searches. Mahi explains that special scholarships are offered to employees’ children, and employee recognition programs are in place to celebrate successes.
Staying abreast of HR trends
To stay up to date on the latest developments in the HR field, Mahi says she attends various networking events, HR conferences and seminars where insights from industry experts are shared and emerging trends are discussed.
Online resources such as industry publications, blogs, and professional networking platforms also provide a good source of information on current practices and innovations. She has just been nominated to participate in a learning event organised by Ball in collaboration with Harvard at their Boston campus.
Mahi highlights Ball’s unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives, particularly in actively recruiting women for manufacturing roles and engaging in local programs that promote women in engineering and manufacturing. The company’s ethos revolves around being an equal opportunity employer with inclusion at its core, ensuring every individual feels welcome and valued.
Notably, significant strides have been made in attracting more women to manufacturing positions, challenging stereotypes, and fostering awareness through events like International Women in Engineering Day.
To drive these efforts, Mahi points out the establishment of a regional D&I Committee and local D&I Councils at Ball, facilitating a collaborative approach to address challenges and implement strategies at the grassroot level. Emphasizing open dialogue and constructive feedback, Mahi personally fosters a conscious culture of inclusivity and collaboration across all facets of the organization, from daily HR operations to talent review initiatives.
What gives Ball Corporation an edge in the market?
Sustainability is Ball’s core strength and key focus. The company’s unique selling proposition lies in its purposedriven approach, specifically in advancing sustainability through the delivery of scalable, low-carbon aluminum packaging solutions for its customers.
In 2023, Ball released its Climate Transition Plan, the company’s comprehensive science-based decarbonization plan focusing on achieving critical emissions reductions by 2030. Circularity is an integral part of Ball’s business and it enables the company to deliver value for shareholders while directly addressing customers’ ambitious circularity and climate goals.
Following the sale of its aerospace business, Ball is now a focused aluminum packaging sustainability leader with a product portfolio spanning packaging for beverages, personal care, and household products, further reinforcing the company’s commitment to innovative and sustainable packaging solutions.
Insights on success
Mahi believes that success is not an individual accomplishment but rather a collaborative journey. She adds that success is about acknowledging those who have supported and inspired you along the way. And though success takes on a different meaning for each person, it is closely linked with the people who have shared both your triumphs and challenges.
She views success as a collective celebration, where the joy of achievement is enhanced by the presence of those who have been there through thick and thin. This includes mentors who provided guidance, friends who offered encouragement, and family members who provided unwavering support.
Mahi’s closing remarks
This is for the ones out there thinking of giving up,
“Believe in the power of your dreams and the strength within you to achieve them. Every step forward, no matter how small, is progress towards your goals. Embrace each new day as an opportunity to grow, learn, and succeed. Your journey is unique, and every challenge you overcome brings you closer to your dreams. Keep pushing forward with unwavering determination, knowing that you have it in you”.
