By Cheechee Lin
Diane Solinger, Google’s employee social responsibility manager, joined Anderson’s Net Impact group on November 13 to discuss corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Solinger is a seasoned, successful professional, with extensive leadership experience in nonprofits. Prior to joining Google, she worked for the American Cancer Society, the University of Colorado’s College Foundation, the American Heart Association and the Entrepreneurs Foundation.
Solinger highlights the similarities between CSR at a large corporation like Google and at small enterprises. “It’s all about the people,” she says. “Even at Google, where it is chaotic, innovative, fast, and opportunistic, employee engagement is essential, just as in startups. It’s a lot about the culture of sensitivity and caring as well: the people who selflessly give back are the people I would like to be around.”
But people who work full-time-plus might find less and less time to devote to the causes they’re committed to, despite their volunteer spirit. And not everyone’s in a position to write large checks to their favorite charities. Google actively helps Googlers engage in volunteering, incentivizing acts that benefit the community by matching employees’ fundraising efforts and giving them time off. As an example, Solinger described a successful social venture initiated by a Googler who’s also an army veteran: The staffer developed a translation project for military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan, raising more than $70,000 — which was matched dollar for dollar by Google.
Solinger aims to eventually have 100% of Googlers engaged in meaningful projects that they are passionate about. “It’s not about prescribing what people do, but helping them realize that their skills can make a difference,” Solinger states. “There are limited resources in any sector, but I think what’s really great about Google is that we have the space and time to be creative and think. We have more breathing room and more opportunities to innovate.”
Net Impact is a group of students dedicated to applying their business skills in positive ways. The UCLA Anderson chapter of the national Net Impact organization aims to build a network of leaders committed to using the power of business to make a positive net social, environmental and economic impact. For more information about NI events at Anderson, please visit the chapter’s Web page.
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