At Levi Strauss & Co., it’s not enough to simply tell employees that what we’re doing matters. We also invest in employees doing their part for the communities where we live and work by giving them a chance to see how our business is positively impacting the lives of those who are making our apparel at our facilities around the world.
Every year, a select group of employees are chosen for our Levi Strauss & Co. Service Corps, where they are given a chance to witness first-hand the innovative programs that emphasize our profits-through-principles approach to business. This week, ambassadors are in Vietnam for the week-long immersion program.
We asked a few of the participants to share why they love working at LS&Co. and what our “profits through principles” approach means to them.
What does profits through principles mean to you?
“It means doing the right thing. Doing business in an ethical way. Ensuring the people who make our clothes are treated fairly, sourcing in a responsible manner and investing in innovative ways to make our products more sustainably. Once we’ve made our money in a principled way, we reinvest it back into our communities.”
– Karen Leslie, Director of Brand Licensing, San Francisco
“Profits through Principles means bringing empathy, integrity, courage and passion to work each day. It means that we should never choose what’s easy over choosing what is right; it is the actions we take and journey we choose to get there. We have a responsibility to lead this way and that responsibility is a privilege.”
– Kristen Tupa, Southeast District Manager, Atlanta
What inspires you about working at LS&Co.?
“LS&Co inspires me to be a better version of myself. In today’s world, with issues ranging from rapid climate change to crippling poverty, LS&Co.’s efforts not to be a bystander, but to take charge and work for the change, galvanizes the activist within me.”
– Raghu Chemala Venkata, Director of IT Global Wholesale, San Francisco
“I admire how LS&Co. is supportive of gay rights and equality for everyone. It was such a great experience walking together in San Francisco Pride last year with LS&Co., my older gay brother and one of my daughters. I cannot be prouder to work for such a great, progressive company.”
– Mary Kirkeby, Merchandise Coordinator, Minneapolis
“After more than nine years with the company, the possibilities for personal growth still amazes me over and over again! Being a ‘blue-collar worker’ on the shop floor, I still feel the recognition of being an important part of the company and key to its continuous progress and excellence.”
– Anny Nyman, Retail Store Manager, Stockholm
“Giving back is at the heart of what we do, and we are actively encouraged to volunteer for the causes and charities that mean a lot to us. We see this demonstrated from the top of our business right through to the grass roots, like at Community Day, Pride Festivals and the Levi’s Music Project in the UK.”
– Nimi Taylor, Haus Manager, London
“As an HR professional, I could not be prouder of working in a company where people are put at the center of our actions. We are such a diverse team; there is space for everyone, and we learn from each other every day.”
– Celia Baverel, Senior HR Generalist, Brussels
