Championing Change at MDLZ Granville Plant through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Friday, January 24, 2025

Tell us about yourself.

I am François, and I joined Mondelēz International in the Granville plant three years ago as a People Experience Advisor Trainee.

This experience allowed me to develop my HR skills. Over the years, my role has evolved, and now I am a Talent Acquisition Advisor for the France business unit. I am proud to be an ambassador of the company and help attract the right talent to support our business growth. My career at MDLZ has enabled me to actively contribute to developing our sector and promoting our industrial activities.

What made you an advocate of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I)?

DE&I is a subject that deeply touches me because I know how important it is to feel respected and accepted for who you are. Here, I'm lucky to be openly homosexual and proud of it, but that's not the case everywhere. Many people can still not live out their authentic selves in the workplace.

As an advocate, we need to create a space where everyone can feel free and where their ideas and identity are valued. When people feel accepted for who they are, they can develop fully in their role, contribute their unique talents, and play an active part in the company's success. By allowing everyone to be their true selves without fear of rejection or discrimination, we unlock the potential that benefits our people and our organization.

How do you promote DE&I at Mondelēz International?

At MDLZ, DE&I is at the heart of our values. I am committed to promoting an inclusive environment through specific initiatives and targeted communications. These actions aim to raise awareness and encourage a culture of diversity where every voice is heard and respected. This includes awareness programs, training, and events that highlight the importance of DE&I and promote a climate where employees can grow and engage fully, regardless of their origin, gender, or background. We are also working on initiatives to attract talent from diverse perspectives and ensure equal opportunities in our recruitment processes.

I am also working on hiring managers’ awareness of DE&I by understanding their challenges. This helps us to integrate these principles into their approach to talent management. This includes implementing good practices to avoid unconscious bias in recruitment, achieving parity, and ensuring that our selection processes are inclusive and fair for all candidates.

We learned that you are a Handicapped Referent at Mondelēz International. What does it mean?

Being a Handicapped Referent at MDLZ's Granville plant plays a key role in supporting the inclusion of people with disabilities in our organization. This includes providing the necessary support for them and adapting HR processes. I also work to integrate handicaps into our practices, ensuring that MDLZ is a place where everyone, regardless of their situation, can contribute to the collective success.

Outside the plant, my role as a Handicapped Referent makes me an ambassador for inclusion. I work with external partners, such as associations, to support the professional insertion of people with disabilities. I always aim to ensure that disability is not viewed as a barrier but as an asset, contributing to the company's diversity, inclusion, and business success.

How do you keep yourself up to date to further support this cause?

To continue to support the cause of diversity, inclusion, and handicap, I make sure I stay informed by following several sources and practices. I regularly consult specialized publications and reports from organizations such as AGEFIPH and ADAPT to keep current with trends and best practices in these areas. I also keep a close eye on the latest legislation relating to persons with disabilities to ensure that our internal practices are in line with legal requirements. Finally, I regularly gather feedback from employees, particularly people with disabilities, to adjust our actions and identify new areas for improvement. These steps enable me to be a committed player and effectively support this cause.