Belonging. At BMS, it’s a powerful force that allows each of us – no matter our level of experience, age or location – to contribute to our mission. And it’s this very sense of belonging that sparked the creation of CLIMB (Cultivating Leadership and Innovation & Multigenerational Belonging), one of our most dynamic People & Business Resource Groups (PBRGs). Across the globe, CLIMB drives our mission forward by focusing on talent development, connectivity and innovation across all generations within our workforce.
Two members of CLIMB shared recently how this community promotes leadership development, professional and personal growth, and a greater sense of fulfillment. Tom Wells, Senior Director, Procurement, and Maggie Cosgrove, Associate Director, Project Manager, offered their cross-generational insights on how members of CLIMB are making an impact.
Fostering a sense of belonging, passion, and purpose
Maggie describes CLIMB as "intersectional and all-encompassing, providing opportunities for networking and fun," while Tom calls it “approachable, effective, the absolute definition of inclusive, dynamic and friendly.”
Tom believes that the appeal of CLIMB varies from one employee to another. He discussed the positive response he and another colleague received when they wanted to put greater emphasis within BMS on employees with more years in the workforce. “We realized that there were PBRGs for most of the key demographics within BMS, but not for this demographic. When we started trying to build a coalition around the attributes, experiences, and perspectives of older employees, we did not encounter any barriers,” said Tom. “We approached the then-Head of Global Diversity and Inclusion, who was very quick to see the need and the opportunity. To me, this is a very good example of the way that not just CLIMB works, but the way that BMS operates.”
Fueling growth and fulfillment
Building one’s own networks and expanding one’s leadership skills is a key component of CLIMB. And for Maggie, it’s afforded her significant professional growth. “As a CLIMB chapter lead, I was able to direct a team of volunteers who plan different events based on their interests, but also grounded in strategic imperatives and supporting the business goals of BMS,” she shared. “I would not have gotten the opportunity to lead – at any kind of management level this early in my career – without having joined CLIMB. It gives members the ability to increase their managerial skills and forge great connections with people around the world.”
For Tom, the CLIMB “Elevate” learning initiative gives people the opportunity to teach one another about topics of interest. “In my first year at BMS, I sat in on several CLIMB sessions and learned a lot about the company – in a way that was informal, detailed and insightful,” said Tom. The sessions inspired him to present his own CLIMB course. “I got so much from it that I developed an introduction to strategic sourcing and procurement, which I’ve now been presenting for four consecutive years.” He believes that the initiative “gives people the opportunity to share their personal interests, and is also a great way to build skills, gain knowledge of BMS and learn something new.”
CLIMB for today’s modern workforce
For Tom, one of the CLIMB achievements of which he is most proud is the launch of BMS’ first cross-generational, cross-border mutual mentoring program. “Within a company such as BMS – the modern organization of today – there is no automatic correlation between age and seniority and, likewise, between career seniority and career experience,” said Tom. “We wanted to create a program that would reflect that every generation has something to offer and gain from every other generation.”
The program is specifically designed to be title and seniority agnostic. “The one thing we did not ask people when we encouraged them to sign up for this program was their job title, because we want people to share the attitudes, perspectives, experiences and skills that are the outcome of generation and culture, rather than of seniority.” The program launched at the end of August 2024 and has already reached 200 participants, with roughly 100 pairs of co-mentors working together across the world. Maggie’s sentiments echo Tom’s, particularly when it comes to members of Gen Z at BMS. “The internal resources at BMS allow you to navigate your career on your own terms, either through growth platforms, different class offerings, tours of duty or working on projects with another team,” she shared. Maggie went on to note that the ability to navigate and explore other interests inspired her to join BMS. “As a Gen Zer entering the workforce, I have been able – since day one at BMS – to connect with people whose careers have spanned more than 20 years at the company. It gives me a great perspective of everything you can achieve here, and insights into the resources that can help you cultivate your career.”Advancing at BMS through CLIMB
Both Maggie and Tom agree that anyone who is interested in CLIMB should join. In fact, Maggie credits much of her advancement within BMS to skills she gained through CLIMB. “Through PBRGs like CLIMB, I have been able to develop leadership skills that helped me make that leap, and do so with support.”
Returning to the theme of belonging, Tom stressed that CLIMB is open to everybody. “CLIMB welcomes your experience, insights and perspectives just as much as your skills and qualifications,” he said. “It's an organization where you can make your ideas grow.”
