Ryan C. is all about inspiring positive change, whether it be in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community, his job at Kimberly-Clark, or the world at large.
He’s enthused that Kimberly-Clark embraces his vision.
“You can create your own destiny and get involved from the get-go at Kimberly-Clark, and you will have help and support,” he says. “There is a welcome openness.”
Ryan, who serves as business development manager for Kimberly-Clark's Amazon Family Care business and chair of the LGBTQ+ Kimberly-Clark PRIDE employee resource group (ERG), makes it a point to approach challenges in different ways and to encourage others to do the same.
"I’m passionate about thinking differently,” he says. “Seeing it pay off in the form of progress and positive change is the realization of the ultimate purpose.”
Working on Amazon's Family Care business, Ryan and the team have pioneered a successful, creative landing page for Kimberly-Clark products to reimagine the shopping experience on Amazon. On the ERG front, he is leading the team on workstreams from recruiting LGBTQ+ talent to ensuring the company retains its perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), which conducts the nation's leading annual survey measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality.
With the help of the ERG that Ryan leads, Kimberly-Clark has earned a score of 100 on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index in 2022.
“The ERGs demonstrate the opportunity for empowerment at Kimberly-Clark,” he notes. “You have an opportunity to help influence different policies and practices.”
Kimberly-Clark sponsors 10 different volunteer ERGs, African Ancestry Employee Network (AAEN), Women's Interactive Network (WIN), Capabilities First and more, that celebrate diversity and foster understanding of different perspectives, and all support employees’ professional development.
“The ERGs are strategic groups that facilitate organizational progress,” Ryan explains. “We are trying to be business partners and copilots to drive positive change at Kimberly-Clark for LGBTQ+ employees and engage authentically a consumer base.”
His goals for the group are to have the company participate in recruitment events for LGBTQ+ talent, advocating for LGBTQ+ representation in marketing campaigns and to collaborate with other ERGs to unlock the conversation on intersectionality, really allowing for employees to show up as their authentic selves.
“LGBTQ+ members are also Black, Asian, Latin American, parents, caregivers, military veterans, etc., so there is an immense amount of intersectionality with other ERGs, and we love having the opportunity to collaborate with them on strategic programs,” he says.
Ryan joined Kimberly-Clark three years ago because he was attracted by its caring value. It can sound cheesy, he admits, but he has experienced firsthand that “We Care” is much more than a corporate catchphrase.
Creating Better Care for a Better World, starts with Kimberly-Clark's team. “I have seen it come to life in everyday interactions,” he observes. “If I need help, I can find it in any department because there is a willingness to assist and a feeling that we are on the same team. I haven’t seen any ego from anyone here, and I’m not just saying that. I think that is unique.”