A dsm-firmenich employee story, as told in conversation with Luciana Romay, Director Organizational Development and Culture Lead, HR
Luciana Romay has been an integral part of the dsm-firmenich family for seven years. She introduced the Kudos Awards in May 2024 to help recognize some of the incredible work that our colleagues are doing. Here, in her own words, she explains why they are so special.
So, Luciana why were the Awards created?
My idea for the Kudos Awards was to recognize employees who deliver results and embody our values. We wanted to inspire everyone to strive for excellence and make a positive impact within their roles and beyond.
When an employee consistently demonstrates a company value, a peer, direct manager, or other colleague can recognize their efforts by initiating a Kudos nomination process. Once submitted, the employee, the line manager and the HR Business Partner receive an email. Successful nominees receive a monetary reward along with a message of congratulation encouraging them to continue being a Culture Ambassador and to enjoy the reward.
The whole point of these awards was to be about people. Peer-to-peer. Person to person. I wanted to create a way for the employees who work alongside us every day to be recognized not only for their hard work, but their spirit, and their commitment to our company values.
Can you tell us a little about the recipients?
In our first three months, we participated in over 50 countries, received nominations from every function and Business Unit, and saw 7% of people recognized for championing one or more of our values. We were happy to see rapid adoption and the spirit of inclusive recognition.
I work in a very male-dominated field, so being recognized by superiors and co-workers makes me extremely proud. The Kudos Award I got was for ‘being a force for good’ and gave me an incredible boost.
What are the benefits to our organization?
The program helps foster a sense of unity and boosts appreciation by celebrating employees who contribute to our success. At the same time, it reinforces our values.
Can you give us some examples?
We recently gave a Kudos Award for contributions to a taskforce that aimed to define new ways of working within our Digital & Tech organization after the merger. This helped ensure higher-quality new digital solutions were implemented more rapidly to the benefit of customers and colleagues alike. Another Kudos Award was given to honor the care and attention one colleague gave to others to help them achieve better results.
It’s nice to receive a Kudos Award, but it’s even more special to give one. To see the smiles of my colleagues receiving the award is heartwarming.