Martha Delehanty • Verizon
SVP, Human Resources
September 30, 2011 | 1 comment
BA, Mt. Holyoke College; MBA, University of Texas at Austin
Surround yourself with people who are not like you and accept their feedback.
Book of Daniel in the Bible; Mocking Jay, by Suzanne Collins
Secretary, National Cancer Institute
180 Turning Lives Around
Working at Verizon, I am influenced daily by some remarkable employees who foster teamwork and respect for each other and our stakeholders. Verizon's employees make a difference, whether they're changing communities where they live, work and play or partnering across business units to better serve our customers. Their dedication and commitment are shining examples of who we are as a global company.
So when Verizon implemented a set of guiding principles, what we refer to as our credo, it wasn't difficult for me and our employees to fully embrace these edicts, which define who we are and who we aspire to be: the best company to work for and the best company for our customers. The credo provides clear directions around how work should get done and how we should treat each other. It is one of the tools we use to reinforce our culture every day, reminding us that integrity, customer needs, urgency and teamwork must drive everything we do 24/7.
More importantly, the credo is a template that helps me to manage relationships at work, with my family and my community. I try to apply these principles at work to ensure I am making a positive impact by listening to diverse thoughts and taking time to mentor employees within and outside my team. I've also reinforced the guiding principles with my family, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, integrity, and respect to my children and encouraging them to be the best that they can.
And while I work long hours and try to spend as much time as possible with my family, I realize that as a corporate citizen, I have a duty to my community, as well. So I am humbled to serve on the board of 180 Turning Lives Around, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating domestic violence. National statistics report 960,000 incidents of violence against a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend and reveal that three million women are physically abused per year. 180 Turning Lives Around provides a safe haven and offers resources to individuals to help rebuild their lives.
Any company can put words on a page and call it a credo, mission or values; however, that has limited impact on culture. Here, the credo is much more. Rather than words on the wall, the credo is alive in the halls shaping our future as a company. It's a way for us to transform how we do business, and it energizes us to be change agents not only in the workplace but also in our communities.
One Comment on "Martha Delehanty"
James Smith says:
Martha has been an inspiration to me as well my team and she probably does not know that. She has been a business partner for many years and I have seen her operate in the credo. It is a way of life. She has demonstrated tremendous and fearless leadership skills and is highly respected by many of her peers, by people who work for her and people who just know of her. I know personally of people she has mentored. She is definitely "A Women Worth Watching". I believe their many people who expect great things from Martha.