Sustainability Report 2021 46 Manager Development Our required manager development curriculum equips our people for more complex challenges and requirements as they move up the management chain. For example, First-Time Manager development includes facilitated workshops and guided implementations covering both general and company-specific knowledge and skills, including relationship- and team-building strategies, coaching tools, HR systems and processes, and techniques for managing conflict, facilitating decision-making, and influencing up and across the organization. In addition to the enterprise-wide core curriculum, targeted programs support regional and business-specific development needs. In 2021, we continued our successful Manager Capability Forums, conducting multiple virtual sessions that supported managers in implementing key company change initiatives, including our voluntary retirement program and Paid Time Off to Flexible Time Off transition. We also completed our inaugural Manager Team Effectiveness (MTE) pilot program, a four- to six-month program of training, coaching, and practice where managers learn what makes a great team, how to diagnose what their team needs, and how to implement tangible improvements. Executive Leadership Development We apply a powerful, research-based, role- relevant, and globally applicable framework and tool set to serve as the foundation for leadership pipeline assessments, selection, placement, development, and coaching. Executive development plans place priority on situational leadership and inclusive leadership, and key framework metrics include: > Diversity among our leadership team and pipeline of future leaders > Percentage of executive leadership successors with development plans > Percentage of executive leadership roles with more than one ready-now successor Our Applied Leadership Group (ALG) provides our senior leaders (Managing Directors, VPs) with learning and development opportunities around strategic thinking, communication/networking, and tools and techniques to support company scaling and growth. These opportunities expose leaders to key strategic and execution opportunities and challenges and position them to make faster and better business decisions. The ALG meets on a quarterly cadence. Technical Talent Development Applied provides ongoing opportunities for our technical talent to build greater skills and knowledge related to their roles and interest areas, including: > Technical skill training for a given role or area of interest > Product training hosted by the product business units > Deep-dive technical reviews and webinars facilitated by internal and external experts Technical talent may also attend and present at virtual and in-person conferences. Our own Engineering and Technology (ET) Conference, the company’s longest-running tech learning and development event, brings together Applied engineers from our global locations to exchange ideas on processes, equipment, and support services and collaborate to solve high-value problems with differentiated solutions. Held annually, the global ET Conference is preceded by regional conferences across our global geographies. Learn more about our Learning and Development program here . INTRODUCTION PURPOSE PEOPLE Recruiting and Hiring Our Culture of Inclusion Learning and Development Employee Safety and Support During COVID-19 Occupational Health and Safety Human Rights PLANET PROGRESS