For many of us, January is a time of self-reflection, new beginnings, and a renewed focus on personal growth. January is also National Mentoring Month, a time to think about how we can look outward to help others develop their potential and foster our communities to flourish. As a third-generation Family Enterprise, GOJO is committed to strengthening its local community through continued collaboration and cooperation. Our co-founders, Jerry and Goldie Lippman, instilled this vision when they founded GOJO – with a mission to find a better hand-cleaning solution to promote the well-being of factory workers in their hometown of Akron, Ohio.
More than 77 years later, this mission remains entrenched in our DNA, and we continue Jerry and Goldie’s heritage by actively supporting the health and well-being of our communities. Making trusted products that help reduce illness-causing germs is only part of our positive impact on people’s lives every day. In my role as GOJO’s hygiene scientist supporting schools, I spend a lot of my time interacting with K-12 schools and their inhabitants – conducting research and communicating the importance of hand and surface hygiene and how to choose products that are both safe to use and scientifically proven to help to keep germs at bay.
While this work is deeply fulfilling, as individuals, one of the most impactful roles we play is as teachers, coaches, and mentors to others. As professionals in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Medicine (STEM) fields, this means helping to train and develop the next generation of STEM talent, opening their eyes to opportunities, inspiring them to explore and broaden their curiosity and intellect, and helping to pave future paths forward. A study conducted in 2020 revealed that the mentorship of STEM students played a strong role in the formation of scientific identity.1 So, there is both a growing need for mentorship and potential for impact due to the wide variety of jobs that require significant STEM knowledge and expertise – in 2019, STEM professionals represented 23% of the total U.S. workforce2 – and an expectation that employment in many STEM occupations will continue to grow.
Over the past several years, GOJO’s Research and Development (R&D) team has cultivated a relationship with Akron Public Schools’ College & Career Academies. According to Dina Popa, Principal/Instructional Leader at NIHF STEM High School, “GOJO has been an embedded partner at NIHF STEM High School for many years. Their support and integration into the classroom encourages learners to use the design process and innovate new ideas. They also give our learners exposure to the many career pathways available in the fields of biotechnology and engineering. We are thankful to have them as our partner.”
Here are a few examples of our outreach efforts:
- Providing exposure to the wide variety of careers available in the hygiene products industry.
- Providing access to experts and “tech talks” in areas of interest – such as our 3D printing technology and capabilities.
- Mentoring and fostering STEM talent through participation in school activities and competitions.
- Providing real-life, hands-on experience in the school setting – or in our research laboratory.
- Helping to promote job opportunities or placements for students, apprentices, or new graduates.
Brandi Lash, one of GOJO’s microbiologists, has been particularly active with Akron’s NIHF Stem High School in recent years. “Working with the next generation of scientists has always been a passion of mine. Every time we interact with these kids, I’m amazed by their curiosity, creativity, and intellect. It’s such a fun and fulfilling experience! I always leave with a fresh perspective and renewed energy for the importance of the work that we do at GOJO.”
Ben Franta, a technician in GOJO’s Product Engineering and Commercialization team, said: “I think it’s great that GOJO is supporting the Akron STEM program. Not every high school kid knows exactly what they want to do for a career. I believe a valuable program like this helps clear up a lot of that stress. It may be easy to imagine what a career might be like, but you really don’t know until you live it or at least speak to someone who is living it. That’s what I felt this program gave me the opportunity to do for these kids!“
While GOJO researchers, STEM students, and schools certainly get a lot out of the collaboration – the benefits to society are potentially even larger. Continued investment in STEM education via outreach programs like ours will likely pay immeasurable dividends in areas that align with GOJO values, such as advancement in medicine and technology, protecting the environment, and continued improvements to public health.
These are only some of the ways GOJO researchers and the PURELL® brand are partnering with our local community to support our nation’s K-12 schools and help to develop the next generation of STEM professionals. How do you mentor? Help inspire others by sharing your stories on LinkedIn this #NationalMentoringMonth!