The thrill of discovering #PlacesthatMatter
To the world, Whirlpool is a large manufacturing corporation with a global presence. Our products are designed, manufactured, distributed and sold throughout the globe. In the Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) region alone, we are present in 8 countries with 15 industrial sites. But to us, we like to consider ourselves a collection of places that matter.
“What is essential is invisible to the eye” used to write the popular journalist and pioneering aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupery. At Whirlpool, we consider the places where we are present not only workplaces, but an expression of the local communities, where life projects are built and where the stories of those who work every day with passion and dedication unfold. These places are a living and growing element that ultimately contribute to the development of the company. Inevitably, the lives of these places are intertwined with the broader industrial and social fabrics of our territories through a continuous exchange of experiences, values, heritage and talents.
This particular vision stems from a broader model based on sustainable development and social commitment. This is because at Whirlpool we believe in the importance of creating an open dialogue and strong relationships upon the principles of transparency and reciprocity with all the communities that host us around the world.
In view of celebrating all the places in the EMEA region where our products come to life, I am excited to talk about our new storytelling project called #PlacesthatMatterthat we are launching today on our Whirlpool EMEA Facebook, Instagram, Medium, YouTube and LinkedIn handles. A project that aims to portray our manufacturing facilities in the EMEA region through the eyes and voices of our workers and of the local communities where we operate.
A unique digital tour around Whirlpool’s industrial plants, from Europe to the Middle East to South Africa, will take form from a series of photographs and videos that reveal every moment that counts in the daily lives of our factories by giving value to their unique traits and by collecting the stories of everyone involved.
The series of images, videos and stories that we are eager to share in the coming weeks and months are the result of a unique adventure Vladimir and me embarked on ourselves, together with an amazing team of colleagues and partners all around the region. The team visited all the industrial sites, toured the local communities and got to know so many different and incredible people. Alessandro Imbriaco had the opportunity to portray every inch that matters in our plants, while Laura Leonelli sat down to carefully listen to the most diverse and fascinating stories of a bunch of people who can truly tell the story behind every single brick in town. This is the way we humanize technology and find purpose in what we do. A journey through several countries rich with diverse cultures and personal and professional stories that has deepened my understanding and appreciation of this truly global company.
We all have #PlacesthatMatter to us. Whenever I encounter one of those, I enjoy sending to my family and friends a good old postcard with a few lines to share with them why I felt good there. Sometimes I send postcards to myself as well, to remind me why that place matters to me.
Have you ever done something similar?
Luca Marini, Corporate Reputation Manager, Whirlpool EMEA
