by Abby Tripp Heverin
Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation (AFCC) is the winner of the 2017 ICF International Prism Award, with EY (formerly Ernst & Young) this year’s honorable mention.
The ICF International Prism Award programme “honours organizations that have achieved the highest standard of excellence in coaching programs that yield discernible and measurable positive impacts, fulfill rigorous professional standards, address key strategic goals, and shape organizational culture”.
Coaching is embedded in every aspect of the culture at AFCC, which was nominated by its head of HR, Glenn St. Onge, PCC. Located in British Columbia, Canada, AFCC is a joint venture of Daimler AG and Ford Motor Company, developing fuel cell modules for automotive applications.
All employees, co-op students and contractors are eligible to participate in coaching, and all new hires are assigned coaches as part of their onboarding process. AFCC credits coaching for its 161% improvement in leadership culture from 2014 to 2017.
Headquartered in London, UK, EY has built a robust coaching culture across its global enterprise, and coaching at EY is recognised as the key talent differentiator internally and in the marketplace. By making coaching part of the fabric of the organisation, leaders are supported during defining moments in their lives, such as taking an overseas assignment or becoming a parent, to make their leadership experience exceptional and accelerate their impact and capabilities. EY was nominated by executive coach
Tricia Christian, ACC.
Additional finalists were:
- The Ann and John Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University
- China HP Inc., Dalian site
- St. Michaels University School, British Columbia
All five organisations participated in a long table discussion at ICF Converge in Washington, D.C., and each was recognised for its strong coaching culture during the Prism Award ceremony later that evening.