Political scientist Juliane Troicki spent much of her career in academia researching how political parties in the United States, Germany and Poland successfully engage with their voter bases.
The native of Germany is now applying her findings to the corporate world to help employers crack the ever‑elusive code of talent attraction and retention through engagement.
It all comes down to recognition and appreciation, Troicki says.
“People want to know not just that they matter, but that their work is seen and their work has an impact,” she says.
Unengaged business teams are a costly problem, and not just for the companies in which they work — a recent Gallup study estimates that low engagement costs the global economy $8.9 trillion, or 9% of global GDP.
Troicki founded the Illuminating Project in 2019 as a community initiative showcasing 30 women from the Fond du Lac area. Since then it has evolved into a business focus, helping companies and organizations of all sizes create custom employee engagement opportunities through writing and photography. Projects can be tailored to celebrate employees of all kinds, from superstar performers and unsung heroes to up-and-coming next generation leaders.
“This is a way for a company to say, ‘We see you, we appreciate you, thank you for all you do,” Troicki says. “By shining a light on them, we are showing the connection between [employees] and their work and how that’s connected to the company. Companies need to tap into that.”
After participating in the Illuminating Project, 71% of surveyed participants said they felt more appreciated and valued and were more likely to stay in their current jobs. Ninety-four percent of participants would “definitely recommend” working at their company.
At Johnsonville, where employees are referred to as “members,” Chief People Officer Alex Castillo says recognition initiatives are essential to the company’s overarching engagement strategy.
This spring, Johnsonville participated in the Illuminating Project, which honored 34 women nominated and selected by their peers from across the international business. A gallery reception, held at Johnsonville’s global headquarters in Sheboygan Falls, featured profiles of the women written by Troicki as well their portraits photographed by Laura Schneider of Studio L Photography.
“Recognition is pivotal to engagement. Programs like these, as it relates to recognition and engagement, also help signal to talent outside our four walls that this is a place that values their employee base and invests in their employees,” Castillo says. “As an HR person, that’s how I want talent outside of Johnsonville to be thinking as they consider opportunities to come work for us.”
Companies that have participated in the Illuminating Project often report a greater sense of camaraderie and understanding, as team members learned more about each other’s lives and backgrounds through the process.
“It will be great collaborating with our colleagues after they were featured by the Illuminating Project. Now we know so much more about them and see their achievements. We will feel more connected and work together in a more meaningful way,” says Tim Schneider, executive vice president at J.F. Ahern Co., another Illuminating Project participant.
Johnsonville was recently named as the first recipient of the Illuminating Award for Excellence in Employee Appreciation, which recognizes companies for creating a strong culture focused on employee development and well-being.
Castillo says culture development has long been a priority at Johnsonville, and he sees the Illuminating Project as part of its ongoing engagement and inclusion initiatives.
“There’s conversations underway right now of how we celebrate, for example, Hispanic Heritage Month. We have many members across Wisconsin who are of Hispanic heritage, and we’re giving thought to how we elevate [them] during that timeframe,” Castillo says. “[The Illuminating Project] was a worthwhile exercise and one that I’m excited to have serve as a launching point for other strategies.”
