Q&A with Veronica Blankenship, EVP of People, and Emily Arthurs, VP of Marketing

At Talking Rain, we’re big on community. Whether it’s celebrating with our consumers, investing in our teams, or giving back to the non-profits in our own backyard, we’re passionate about creating lasting connections that build each other up.?

This month, we sat down with two Talking Rain Leadership Team members, Veronica Blankenship, Executive Vice President of People Team, and Emily Arthurs, Vice President of Marketing, to learn about what community means to them and how they are creating connections both in and out of the office.?

Q: What does “community” mean to you??

Veronica: When I began advancing in my career, someone asked my mother what her secret was in raising such a strong young woman. She replied, "With her, it took a village.” I laughed, but it was true. Both my parents worked full-time, and I was fortunate to be raised in a community where everyone watched out for each other. A village is a powerful gift. Everywhere I have lived and worked, I’ve found support in others and worked hard to give it back. For me, community is a collection of voices, values, thoughts, and ideas deeply rooted in giving back by paying it forward.

Emily: Like Veronica, both my parents were raised in small towns where the community was an extension of your family. My parents raised me to see the global community as an extension of our family; that we should provide for those in need, serve those who can’t, and give to those who need love. I am raising my children to do the same. It’s not just your neighborhood, school, or town, but also all the people you connect with and who connect back to you.??

Q: How do you Create Connections with Every Sip in your own community or network?

Veronica: I love it when we can build programs that our Rain Makers can get behind to support, not only within our own internal community, but also our greater community. This year, we partnered with the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank to support their Meals on Break program. There are over 630 families, right in our own backyard, who need meals while their kids are on winter break. These kids rely on school meals during the school year, and given the increased costs of food right now, the demand is even greater. This is an easy and impactful way to enrich the lives of the kids in our own community.

Emily: In addition to corporate giving, I am also on the lookout for ways to get my family involved. One area we are passionate about is caring and fighting for children with childhood cancer and terminal illnesses. Much of my personal volunteer work is dedicated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Seattle Children’s Hospital.?Children bring light, joy, and hope to a community. When that light is in danger of being extinguished, it's the responsibility of the community to come together and fight for that light by giving hope and spreading joy to families in need.

Q: What are some ways that leaders and managers can inspire their teams to be more engaged with their community both in and out of the office?

Veronica: It’s so important for leaders and managers to focus on building culture through a community mindset based on core values within their teams and other groups. At Talking Rain, we value diversity of thought and are invested in ensuring every Rain Maker has a seat at the table. Managers support their teams best when being authentic and vulnerable. Now more than ever, these avenues, along with our club and Rain Maker Resource Group (ERGs) opportunities, managers have a direct conduit to learn how and where we engage with our community. We encourage increasing innovation through collaboration and aligning around shared goals whether that is by donating time or goods, volunteering, and/or education.

Emily: I would also encourage teams to talk about their passions. Did you love being a Girl Scout? Talk about it. Do you donate every year to the food bank via a 5K? Tell me. Leaders and managers should encourage their teams to take time to volunteer, find ways to be in service, and provide opportunities to learn more about the community we work in. Make those introductions, invite them to fundraising events, and ask questions about what they find important.

Q: As we look to 2023, what initiative are you most excited about?

Emily: As one of the lucky people who get to work for the Sparkling Ice brand, I am so excited about the impact our brand can make on our community. Our new Flavorful Giving program is going to bring more awareness to more organizations. We will get to highlight charities making a big difference, people impacting outcomes in high-risk neighborhoods, and even bring our Rain Makers into the fun of giving back. Sparkling Ice is the #1 flavored sparkling water in the U.S., and we can do so much to help those communities who bring us into their homes and serve us to their families and friends.???

Veronica: Being part of a community helps people develop a strong sense of belonging, which creates self-esteem and a stronger self-identity.?In 2023, we are leaning even more into our diverse communities. We are excited to introduce and build upon existing partnerships with local, regional, and national charities and organizations, not only through our brand-owned programs, but also on an enterprise level.?We are looking forward to providing more opportunities for our Rain Makers to collaborate with their teams in the communities where they live to make an impact. This is key to building a progressive and sustainable culture around our core values of accountability, inclusivity, and curiosity.

To learn more about how Talking Rain is giving back, visit our Social Impact page: https://www.talkingrain.com/social-impact/