Reflections at Year End

Grateful.

As we approach the end of 2022 and try to wrap up the last few frantic work threads so we can then try and slow down, my initial reflections are about how grateful I am.

At a personal level, the last two years have been very tough and a major roller coaster for me and my family. It has taught (and reminded) me of several valuable lessons about life's priorities: enjoying good health, valuing all that we have, spending quality time with our family and friends, and appreciating the unconditional love and support we get from our parents.

Through all of the turmoil and challenges at a personal level, what has kept me grounded is the appreciation for the great set of colleagues and UN partners we have at work and the amazingly impactful work we all manage to deliver.

It has been a pleasure to watch so many work colleagues thrive and grow, develop their self-confidence, find their voice, and demonstrate what great collaboration across high-performing teams looks like. I have personally seen many dozens of colleagues grow and show amazing results when given the trust and the opportunity. It has been a pleasure to discover the hidden (at least to me) talents they had, and how, by supporting one another, they are flourishing and growing as professionals.

It has been great to see UNICC grow and come into its own as an organization: to not only live the values and principles that the United Nations was created for but to realize the positive strong impact we are able to make on a regular basis. In the past few weeks, we reminded ourselves and our partners (who also form our governance board) of our corporate values of Respect, Curiosity, Pride, Passion, Flexibility, Honesty, and Transparency.

All of this amazing teamwork, dedication, and living up to our values has not gone unnoticed. Both our UN partners, the technology firms we collaborate with, and the member states (who fund our UN partners) are appreciative of the work we have done, and it is being recognized: in the growth of our services, in the increased trust our partners have put in us, in the recognition and support from member states and in the formal awards we have won over the past few years.

For example, the Spanish Government build this new building on the UN Base to house the growing UNICC team in Valencia.

As another example, at our last board meeting, the board unanimously agreed that we are a strategic partner to all of them and should be referenced as such going forward. This recognition is hard-earned and not something we take lightly. We will continue to work hard to earn and retain this trust with every new project and collaboration we work on with our UN partners.

Like most UN organizations, we have a very unique model and mandate. As the only pure-play technology house in the UN - our model was well ahead of its time when we were created 52 years ago. We are designed as a partnership to help our partners achieve the benefits of technology more rapidly, more cost-effectively, and more securely. See what makes us unique.

I think we are - dollar for dollar - the most impactful technology organization in the world and we punch in way above our weight class. I am proud and grateful to work with such dedicated colleagues and partners each day, and look forward to the opportunity to make even more of a positive impact next year.

Wishing all colleagues, partners, collaborators, and friends very happy holidays and much joy now and into the new year.