Hidden heroes making a difference

Our time on this planet provides many avenues to positively impact our surroundings and in Charlotte, North Carolina, Zeba Boughner, and several colleagues have found a way to be difference makers.

Boughner, a 10-year veteran at A.P. Moller - Maersk, joined an engagement team in 2018 to be more involved in her local community. She hoped to inspire change and after brainstorming various ideas, Boughner targeted the environment as the core of her efforts.

After successfully working on river clean-ups for a couple of years, interest grew and in 2021, a team was created enabling Boughner to expand her efforts. Through rounds of tree plantings and waste collection, Boughner and her allies have continued to support local non-profits. By walking an extra mile outside office hours, they have helped build awareness to the changes and the negative impact facing our environment. Furthermore, these efforts have helped push the necessary change to how societies treat our planet at a time with more extreme weather conditions and rising temperatures.

Boughner and her colleagues are great representatives of A.P. Moller - Maersk and a clear example of the added value of having a purpose in your work. The company formulated a purpose and revitalised its fundamental values in the early days of 2022, which has inspired employees to be the difference they want to see. More colleagues are joining initiatives like Boughner’s engagement team and at A.P. Moller - Maersk offices around the world, people are researching how to be more involved as local difference makers.

By walking an extra mile outside office hours, they have helped build awareness to the changes and the negative impact facing our environment.

Having a purpose beyond maxing out on profits and meeting the expectations from surrounding stakeholders are major parts of the license to operate as a global company today. Operations at A.P. Moller - Maersk has always been deeply rooted in a set of core values. By clearly defining and updating them to reflect the world of today, A.P. Moller - Maersk is better prepared to meet the world of tomorrow.

In North Carolina, Zeba Boughner and her colleagues might be making a small difference if measured purely in the number of plastic bottles they prevent from ending up in our oceans. But the value of their efforts should not be underestimated. They are doing their part to take better care of the planet. They are embodying the spirit of the A.P. Moller - Maersk purpose. They are trying to improve life for all with each little action.