Purpose and Core Values – Axel Johnson Inc.

Purpose &
Core Values

A Letter from Sara

It was the core values which first attracted me to Axel Johnson Inc., and it is those same values which continue to contribute to our success today.

I believe firmly that business is one of the most powerful forces for change in society and that we all have a responsibility in shaping the future environment in which we want to live. Axel Johnson Inc. is an organization which values people, celebrates success, confronts challenges, invests in the long term, and has the will to win.

Each of the businesses in the AJI family have commonality but are equally unique. We have the ability to impact multiple industries, with differentiating products, services and capabilities, all aligned around a common set of core values.

We strive to be excellent by bringing our “A Game” in all that we do and embrace a culture of continuous improvement and self-renewal.

In the early part of my career, I started in consulting, and that taught me a lot about client service.

You go in to understand your customers’ challenges and you develop solutions to help them win in their industries.

Success requires hard work and a willingness to welcome and navigate the unexpected.

We succeed by always looking at everything through multiple vantage points … whether that’s an individual’s perspective within our businesses or our customer’s operations or challenges facing those businesses, or the countries or cultures in which they operate.

We always try to innately understand someone else’s perspective, or how something looks from all aspects before deciding what our perspective is. Once we understand the challenges in front of us we have the bravery to face them. Head on and with determination.

Investing In
Our People

We are committed to growing and developing our employees and providing a healthy working environment where people can be the best they can be.

The employees who passionately work in design, production, sales and customer service are the heart and soul of our company.

In my role as the leader of AJI, there are a few things that I have got to get right: One of those is financial capital deployment, because we’re here to invest in, grow and build our businesses, but every bit as important is human capital. Because you can only create value and deliver successful outcomes when you have great people.

Respect
for Our Planet

We are fundamentally engaged in eliminating and reducing adverse impacts to the environment.

AJI’s desire to make an impact is core to who we are as a company. We strongly believe that we make a difference in the world with our businesses. It’s not just about what we do, but how we do it. We must be a positive force of change in society through the development and operation of great businesses with a long-term investment horizon. Our businesses enhance people’s lives by creating a safer, healthier, and more sustainable world.

Being unmistakably committed to doing the right thing in the right way.

I look at what the Johnson’s have achieved as a family, and it aligns with what I believe in, and how I believe in doing it. Business is an amazing vehicle to drive positive societal impact across the most diverse sets of people. I am naturally very competitive; but, like AJI, I insist on winning in the right way. I always say words matter, but actions matter more. I believe you can do good and win.

Embracing
Diversity

We foster an inclusive culture that creates a powerful environment for diverse people, perspectives and ideas to thrive.

I want the most diverse set of ideas developing unique solutions on every big decision, and that includes different backgrounds, different life experiences, different geographies, and different genders. This ultimately enables you to outcompete any challenger while also helping each individual learn and grow in the process.

There is an intrinsic sense of purpose that comes from working together to make a difference. I think every work environment should provide that.

The diversity of the businesses and people, with the combined, common, core values are what makes being part of the AJI family so fantastic. Great humans deliver great outcomes. AJI and our businesses make it our life’s work to forever improve yours.