“The Bartel Years 200(TM)” represent the DNA of business achievement: qualities that enable companies to reach a second century of success. According to “The Bartel Years 200(TM),” the symbol of the 200th business anniversary is Transcendence.
When an organization’s DNA includes Transcendence, the company serves its customers with distinction, surpasses its competitors to dominate the industry and strengthens the communities in which the company operates. This is true of Citi (www.citigroup.com), the leading global bank that celebrated its 200th business anniversary on June 16, 2012.
A glimpse of Citi’s history shows a number of accomplishments that transcended business as usual at the time:
- 1844: Citi becomes the first trust company in the United States
- 1866: Citi finances the first successful Transatlantic cable that connected New York and London
- 1904: Citi assists with financing of the Panama Canal at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt
- 1921: Citi pioneers the concept of interest-bearing savings accounts for ordinary — not just wealthy — citizens.
- 1948: Citi finances the world’s first supertanker for Aristotle Onassis, fueling the global economy.
- 1977: Citi pioneers 24/7 banking with its first ATM.
To celebrate its 200th business anniversary, Citi held its seventh annual Global Community Day (www.facebook.com/citi) on the third Saturday in June. Leading up to and on that date, more than 100,000 Citi volunteers — the most ever — dedicated 500,000 hours to 1,300 service projects in 92 countries (www.linkedin/company/citi). Projects involved local community needs such as financial inclusion, college and career mentoring, neighborhood revitalization, housing, disaster relief and environmental protection.
According to Citi CEO Vikram Pandit: “For two centuries, Citi colleagues have worked to enable economic progress and support our clients on their journey from ambition to achievement. There is no better way to celebrate our 200th anniversary than by honoring our history, embracing the future, and working together to strengthen the communities where we live and work.”
Congratulations to Citi on its 200th business anniversary! Thank you, too, for the community service you bring to the world.
How does your company strengthen the community where you live and work? Does your company include community service projects in business anniversary celebrations? How does your company demonstrate Transcendence as part of its business DNA? Please share your thoughts.
Blogger Bio: Pauline Bartel, M.A., is President and Chief Creative Officer of
Bartel Communications, Inc., an award-winning corporate communications firm,
specializing in marketing, public relations and business anniversary consulting
services. The firm created “The Bartel Years™” and “The Bartel Years 200™,” rosters of business anniversary symbols to inspire two centuries of business anniversary
“sell”-abrations. Download free copies of “The Bartel Years™” and the special
report “The Top 10 Business Anniversary Ideas for SELL-abrating Your Business
Anniversary” at this link: http://www.paulinebartel.com/services/corporate-services/business-anniversary-consulting