Once a Hero, Always a Hero

How an Alumni Network Adds Reach and Impact to a Champions Program

Activision Blizzard has recently expanded its Champion Program by launching an Alumni Network. Carsten Tams spoke with Carlos Cuartas, Sr. Director, Ethics and Compliance, who has guided this evolution. Carlos joined in 2022, drawing on his experience building an ethics ambassador program at Boeing. In this interview, he explains how the Alumni Network strengthens long-term engagement, how it is structured, and what others can learn from their approach.

Carsten: Recently, you rolled out an Alumni Network as an extension to your Ethics Champions program.

Carlos: Yes. At Activision Blizzard, we call our Ethics Champions the “Way2Play Heroes.” “Way2Play” is also the title of our Ethics and Compliance program, our code, and for doing the right thing. This ties in with our culture as a company producing epic entertainment. Our Way2Play Heroes are trained and trusted ambassadors who guide colleagues, advocate for integrity, and act as a bridge between our E&C team and the business. It is a voluntary role. Those who join do so because they genuinely care for an ethical workplace and want to make an active contribution.

Carsten: Why did you make the decision to add an Alumni Network to the Way2Play Hero Program?

Carlos: The Heroes Program was working. We saw the impact. The 130+ Heroes in the field were strengthening our ethical culture. So, we asked, how do we extend the reach? How do we take the goodness of this program and spread it? How can we give other people the opportunity to step up and be a part of the program? Our acting Heroes are really passionate about their role. They want to continue to stay engaged. Most have stayed well past the original two-year term, and many have stayed with us since the program was kicked off in 2018. These colleagues are closely aligned allies who have a lot to offer to our ethical culture and we didn’t want to lose out on that momentum and that good will.

Carsten: That is why you created the Alumni Network?

Carlos: Yes. It allowed us to welcome in new Heroes while keeping experienced ones connected to the mission.

It is important to stress that the Alumni Program did not come from the top down. It emerged through dialogue with our Heroes. This past year, we started an intensive dialog with Heroes to understand their experience, gather their feedback, and see how we could improve the Heroes Program. This involved a survey and a series of roundtables, where we dug in deeper to discuss the feedback and zero in on the best ideas. Their message was consistent: they wanted space for new people to join, but they did not want to lose their connection with a program they cared deeply about. The Alumni Network became the solution. It allows renewal while preserving continuity. It allows new Heroes to join while keeping experienced Heroes engaged after their term ends. We captured it with a motto: “Once a Hero, Always a Hero.”

Carsten: What does participation look like for Heros once they join the alumni network? How do they stay engaged?

Carlos: Whenever possible, the alumni remain connected to our team. The goal is to keep the dialogue open and make sure they can still contribute if they see something or have advice to share.

For example, alumni will continue to receive updates, resources, training materials, and we will continue to engage with them through a dedicated Slack channel.

Some alumni will also stay connected locally and may even engage as mentors through what we call Hero Squads. These are small teams of Heroes co-located at the same site or department. They can rely on each other, for example when addressing an ethical issue or hosting a training or awareness sessions.

Also, when our E&C team goes on site visits, we may meet and engage in dialog together about anything on our agenda.

We are also exploring a Way2Play Heroes Advisory Board, made up of experienced Heroes. Their role is to help onboard new Heroes, provide mentorship, act as regional points of contact, and advise us on how to continuously improve the Way to Play Heroes program.

Carsten: How does adding an Alumni Network to a Champions Program improve its impact?

Carlos: In two key ways. First, the Alumni Program prolongs the advocacy of each Champion. We believe that even after their active term ends, alumni will continue to be a champion of integrity in their local business.

Second, the Alumni Network creates a multiplier effect. As the alumni community grows, we will expand our network of skilled ethics ambassadors across the company.

Carsten: Lastly, what advice would you give to others who are considering adding an Alumni Network to their Champions Program?

Carlos: The biggest lesson is to listen to your Champions. The idea for our Alumni Network came from our Heroes. These programs are voluntary, we cannot force engagement, so they must be built with the people in them. Our Heroes shared so many great ideas for program improvement with us. When Champions can shape the program, they feel real ownership and pride.

And then, make sure you proactively engage those whose sponsorship and partnership you need. As we were assembling our plan, we invited input from leaders, chief people officers, and general counsels. We listened to their ideas and feedback, and as a result our proposal improved further. With their partnership and support we had what we needed to launch the next phase of our Heroes Program and Alumni Network.

Want to start your own Champions Program? Or redesign an existing one?

Check out "The Champions Journey," our Reflection Toolkit for Champions Program Design. Or RSVP for one of our next Champions Clubhouse sessions to connect with peers like Carlos, who lead and manage Champions Programs. You can find both on our homepage.