D & I Trophy

i4cp Member Companies Praised for Diversity Practices



Five i4cp member companies are included on the 2014 NAFE (National Association for Female Executives) Top 50 Companies for Executive Women list. What does it take to make the list? True commitment to fighting gender bias, approaching employee development impartially, and helping women climb the corporate ladder.

Each year, NAFE looks at companies that employ a minimum of 1,000 people in the United States and have at least two women on their boards of directors. Other considerations include the number of employees who have access to programs and policies that develop and promote the advancement of women, as well as how many employees participate. The process also examines how companies train managers to help develop women and how those managers are measured by the advancement of female employees among their direct reports.

Here's what i4cp member companies were cited for (in alphabetical order):

Abbott

Chicago-based Abbott has been around for over a century, and has grown to become a leading global presence in heath care. More women than ever in Abbot's history now hold management and leadership roles--40 percent more than just ten years ago. Abbott's Executive Inclusion Council tracks high-level promotions and helps generate programs to speed women's progress. And a newly introduced internal database centralizes information about each employee's career path and goals, making it easier to find the right woman for the right job and promote from within. Over 3,000 Abbott employees participate in the company's six employee networks, which help create a more diverse leadership pipeline. The networks include LA VOICE Network (Hispanic/Latino); Women Leaders in Action; Black Business Network; Asian Leadership and Cultural Network; PRIDE Network (gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered); and the Flex Network (part-time and flexible work schedules).

AT&T

More than 90,000 women lead in many different ways at AT&T. The company's Executive Women's Leadership Experience provides female employees with the opportunity to spend time in the C-Suite to network with the company's leadership, get a full picture of what it takes to run the company, and realize what their future responsibilities might look like. The Women's Leadership Council introduces initiatives for employees at all levels, and the Women of AT&T resource group (whose membership has increased 288 percent since 2011) offers mentoring circles, educational activities, and financial seminars. Additional forums exist for women interested in finance or network operations. In addition, AT&T actively gathers and shares success stories of its women employees. Check out the video, AT&T Honors Women in Technology.

IBM

IBM, led by Chairman, President & CEO, Virginia Rometty, has the distinction of being in Working Mother's Top 10 Hall of Fame (16 years as a Best Company for Multicultural Women). This is a truly impressive feat considering that IBM's global workforce of just under a half-million is equal to the populations of Raleigh, North Carolina and Omaha, Nebraska. Diane Gherson, SVP of HR, oversees a plethora of human capital management initiatives. One such initiative is aimed at increasing its number of female executives: IBM's Pathways for Experienced Technical Women program, which enables emerging professionals to work with their managers on development plans and navigate their next steps with mentors. To get an even better understanding of what its top women need, IBM interviewed executive women and shared those stories and insights across the company in a study titled "Your Journey to Executive." Also, IBM is actively recruiting former female executives, encouraging them to return to IBM via its Reconnections initiative, which facilitates their reentry with customized education and networking events.

Intel

One-fifth of the VPs and corporate officers at the headquarters of Intel are female. The Santa Clara, California-based tech company employs nearly 50,000 people and offers an array of diversity and inclusion initiatives. Female executives lead the organization that develops products and technologies for 90 percent of the world's servers, co-manage factories that generate millions of chips a day, and direct the two largest customer accounts. Renée James became Intel's first female president in 2013, the same year seven other women were elevated to VP roles. Women executives enjoy an abundance of sponsorship programs, coaching initiatives, and workshops. In addition, the Women at Intel Network (WIN) employee resource group has 22 chapters worldwide. WIN plays a critical part in developing women employees. Intel's Network of Executive Women (INEW) serves as a voice for women and champions efforts focused on mentoring and developing women.

Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial's HR function is led by SVP Sharon Taylor. Each year, the firm holds over 30 professional development events for female employees, who also benefit from six business resource groups and 11 distinct women's networks. Other pluses: subsidized backup care is provided to employees who are caring for children, aging relatives, or dependents with special needs, as is adult care coaching. Health and wellness summits are held at HQ to educate employees about medical issues that might affect them and explain how to obtain the best care. Employee networks, called Business Resource Groups, promote individual professional development, while helping the company achieve its business objectives. The networks address issues common to a variety of audiences and include: Asian/Pacific Islander American Association (APAA); Employee Association of Gay Men, Lesbians, Bisexuals & Transgenders (EAGLES); Abled & Disabled Associates Partnering Together (ADAPT); Hispanic Heritage Network (HHN); Black Leadership Forum (BLF); and the Prudential Military Veteran's Network (VETnet).
Lorrie Lykins
Lorrie is i4cp's Vice President of Research. A thought leader, speaker, and researcher on the topic of gender equity, Lorrie has decades of experience in human capital research. Lorrie’s work has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and other renowned publications.