On March 30th, top business women and men gathered at New York’s Waldorf Astoria for the 2009 Catalyst Awards Conference. This year the event celebrated Baxter International Inc., CH2M HILL, Gibbons P.C., and KPMG LLP for their innovative programs designed to support diversity in the workplace, including the advancement of women.
“This year’s award-winning initiatives represent the business success that bringing women into leadership can deliver across industries and geographies. No matter where we look, whether in New York or Asia Pacific, from engineering to pharmaceuticals, we find achievement through inclusion of women,” said Ilene H. Lang, President and CEO of Catalyst. At the morning general session, each of the honored companies spoke and took questions on the programs for which they were recognized. Baxter International Inc., a global developer and manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, was acknowledged for its Asia Pacific initiative, Building Talent Edge, through which it reached its goals of a 50/50 gender balance across management-level two years ahead of the target date.
Speakers from CH2M Hill shared how their firm—an engineering and construction leader—built on an already-existing culture of diversity to help foster women’s advancement through their Constructing Pathways for Women Through Inclusion initiative.
Representatives from Gibbons P.C., a progressive law firm based in the New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware metropolitan regions, spoke about their success with The Woman’s Initiative: Driving Success Through Diversity Investment. This program has become critical to its branding in the marketplace and in fostering a workplace culture that is flexible and inclusive.
Finally, KPMG discussed its initiative—Great Place to Build a Career—that includes a variety of programs intended to foster a bond with KPMG for an entire career lifespan, from recruiting to maintaining connections with KPMG alumni.
Panelists from all the companies spoke of the business case to be made for the meaningful inclusion of women at all levels of management. In the Gibbons presenetation, Patrick C. Dunican, Jr., Chairman and Managing Director said, “Last year at Gibbons, we could attribute $6 million of business to our Women’s Initiative so we know the Initiative has made a direct impact on our bottom line….Diversity of thinking brings the best results.” Christine Amalfe, who is the Chair of the Employment Law section added, “There is no doubt that there is a business case for promoting, retaining and advancing women in law firms and in every company. And if the senior management gets that, even in difficult economic times, they will find a way to continue.”
All the companies also stressed the importance of “buy in” from men at all levels of the organization. In both the general session and the breakout sessions, panelist after panelist cited the “men who get it” – those who champion the career development, mentoring and networking programs to ensure that highly capable women are in the pipeline and to encourage female representation in management.
During the luncheon session, Andrea Jung, Chairman & CEO of Avon Products, Inc. had an in-depth dialogue with Ms. Lang. The two covered a wide range of topics including how Ms. Jung’s traditional Chinese upbringing impacted her leadership style and career, her rise within the ranks of Avon, the hard choices she had to make along the way, and how she handles the sticky issue of work/life balance.
Stay tuned for more coverage over the next couple of weeks on the award-winning companies and the topics addressed at the conference, including work-life effectiveness, the effect of the unwritten rules on women’s advancement and the elements of an inclusive corporate culture.
Happy Easter!
NewsDouble Attractions: Exploring Networking Styles and A Time to Celebrate
NewsYou already have some networking skills! Come to discover what they are and how to enhance them. This is an educational and fun event that you don?t want to miss! This event is designed for participants to become aware of various networking techniques while sharing their own style. Draw from others networking successes and design your own personalized presentation.
A Time to Celebrate
GWWN is encouraging you to invite someone to recognize. Individuals making a significant difference in your life would like to hear it publicly. Time will be given to acknowledge them.
Click here to register.
Catalyst Award Winner: CH2M Hill
Industry Leaders, Leadership“We’ve always had an inclusive culture,” said Catherine Santee, CFO of the full-service engineering and construction leader CH2M Hill, “so we built our [goals for a more inclusive environment] on that.” Their award-winning U.S.-based initiative “Constructing Pathways for Women Through Inclusion,” includes strategic programs for the recruitment, development, retention and advancement of women. Last week, CH2M Hill was recognized for the “Constructing Pathways…” initiative at this year’s Catalyst Awards.
Santee has been with the company almost 14 years and has seen the difference made by the inclusion initiative. “When I first started [at CH2M Hill], even though we thought we were pretty good, it wasn’t comfortable to have open discussions of diversity and wanting to have more women included. That has really changed for us over the past several years. And so now it is not uncomfortable at all—it’s an open discussion—and it’s just a part of who we are.”
Read more
Women’s Automotive Association International (WAAI) Breakfast
NewsWomen’s Automotive Association International’s Power of Branding and Surviving the Economy in the Automotive Industry.
Money raised goes towards scholarships for women seeking careers in the Automotive Industry.
Email carfink@bellsouth.net to register
The Glass Ceiling: Who Said That?
Spotlight on PeopleWe all talk about the glass ceiling, but do you know when the term began? Or whom we have to thank for it? Take a guess:
A) In 1971, Gloria Steinem coined the term in the premiere issue of Ms. Magazine.
B) Carol Hymowitz and Timothy Schellhardt used it in a 1986 Wall Street Journal.
C) Family Circle editor Gay Bryant first said it in a 1984 Adweek interview
D) No one knows. Perhaps an unknown woman stuck in middle management in Boston or Toronto or New York said it to a colleague in 1978, and then it spread by word of mouth.
E) None of the above
B is a popular answer on the Web. Even a Forbes story says the term originated in the Wall Street Journal. But keep clicking on those Google results and you’ll find your way to sources that say “glass ceiling” appeared in print two years prior when Gay Bryant said it in the Adweek interview. So answer C is close. But so are answers D and maybe E. Gay Bryant is probably the first to use “the glass ceiling” in print, and she did throw it out there in her Adweek interview. However, the very first time she put those words on paper were on page 19 of her book, The Working Woman Report. In chapter 1, Where We Are, Bryant writes:
Want to Get Home Sooner? Stop Multitasking Your E-mail
Expert AnswersAs women, we pride ourselves in our ability to multitask. We often smirk when men put laundry in and stand over the washer or read the paper straight through until it’s done. We gals think multitasking is an advantage—and maybe it is – but maybe it has gone too far.
Let’s face it – multitasking isn’t really doing two things at once. Multitasking is alternating among tasks. In other words, you hit the print button and then you shift to making a phone call while the print job is delivered. And yes, women are darn good at it.
But there’s a limit. The constant barrage of e-mail messages is testing those limits.
Read more
Ask-A-Recruiter: Phantom Job Postings
Ask A RecruiterLast week, my coaching firm hosted our monthly free coaching call, where we answered questions from jobseekers about the hiring process. Not one, but two questions were submitted about phantom job postings: Why do recruiters post listings for jobs that don’t exist? Why do companies consistently list job openings, bring in interviewees, extend offers, and go far in the hiring process, only to put positions on hold and sometimes close the positions?
Read more
Deal Making Without Dollars – The Art of Revenue Share Deals
NewsWhen the economy is strong, and the rising tide lifts all boats, everyone is behind revenue share deals: it’s a win-win. From the largest companies like Cisco (who just closed an innovative ad rev split deal with Warner Music for Cisco’s new social platform service) to the newest start-ups, media companies have long relied on splitting advertising revenue to get deals done.
But as advertising revenues face a potential decline will new media and technology deals continue to support the “rev share” deal approach? What’s the process for determining the value of a deal in the first place? Will deal evaluations be adjusted in this new economic environment? How do you account for “audited”, “trustworthy” numbers from the party responsible for paying out the revenue share?Join leading deal negotiation experts from a cross-section of media and technology companies to discuss best practices, common pitfalls, and upcoming trends in “revenue share” deal negotiation.
Speakers:
Chris Phenner, SVP, Thumbplay
John Sarnoff, Strategic Partnership Manager, Google TV
Mike Walsh, CEO, Leverage Software
Jeff Zaretsky, VP Business Development, KickApps Moderator:
Dan Roth, Senior Writer, Wired Magazine
Click Here to Register
Catalyst Awards Conference
NewsOn March 30th, top business women and men gathered at New York’s Waldorf Astoria for the 2009 Catalyst Awards Conference. This year the event celebrated Baxter International Inc., CH2M HILL, Gibbons P.C., and KPMG LLP for their innovative programs designed to support diversity in the workplace, including the advancement of women.
“This year’s award-winning initiatives represent the business success that bringing women into leadership can deliver across industries and geographies. No matter where we look, whether in New York or Asia Pacific, from engineering to pharmaceuticals, we find achievement through inclusion of women,” said Ilene H. Lang, President and CEO of Catalyst. At the morning general session, each of the honored companies spoke and took questions on the programs for which they were recognized. Baxter International Inc., a global developer and manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, was acknowledged for its Asia Pacific initiative, Building Talent Edge, through which it reached its goals of a 50/50 gender balance across management-level two years ahead of the target date.
Speakers from CH2M Hill shared how their firm—an engineering and construction leader—built on an already-existing culture of diversity to help foster women’s advancement through their Constructing Pathways for Women Through Inclusion initiative.
Representatives from Gibbons P.C., a progressive law firm based in the New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware metropolitan regions, spoke about their success with The Woman’s Initiative: Driving Success Through Diversity Investment. This program has become critical to its branding in the marketplace and in fostering a workplace culture that is flexible and inclusive.
Finally, KPMG discussed its initiative—Great Place to Build a Career—that includes a variety of programs intended to foster a bond with KPMG for an entire career lifespan, from recruiting to maintaining connections with KPMG alumni.
Panelists from all the companies spoke of the business case to be made for the meaningful inclusion of women at all levels of management. In the Gibbons presenetation, Patrick C. Dunican, Jr., Chairman and Managing Director said, “Last year at Gibbons, we could attribute $6 million of business to our Women’s Initiative so we know the Initiative has made a direct impact on our bottom line….Diversity of thinking brings the best results.” Christine Amalfe, who is the Chair of the Employment Law section added, “There is no doubt that there is a business case for promoting, retaining and advancing women in law firms and in every company. And if the senior management gets that, even in difficult economic times, they will find a way to continue.”
All the companies also stressed the importance of “buy in” from men at all levels of the organization. In both the general session and the breakout sessions, panelist after panelist cited the “men who get it” – those who champion the career development, mentoring and networking programs to ensure that highly capable women are in the pipeline and to encourage female representation in management.
During the luncheon session, Andrea Jung, Chairman & CEO of Avon Products, Inc. had an in-depth dialogue with Ms. Lang. The two covered a wide range of topics including how Ms. Jung’s traditional Chinese upbringing impacted her leadership style and career, her rise within the ranks of Avon, the hard choices she had to make along the way, and how she handles the sticky issue of work/life balance.
Stay tuned for more coverage over the next couple of weeks on the award-winning companies and the topics addressed at the conference, including work-life effectiveness, the effect of the unwritten rules on women’s advancement and the elements of an inclusive corporate culture.
18th Annual FIA Futures Services Division OpTech Conference
NewsFor operations and information technology professionals from FCMs, brokerage firms, banks, exchanges and money management firms.
If you have questions, please call our office at 202-466-5460 for assistance.