In the United States, March celebrates women’s achievements in history and International Women’s Day on March 8th brings that celebration global. The month long theme is “Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government.” The theme for International Women’s Day theme is “Plant 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality.” To join the conversation on social media look for the tags #IWD2016 and #PledgeforParity. Also click here to learn more about the Diversity Best Practices’ International Women’s Day Web Seminar.
Women are 50.4 percent of the population and 47.4 percent of the civilian labor force in the United States. This year’s theme recognizes that women have been fighting for a better workplace since 1857 when the first protests in NYC broke out over factory conditions. We are approaching 150 years of determination for a higher professional standard.
To recognize this perseverance we at Diversity Best Practices have asked our members to share what their organizations will be doing this month to acknowledge and celebrate Women’s History Month and/or International Women’s Day.
Allstate
Allstate Insurance Company is proud to celebrate National Women’s History Month, honoring and celebrating women who are influential, innovative and inspirational. Several events and activities are planned throughout the month of March to highlight women who exhibit leadership and who have significant achievements in entrepreneurship and the workplace. One of Allstate’s employee resource groups, Allstate Women’s “I” Network (AWIN), offers employees an opportunity to participate in activities to honor women’s achievements as part of its mission to help all women achieve their professional and personal career aspirations and live into their purpose.
National Women’s History Month is celebrated at Allstate through the following:
International Women’s Day (March 8) – e-cards and thank you notes will be made available to recognize, celebrate, and honor fellow employees. Cards and flyers encourage employees to participate in International Women’s Day “Pledge for Parity” campaign.
Supplier Diversity Panel (March 16) – This event will include a moderator-led panel discussion with four women business owners and Allstate leaders. Panelists will include an Allstate officer who is the former Chicago city treasurer, an Allstate agency owner, and president and CEO of the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC), the oldest, largest and most comprehensive women’s business assistance center in the United States.
Changing Demographics Event (March 18) – Women leaders from the sponsoring organizations will speak on topics to include Advancing Women in Executive Leadership, Unconscious Bias, and Energy for Life. This event is sponsored by the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA), ASCEND, and the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA).
Civic Engagement Panel (Week of March 21) – This will be a moderator-led panel discussion with Senator Christine Radogno, Minority Leader (note: Illinois’ first female minority leader), Jessica Morrison – Allstate Attorney and elected member of the Community Consolidated School Board for District 15, Representative Elaine Nekritz and Senator Julie Morrison.
Dress for Success Kiosk (March TBD) – We’ll have a collection kiosk in the atrium of Allstate’s corporate headquarters to collect gently used clothing to support Dress for Success and its mission of empowering women to achieve economic independence.
AXA
AXA is recognizing Women’s History Month this March to celebrate the contributions of women in history and society. Women’s Outreach at Work (WOW), one of AXA’s ten Employee Resource Groups, is coordinating AXA’s activities.
AXA is using Women’s History Month as a great opportunity to raise awareness of WOW’s mission to empower and support women, educate employees to help them achieve their personal and professional goals, and support AXA as a preferred employer for women in financial services.
WOW will be sponsoring several events in March:
- Tuesday, March 8: AXA Women Panel: This panel event features several AXA women, including Georgette Geller (Branch Manager, Stamford, CT office-AXA Advisors), Windy Lawrence (Lead Director, Associate General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer – AXA Distributors) Kathryn Ferrero (Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer, Employer-Sponsored Business), and Carol Macaluso (Managing Director, Head of Finance Shared Services and Operations). This panel will discuss highlights, challenges, lessons learned during their careers, and what they aim to accomplish in the future. In addition to the AXA Women Panel, we will celebrate International Women’s Day where employees are encouraged to wear purple and participate in online events such as “Selfie Challenge” and “Thank an Exceptional Woman you know.”
- Wednesday, March 16: Volunteer Activity: Each AXA location has partnered up with a local agency in their area to give back to the community.
- Thursday, March 24: Recognition Ceremony: Two outstanding women from each employee site will be awarded WOW’s first Women’s History Month Spotlight Award. This annual award will serve to recognize and honor women who have made noteworthy contributions in the areas of community service, mentorship and leadership.
Not only do our AXA employees have the opportunity to partake in these three events, there will also be conversations online via the company intranet that WOW will facilitate.
Bloomberg
Throughout the month of March, Bloomberg is hosting activities and opportunities to raise awareness and get employees involved. This year, we’re highlighting some of the extraordinary Bloomberg employees and partners who are working to inspire and develop women and young girls. With more than 50 events in 15 cities, Bloomberg employees will have the opportunity to hear from innovative speakers, participate in wellness and cultural activities, connect with clients, and sign up for volunteer and mentoring opportunities to inspire the next generation of women leaders.
Some of the events and activities include:
- In New York, Bloomberg TV’s Mindy Massucci will moderate a panel featuring Alysia Reiner and Sarah Megan Thomas, the co-producers and actors of “Equity,” the first female-driven Wall Street film.
- In the Bloomberg Startup: Success Skills Morning Workshop, Bloomberg will host high school girls from Japan’s Seitoku Gakuen who want to hear about work experiences and learn about how to build a career.
- Bloomberg celebrates its sixth year of support for the Women of the World Festival in London, which offers an opportunity for inspirational women to explore the challenges and celebrate the achievements of women globally.
- After getting married at age 12 and surviving a suicide attempt at age 17, Kalpana Saroj availed a $730 loan for budding entrepreneurs under the Indian government’s affirmative action program. Today, she heads a $112 million company and has won one of India’s highest civilian awards. In Bloomberg’s Mumbai office, Saroj will share her story alongside Dr. Nilima Srivastava, who has studied decades of change among India’s women professionals.
- Bloomberg Chairman Peter Grauer will host a panel discussion about how and why men can be advocates for women in the workplace. COO of Bloomberg Media Jacki Kelly will moderate the discussion featuring Bloomberg’s Global Head of R&D, Vlad Kliatchko, and Global Head of Industry Verticals, Josh Steiner. Erika Irish Brown, Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion, will open the event, which will be held in New York and broadcast live in London.
- In London, Sanj Srikanthan, Director of Policy and Practice at the International Rescue Committee, will speak about how the IRC is responding to the ongoing refugee crisis, and how his teams are working to improve living conditions for the females sheltering in camps across Europe and the Middle East.
- In Sao Paulo, filmmakers Anna Muylaert (“Que horas ela volta?”), Juliana Vicente (“As Minas do Rap”), Deborah Calla (from the Geena Davis Institute), and Maíra Liguori (from Think Eva) will be apart of a panel discussion on women in film and TV. In Portuguese, they will discuss the creation of new narratives and female characters and the challenges that women face in front of and behind the cameras.
Brown Forman
GROW, the employee resource group of Brown-Forman, is very pleased to present our calendar of events to our employees. This year’s theme is “Awareness Journey”, and our intent is to recognize where we, as individuals, are in this journey. While some may be further along than others, our overriding shared focus is in helping men and women work together, to appreciate the differences each brings, to achieve a balanced workplace, and in the end an even stronger Brown-Forman.
Throughout the month of March, GROW will be hosting several events, as outlined below. Details are also included in the attached presentation.
February 29 – KY Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton
Conference Center 3:30 – 5 pm
Join GROW and SPLASH in hosting Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Jenean Hampton and learning more about her journey as an African-American woman in business, military and politics.
March 10 – Seed to Sip
Conference Center, 1:30 – 3 pm
Showcasing, sharing and inspiring – this event will highlight the women of Brown-Forman and their contributions throughout the generations.
March 16 – The Mask You Live In
Conference Center, 3:30 – 5 pm
Viewing of the 2015 documentary film exploring gender bias and “how our culture’s narrow definition of masculinity is harming boys, men and society at large and unveils what we can do about it.”
March 17 – Discuss over Breakfast: The Mask You Live In
BSC Terrace, 8:30 – 9:30 am
March 22 – Guest Speaker Jeffrey Halter
Conference Center, 10 – 11:30
Join us in welcoming guest speaker, Jeffery Tobias Halter. Jeffery is a TedxSpeaker, Huff Post Contributor and the President of YWomen, a strategic consulting company focused on engaging men in women’s leadership issues. His keynote is based on Jeffery’s ground-breaking book, WHY WOME. His remarks will focus on proven strategies to maximize return on investment results through the creation of an Integrated Women’s Leadership Strategy.
March 22 – The EVOLVED Leader Workshop by Jeffery Halter
Conference Center, 2-4 pm
This hands-on workshop will enable teams to be more creative, reach decisions faster, communicate more effectively and help to manage, rather than ignore the most significant dynamic present in every meeting – GENDER! In this hands-on session, participants will: understand the critical need to manage, rather than ignore, gender dynamics in the workplace, understand personal gender dynamics that each person brings to the team, and explore how gender dynamics impact problem solving, team effectiveness, communication and personal work styles
Special thanks to Will Thompson and Donna Willis, the co-chairs of this year’s Women’s History Month
EMC
During the week of International Women’s Day, one of our Employee Resource Groups the Women’s Leadership Forum will be hosting a panel discussion. Erin McSweeney EVP –Global Human Resources will be sending a letter to all employees announcing the theme and another action to join in signing a global pledge for gender parity. The global theme for IWD is “Pledge for Parity” and the website is here. http://www.internationalwomensday.com/. We will be turning the emc.com website purple to mark the day. Individual departments and teams are encouraged to host activities that are best for their interests and schedules.
Fifth Third Bank
Women’s History Month at Fifth Third Bank is a time for both recognizing and celebrating women across the organization who have contributed to the community or workplace in outstanding ways. Female leaders will be highlighted in an internal news story to our 18,000 employees. Through the Bank’s women’s business resource groups across the footprint, special events and activities are planned to celebrate the month. The groups are open to all female Fifth Third employees, as well as allies, and focus on business excellence, employee development, membership connections and corporate social responsibility. Ongoing work of the women’s business resource groups include an external speaker series featuring female community leaders, networking events, financial literacy, executive book reviews, conferences, volunteerism and more.
Fifth Third Bank has women in its top ranks. The company also has representation from women and people of color on its Board of Directors. Respect & Inclusion is one of four Core Values at Fifth Third Bank along with Integrity, Teamwork & Collaboration and Accountability.
“Our environment is one that embraces the similarities and differences of each person,” said Pam Rincones, senior vice president and chief diversity & inclusion officer for Fifth Third Bank. “It is the tapestry of skills, personalities and unique attributes that result in better solutions for our customers and a rewarding work experience for our employees.”
NY Life
New York Life Insurance Company is proudly celebrating Women’s History month with an exciting schedule of events sponsored by one of its employee resource groups, The Women’s Initiative (TWI). TWI will kick off the month with a two-day Dress for Success clothing drive. Next up will be a speech from Unites States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, which is sure to inspire all. TWI will then sponsor a session with New York Life Council Vice President Christie Mueller who will discuss her successful career as a New York Life Agent. Since joining New York Life in 1985, Ms. Mueller has earned the title of Council Vice President, a designation recognizing the second highest ranking sales leader in the entire company for the year, fifteen times. The month will also feature a gathering of company employees to discuss and review the book,Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes. TWI will close the month with an event featuring Bonnie Carroll, Executive Director Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), who will discuss her experiences in starting TAPS after facing personal tragedy as well as her receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in December 2015.
FINRA
For Women’s History Month, the FINRA Womens Network (FWN) will partner with the FINRA Latino Network (FLAN) to conduct a brown-bag, lunchtime book club in local FINRA Offices. The 2016 theme for Women’s History Month is “Working to Form a More Perfect Union:
Honoring Women in Public Service and Government.” Consistent with that theme, participants will be reading My Beloved World, by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
FWN plans to host the book club in each of FINRA’s offices, and provide an opportunity for FWN and FLAN members to reflect on the theme of Women’s History Month, and interact with their colleagues in a new and thought-provoking way.
Here is a link to the book: http://www.amazon.com/My-Beloved-World-Sonia-Sotomayor/dp/034580483X
US Bank
At U.S. Bank, we have several exciting events and activities planned to celebrate Women’s History Month:
- Unify more than 10 existing women’s chapters across the company under the U.S. Bank Women Business Resource Group (BRG) infrastructure. The new BRG platform will launch company-wide on March 8 in celebration of International Women’s Day.
- Post articles on the internal news site inviting employees to participate in a variety of activities and seminars.
- Encourage employees to respond to a topic thread on the intranet: “Share a story about a woman who influenced your career.” Executive women will share their stories to start the conversation.
- “Fly Girl” Vernice Armour, America’s first African American female combat pilot, is creating a video message to share with employees. In it, she’ll share a story about a woman who influenced her career.
- Host a variety of webinars that are open to all employees. Topics include retirement, career advancement and the importance of mentoring.
- Develop a Women’s History Month trivia game for employees to use during diversity and inclusion events throughout the month.
- Employees in Wisconsin will host a Women’s History Month event featuring a female technology executive who will speak on workplace themes important to women at U.S. Bank.
- Fifteen employees from our U.S. Bank Women BRG will attend the Twin Cities Women’s Leadership Summit, where they will learn about the critical role that Women’s Employee Resource Groups play in enhancing leadership capabilities and opportunities.
- Ten women from technology will attend the Women Leading in Technology event in Minneapolis, where they will learn about the seven hurdles women face and how to address them.
Sodexo
Sodexo is hosting WiNG National Meeting, an experience designed to help attendants make connections while building foundation for personal and professional growth. Speakers include Shari Harley and Dana Johnston.
We are also sharing communications internally and externally on Sodexo’s gender balance business case study. This internal study shows teams perform at their best when the gender balance if 40 – 60%. You can find more details here: http://www.mckinsey.com/global-themes/leadership/gender-balance-and-the-link-to-performance
In addition, we are very excited that Sophie Bellon is now our Chairwomen http://sodexousa.com/usen/media/press-releases/2016/sophie_bellon.aspx and Lorna Donatone leads our North America business and schools globally http://sodexousa.com/usen/media/press-releases/2016/lorna_donatone.aspx
Wellington Management Company, LLP
We are hosting a Women of Color panel discussion entitled, “Our Leadership Journey: Stories and Strategies”. The panel session will feature female leaders of color from the local Boston area. They will share their individual leadership journey, mindset shifts along the way, change management pitfalls, challenges and strategies for overcoming obstacles.
Zurich
Zurich will be hosting two events in honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. The first event is March 8th where in alignment with Global WIN partners, Zurich will be celebrating the day with a light breakfast, networking and asking Zurich colleagues to sign a Women’s Day banner. Continuing the celebration on March 9th, Zurich is hosting a speaker, Carol Evans, in the Piling Theater from 1:00pm to 2:30pm. Carol Evans is the President Emeritus and founder of Working Mother Media, A division of Bonnier Corp. Working Mother Media includes Working Mother magazine, workingmother.com, National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) and Diversity Best Practices.
