Top 10 women’s employee networks
This category recognises the achievements of employee network groups established to work on gender diversity within organisations.
Breakthrough Women's Network - Lloyds Banking Group (UK)
Breakthrough is the largest colleague network for women in the UK: 13,000 members and over 4,000 registered mentors. It has a dedicated parenting arm, and men comprise 10% of the membership. Breakthrough has held many career development and mentoring events, with as many as 1,200 attendees at a single event, and it was a key contributor in the Group achieving its public target of 29% of senior roles held by women by 2014.
dbGO - Deutsche Bank’s Women’s Network (UK)
Founded in 2003 as the Women in European Business UK network, Deutsche Bank’s UK women’s network, dbGO, was re-branded in 2015. The 600-member strong network, 24% of which are men, focuses on four objectives: inspiration, visibility, career development and influence. Female Managing Directors and Directors have increased by 17% since 2010, and with senior sponsorship from male and female business heads, membership comprises employees across all corporate titles across all locations in the UK.
Gender Balance Network - PwC (UK)
PwC relaunched their Women’s Network in 2014 as GBN with the strategic aim of engaging all staff in the gender diversity debate. Sponsored by the PwC Executive Board, the Network is led by a client-facing Partner and has nearly 1,000 internal and external members. Among many initiatives is the intranet ‘jams’ where senior leaders engage in online discussions; a recent event marking the FTSE 100 Women on Boards 2015 report attracted over 90 attendees, including PwC's chairman Ian Powell.
Global Women's Network - A.T. Kearney (Global)
For over 20 years, A.T. Kearney’s Global Women's Network has been committed to recruiting, advancing and supporting women. It offers support for new parents, flexible work options, as well as platforms for a businesswomen's exchange to discuss industry-specific issues. With progressive recruitment policies, career development, pro bono projects and thought leadership forums, GWN at A T Kearney has demonstrated an industry best practice in gender equality in the workplace.
Sodexo Women's International Forum for Talent (SWIFt) - Sodexo (Global)
SWIFT was created in 2009 at the initiative of CEO Michel Landel to accelerate gender balance within Sodexo. SWIFT’s goal was to create a culture of inclusion and facilitate the development of women in the workplace. Their Gender Networks give personal and professional development opportunities for both female and male members and there are now 13 women's or gender balance networks world-wide with thousands of members across Europe and in Canada; Chile; China; India & the USA.
Women of Oliver Wyman Employee Resource Group - Oliver Wyman (Global)
Women of Oliver Wyman (WOW) is dismantling gender bias with many dynamic initiatives. WOW pioneered a successful ‘reverse mentoring’ programme where female staff share experiences at work with their male colleagues. The network launched a leadership development and sponsorship programme to provide women with greater support on the path to partner at Oliver Wyman. Supported by I & D and Senior Leadership, WOW has developed targeted metrics to monitor progress and set best practice standards.
Women's Network - GE (USA)
GE’s Women’s Network was created in 1997 to recruit, develop, promote and retain female talent and to cultivate women’s leadership skills, business practices, personal contacts and career opportunities. It established a scholarship programme to support qualified women interested in technical and business careers, and today, is a global presence with 170 hubs in 45 countries. With workshops, speaker engagements, mentoring and networking activities, GEWN has raised over $1.4m and awarded over 280 scholarships.
Women's program UNSWAP - United Nations (Global)
UNSWAP was set up by Aparna Mehrotra and is a UN system-wide accountability framework designed to measure and progress gender equality. She introduced key measurable indicators so each agency is must show verifiable progress. UNSWAP has made remarkable changes in 5 years, addressing hidden biases by talks and workshops with senior management. Staffed by a team of empowered individuals, the UN-wide network has changed management culture at the highest level.
Women’s Network - CBRE (Global)
The Americas division of CBRE’s WNG has approximately 2,200 members: a 450% growth rate in just two years. There is a UK Maternity Policy that includes funding for coaching mothers pre and post maternity leave that has been a success in improving maternity return rates. Key initiatives include networking forums, mentoring programmes, including those for young graduates, and philanthropic efforts. Their Male Champions of Change initiative is committed to helping diversify the real estate industry.
Women’s Network, Tech Women at Intuit - Intuit (Global)
Intuit Women’s Network and Tech Women at Intuit are two networks with a common purpose: building a community and developing employees, empowering women to help other women and their communities, supporting men championing women, and promoting organisations working together. 2014 marked the company’s largest gathering of its female technical talent, sending 170 women to the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing for learning and networking.
Breakthrough is the largest colleague network for women in the UK: 13,000 members and over 4,000 registered mentors. It has a dedicated parenting arm, and men comprise 10% of the membership. Breakthrough has held many career development and mentoring events, with as many as 1,200 attendees at a single event, and it was a key contributor in the Group achieving its public target of 29% of senior roles held by women by 2014.
dbGO - Deutsche Bank’s Women’s Network (UK)
Founded in 2003 as the Women in European Business UK network, Deutsche Bank’s UK women’s network, dbGO, was re-branded in 2015. The 600-member strong network, 24% of which are men, focuses on four objectives: inspiration, visibility, career development and influence. Female Managing Directors and Directors have increased by 17% since 2010, and with senior sponsorship from male and female business heads, membership comprises employees across all corporate titles across all locations in the UK.
Gender Balance Network - PwC (UK)
PwC relaunched their Women’s Network in 2014 as GBN with the strategic aim of engaging all staff in the gender diversity debate. Sponsored by the PwC Executive Board, the Network is led by a client-facing Partner and has nearly 1,000 internal and external members. Among many initiatives is the intranet ‘jams’ where senior leaders engage in online discussions; a recent event marking the FTSE 100 Women on Boards 2015 report attracted over 90 attendees, including PwC's chairman Ian Powell.
Global Women's Network - A.T. Kearney (Global)
For over 20 years, A.T. Kearney’s Global Women's Network has been committed to recruiting, advancing and supporting women. It offers support for new parents, flexible work options, as well as platforms for a businesswomen's exchange to discuss industry-specific issues. With progressive recruitment policies, career development, pro bono projects and thought leadership forums, GWN at A T Kearney has demonstrated an industry best practice in gender equality in the workplace.
Sodexo Women's International Forum for Talent (SWIFt) - Sodexo (Global)
SWIFT was created in 2009 at the initiative of CEO Michel Landel to accelerate gender balance within Sodexo. SWIFT’s goal was to create a culture of inclusion and facilitate the development of women in the workplace. Their Gender Networks give personal and professional development opportunities for both female and male members and there are now 13 women's or gender balance networks world-wide with thousands of members across Europe and in Canada; Chile; China; India & the USA.
Women of Oliver Wyman Employee Resource Group - Oliver Wyman (Global)
Women of Oliver Wyman (WOW) is dismantling gender bias with many dynamic initiatives. WOW pioneered a successful ‘reverse mentoring’ programme where female staff share experiences at work with their male colleagues. The network launched a leadership development and sponsorship programme to provide women with greater support on the path to partner at Oliver Wyman. Supported by I & D and Senior Leadership, WOW has developed targeted metrics to monitor progress and set best practice standards.
Women's Network - GE (USA)
GE’s Women’s Network was created in 1997 to recruit, develop, promote and retain female talent and to cultivate women’s leadership skills, business practices, personal contacts and career opportunities. It established a scholarship programme to support qualified women interested in technical and business careers, and today, is a global presence with 170 hubs in 45 countries. With workshops, speaker engagements, mentoring and networking activities, GEWN has raised over $1.4m and awarded over 280 scholarships.
Women's program UNSWAP - United Nations (Global)
UNSWAP was set up by Aparna Mehrotra and is a UN system-wide accountability framework designed to measure and progress gender equality. She introduced key measurable indicators so each agency is must show verifiable progress. UNSWAP has made remarkable changes in 5 years, addressing hidden biases by talks and workshops with senior management. Staffed by a team of empowered individuals, the UN-wide network has changed management culture at the highest level.
Women’s Network - CBRE (Global)
The Americas division of CBRE’s WNG has approximately 2,200 members: a 450% growth rate in just two years. There is a UK Maternity Policy that includes funding for coaching mothers pre and post maternity leave that has been a success in improving maternity return rates. Key initiatives include networking forums, mentoring programmes, including those for young graduates, and philanthropic efforts. Their Male Champions of Change initiative is committed to helping diversify the real estate industry.
Women’s Network, Tech Women at Intuit - Intuit (Global)
Intuit Women’s Network and Tech Women at Intuit are two networks with a common purpose: building a community and developing employees, empowering women to help other women and their communities, supporting men championing women, and promoting organisations working together. 2014 marked the company’s largest gathering of its female technical talent, sending 170 women to the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing for learning and networking.
