Support for women's leadership
Our commitment to women's development and advancement is integral to Ernst & Young's success. Since the time we first launched a focused effort to grow our women leaders, both personally and professionally, women have come to represent 17% of our partnership, the number of women in titled leadership positions has grown to nearly 20%, and women comprise 43% of our client-service professionals.
We have been acknowledged for our achievements in developing and advancing women in business, and we've been asked by many businesses and organizations to share our ideas and strategies for success. We're proud to have received the Catalyst Award, recognizing our effectiveness in creating a culture where women not only can participate, but can lead and excel.
The Americas Inclusiveness Team at Ernst & Young is charged with supporting local and national teams in developing our women leaders. Members of the Americas Inclusiveness Team help identify development and change-management initiatives, advise senior leadership on strategies related to gender and facilitate knowledge-sharing across Ernst & Young's business units.
Providing industry leadership in cultural change and people development is an expression of our commitment to a culture that puts our people first. To help our women succeed as they move up the ranks, we provide education, mentoring and networking opportunities geared to women’s professional needs every step of the way.
- Professional women's networks — These action-oriented groups foster the exchange of knowledge and experiences through formal and informal learning and networking events.
- Engaging men in women's advancement — One of our top priorities continues to be a focus on engaging men with gender equity. We address such issues as the differences in communication styles between men and women and how to work through these challenges. In addition, we help men to be more comfortable in mentoring and coaching women.
- Women's Leadership Conference (WLC) — One of our largest conferences in the firm, the WLC brings together Ernst & Young's top women executives with the entire Americas Executive Board as well as with selected senior male leaders and line partners. Attendees network to build relationships and to assess strategies related to mentoring, developing and advancing our women.
- Women's PLAN (Partner Leadership Alliance and Network) — This development program provides mentoring for key women leaders by our Americas Executive Board.
Initiatives such as these draw upon nationally deployed resources while offering leadership opportunities through local ownership and implementation.
Women's advancement is everyone's business
In troubled financial times, hope for a brighter future resides largely in the world's potential for renewed economic growth. What many people don't realize is that achieving such growth depends on the world's ability to expand women's participation in the global workforce. To raise awareness of this powerful force for growth, Ernst & Young conducted in-depth interviews and gained insights from leading thinkers in business, government and academia. Our research demonstrates that the increased participation of women in the world economy could significantly enhance global growth. Read more about this topic in "Groundbreakers: Using the strength of women to rebuild the world's economy".
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