eve-olution newsletter October 2005
Survey results - Women Leaders Speak Out September 2005
To view the report Women high-flyers in search of the 'cultured' company, click here. To view the results of this year's survey, click here. (Microsoft Powerpoint presentation, 709kb)
Press and Publicity
Today's career woman can't resist a company with 'culture'.
Front Page, Daily Telegraph Business Section
The survey was also covered in the FT, the Times and various other trade publications.
Tracey Carr is urging senior managers to listen to what the women in the survey are saying: "Most women don't speak out about these issues and then find reasons to leave. If companies chose the 'cultured' approach to commerce they will soon attract and retain some of the best talent around. That's got to be good for business."
eve-olution are working towards creating many more 'cultured' companies in partnership with the Opportunity Now campaign led by Business in the Community, and existing clients such as, Barclays Bank, Citigroup, Alliance & Leicester and Invensys. The work involves in-house programmes such as 'Mars and Venus at Work' and the Creative Female Leader.
Here's what people had to say...
"A truly 'cultured' organisation, as rare as they are, provides huge benefits to both men and women. Those leaders still in denial on this subject often think this is about positive discrimination - the reality is that this is about creating a people and service proposition that delivers very real competitive advantage. The opportunity to realise a competitive advantage is now - as the survey clearly indicates a majority of organisations do not yet recognise this gap in their performance."
Jan Babiak, UK Area Managing Partner, Ernst & Young's most senior woman
"People found it refreshing that we acknowledged there were differences. The main aim is to explore the differences between men and women in the workplace and identify ways that the organisation can benefit."
Lynne Fisher, head of diversity and talent management at Citigroup (commenting on eve-olution's work at Citigroup)
"As we work to understand and appreciate the subtleties around challenges for today's female leaders, qualitative evidence such as this is crucial in helping to define and address recurring negative trends so that we may work to improve the numbers of and environment for women at the top of organisations in the UK."
Event sponsor Claire Logie, Director, Women in Business at Bank of Scotland
"The pressure on employers to map out a pathway for young women to become the next generation of senior female executives is imperative. Demographics dictate an ever shrinking talent pool and an increasing need to find ways to attract, retain and promote the very best talent - regardless of gender. If the approach that has been taken in the last 30 years, since discrimination laws were introduced, had worked, there would simply be more women leaders in top jobs. Careers need to be less linear. men may be able to climb up the greasy pole without any detours on the way but women still find it much harder. Ways back to promotion need to be found for women who have taken career breaks."
Elaine Aarons, partner in international law firm Eversheds who specialises in discrimination law
"Understanding the challenges, valuing the differences and how women appreciate the benefits of mentoring... This is timely survey that enables us to better understand how gender diversity can create a smarter business environment."
Gita Patel, Voted one of the most influential Asians in Britain today
"The survey is fascinating both in what it tells us about women's roles within organisation, and by implication what it tells us more generally about diversity within corporate life. There's been lots of good work been done, but more needs to happen if organisations are to harness the potential business opportunities diversity offers. Remember if we don't look like our customers, then our customers will start to look like us - and in a homogenous culture that's likely to mean lost business."
Paul da Gama, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Post Office Ltd