Catalyzing

Catalyzing is the Catalyst blog, bringing together and amplifying diverse voices that share Catalyst’s mission to expand opportunities for women and business. Catalyzing reflects the wide range of opinions, ideas, and experiences of Catalyst employees, incorporating perspectives from our offices in North America, Europe, Asia, and beyond. It also features non-Catalyst industry leaders, experts, and academics committed to changing workplaces and lives. 

  • Catalyzing
    Welcome, Alex Johnston

    I’m excited to introduce Canadian members and friends of Catalyst to our new Executive Director, Alex Johnston. Alex will work with members and our Catalyst Canada team to shape a strategy for the continued growth and advancement of gender equity in Canadian business.

    I first met Alex about six...

    October 25, 2012 by Deborah Gillis

  • Catalyzing
    If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say, Try Listening

    In this timely take on the United States election season, Catalyst’s Emily Cohen, Knowledge Management Librarian, argues that strength can be drawn from the differences that divide us—provided we respect our opponents first.  -Ilene H. Lang

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    As the United States presidential election...

    October 23, 2012 by Emily Cohen

  • Catalyzing
    Take 5: Pay Gap

    When women are paid less—just because they are women—the implication is that they are worth less. This is why closing the gender pay gap is among the most important fronts in our fight for equality in the workplace and beyond.

    But we can’t fix what we can’t see. Today’s Take 5 highlight...

    October 10, 2012 by Ilene H. Lang

  • Catalyzing
    A Critical Mass

    The challenges women face in the workplace—gender stereotypes, unintended biases, sexism, and more—can’t be solved by women alone. That’s why Catalyst created MARC: Men Advocating Real Change.

    MARC is an online community created for men committed to achieving equality in the workplace....

    October 8, 2012 by Ilene H. Lang

  • Catalyzing
    Changing Times; Changing Needs

    When Canadian families sit down to Thanksgiving dinner this weekend, most of them will not consist of a mother, father, 2.5 children, and a dog catching the crumbs under the table.

    According to Statistics Canada’s recent 2011 Census of Population: Families, Households, Marital Status,...

    October 4, 2012 by Deborah Gillis

  • Catalyzing
    Values in Motion

    It’s the nature of Catalyst’s business that we spend a lot of time in meetings, demonstrating our values with words. Words are important, and our daily currency. But those values—connect, engage, inspire, and impact—are also verbs.

    So it was especially fitting to demonstrate those values...

    September 25, 2012 by Deborah Gillis

  • Catalyzing
    Take Five: Sponsorship

    When asked the reason for their success, most business leaders point to someone in their past who took more than a passive interest in their career and offered advice and championship at critical times. We know that having a sponsor who can provide access to the informal networks within an...

    September 14, 2012 by Deborah Gillis

  • Catalyzing
    C This

    Sweeping changes are afoot down under. Once passed, Australia’s Workplace Gender Equality Act will compel companies to report the gender composition of their boards and share salary data on their women and men employees. The law also targets gender discrimination in relation to family and caring...

    September 14, 2012 by Ilene H. Lang

  • Catalyzing
    Labour Day: Time for Change

    I hope everyone has enjoyed the last long weekend of summer.

    But Labour Day is more than one final taste of summer before we get back to the routines of September. It’s a time to recognize the efforts of labour to achieve fairness and safety in our workplaces.

    It’s also a time to recognize the...

    September 5, 2012 by Deborah Gillis

  • Catalyzing
    Summers Past, Part II

    Last week on Catalyzing I featured a touching story by a Catalyst employee named Jennette about what she lost—and gained—from a fire that swept through her apartment building in July. Today, I’m happy to present the rest of the responses to my all-staff question: “What did you do this summer?”...

    September 5, 2012 by Ilene H. Lang