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Busting Barriers And Transforming Workplaces (Blog Post)

January 27, 2015

I’ve experienced few moments prouder than when I called John Watson, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Chevron Corporation, and A.G. Lafley, Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Procter & Gamble, to let them know their companies’ initiatives had won our prestigious Catalyst Award. These are very accomplished men, personally committed to creating workplaces where women and men have equal opportunities to advance—and winning our Award was a huge honor for them both. The initiatives created by their organizations serve as models for other top companies, showing what can be accomplished when leaders are unafraid to think differently, speak differently, and act differently.

Every year since 1987, Catalyst has honored initiatives designed to help advance women in the workplace. Since becoming President & CEO of Catalyst, I’ve often been approached by executives who want to know: how can my company win the Catalyst Award?

The short answer is that the Catalyst Award goes to programs that bust through barriers, transform obstacles into advantages, and have proven, measurable results.

The long answer is that deciding who we are going to honor is a rigorous, year-long process requiring hundreds of hours of labor and travel on the part of our staff and a serious commitment to verifying what applicants tell us about their organizations. Like most people who grew up dreaming of a career in politics, I appreciate a good speech. But at the end of the day, it’s evidence, not words, that counts.

Why are initiatives from Chevron and Procter & Gamble this year’s winners? Because their programs have gone beyond rhetoric. They aren’t window-dressing; they are central to the way these companies do business. Though they are from two very different industries, this year’s Catalyst Award-winning initiatives share a strong commitment to valuing and cultivating talent across organizations.

Chevron’s US-based initiative, The Chevron Way: Engineering Opportunities for Women, is designed to attract, retain, develop, and advance women throughout the company and, more broadly, to help increase Chevron’s focus on people, with the ultimate goal of strengthening the organization.

Everyone Valued, Everyone Included, Everyone Performing at Their Peak™ is Procter & Gamble’s global initiative and strategy to develop talent, with a focus on advancing women leaders across regions. P&G’s comprehensive talent management strategy includes strong leadership-development components, such as training, career development, and mentorship/sponsorship opportunities.

My best advice for those who aspire to win our Award is to challenge the status quo. Take a look around your boardroom and executive suites. If women’s faces are few and far between, don’t just ask why—commit to doing something about it. Never accept incremental change when profound change is possible.

I can’t guarantee that you’ll win an award. But I promise you will change the world.

 

 

The views expressed herein are solely those of the guest blogger and do not necessarily reflect those of Catalyst. Catalyst does not endorse any political candidates. The post and the comments are presented only for the purpose of informing the public.

Deborah Gillis

Former President & Chief Executive Officer

Growing up in a tiny village in rural Nova Scotia, far from any center of power, Deborah Gillis was inspired by a group of women who successfully advocated for gender equality rights to be included in the Canadian constitution. As a result, her high school debate topic was, “Be it resolved that women earn the same as men.” And so began a career dedicated to giving everyone equal opportunity to succeed. Her early work in the public sector focused on social justice policy issues: employment equity, anti-racism, and LGBTQI rights. As a consultant and practice leader for two global professional services firms, she advised clients on strategies for aligning talent and business priorities, and championed initiatives to mentor women. Then as a candidate for elected office, Deborah first truly understood the power of role models to inspire girls and young women. That experience and surviving breast cancer motivated her to seek out more deeply meaningful work. Deborah found it at Catalyst, a global nonprofit that works with some of the world’s most powerful CEOs and leading companies to help build workplaces that work for women. Joining in 2006 as Executive Director of Catalyst Canada, she became Chief Operating Officer in 2012, and then President and CEO in 2014. In her time as president, she put her passion to work as a tireless advocate, opening doors for other women so that we can change the world—one fair, diverse, and inclusive workplace at a time. A recognized thought leader and global influencer, in 2016 Deborah was named as one of Canadian Business magazine’s 10 most influential Canadians, and that same year she received the Foreign Policy Association Medal. Most recently, in 2017, Deborah accepted an honorary Doctor of Laws honoris causafrom Cape Breton University for dedicating her life’s work to advocating for women’s rights and equality. She serves on the Board of Governors of St. Francis Xavier University.