I don’t know of an organization around that isn’t interested in retaining its most successful women professionals and of promoting those professionals to leadership positions. Yet, many businesses struggle with exactly how to accomplish that feat. 

 

The folks at Catalyst (www.catalystwomen.org) have a couple of suggestions. Last week they recognized initiatives undertaken by four businesses to expand opportunities for women at work. Among the honorees were:

 

Goldman Sachs – Designed a Senior Women’ Initiative to increase the number of women business leaders globally. The Initiative is credited with doubling the number of women managing directors and partners between 2001 and 2006.

 

PepsiCo – Developed a Women of Color Multicultural Alliance, which focuses on attracting, retaining, and developing women of color in middle and senior management positions. The Alliance is credited with increasing the number of women in senior management positions as well as doubling representation of women of color on PepsiCo’s board of directors.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers – Created the Unique People Experience to foster a culture of inclusion. A significant element of the Experience is redesigning the traditional way work is done to a more team-based approach where groups of staff and partners serve a portfolio of clients. The Experience is credited with increasing women’s representation at the partner level by 30% in a five-year period.

 

Scotiabank – Implemented an Advancement of Women Initiative, which uses existing processes and procedures to ensure that women are considered for top management positions. The effort is credited with doubling the number of women at senior levels in a three-year period.

 

For more information, read Dana Mattioli’s artice, “Programs to Promote Female Managers Win Citations,” in the January 30^th Wall Street Journal, page B7.