Principle 1: Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality
Tell us what your company is doing to advance the selected principle above:
For over 55 years Catalyst Inc. has been the leading non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating progress for women through workplace inclusion, engaging over 800 organizations in the United States, Canada, Europe, India, Australia, and Japan.
– Catalyst’s Board of Directors and Advisory Boards comprise influential business leaders across industries and regions.
– Catalyst creates cutting-edge knowledge products (most are publicly accessible) and delivers consultancy services to leading global corporations, positively impacting human capital and business results.
– Catalyst research and tools are leveraged by businesses, academia and inform public policy.
– Catalyst experts often engage the highest levels of government in Canada and the USA on issues such as the Gender Pay Gap. In 2015, the Government of Ontario commissioned Catalyst to look into Gender Diversity on Canadian Boards. All recommendations presented were accepted.
– In 2012, Catalyst Canada issued its ‘Catalyst Accord’ for Canadian public and private corporations to signal their commitment to increasing the proportion of FP500 Board Seats held by women to 25% by 2017. In 2013, 15.9% of board seats were held by women. By 2016, the proportion increased to 21.6% and 86% of Catalyst signatories have achieved 25% or greater female representation on their boards.
– Catalyst pairs ‘Board-Ready’ women leaders with CEOs/board directors of corporations through its Women On Board® initiative.
– Catalyst recognizes organizations and individuals commited to accelerating progress for women through workplace inclusion with the Catalyst Award and the Catalyst Canada Honours.
– Catalyst Canada partners with like-minded organizations such as the 30% Club, Women in Capital Markets, Minerva, and educational institutions to broaden its mission and impact.
– Internally, Catalyst prides itself on creating an inclusive and flexible work culture where women, men, visible minorities/people of colour, people with disabilities and LGBTQ individuals are encouraged to be authentic at work and are valued for their unique contributions.
– Catalyst offers free online CatalystX Inclusive Leadership Training courses. Hundreds of thousands of learners spanning the globe have completed the training.
– Catalyst’s MARC (Men Advocating Real Change) program is the leading community created for professional men who share a common commitment to creating equitable and inclusive workplaces.
Tell us why your company is advancing the selected principle above:
Catalyst’s mission is to accelerate progress for women through workplace inclusion. We believe that to achieve this objective we must engage the highest level of corporate leadership to take action on gender equality and overall workplace inclusion so that diverse groups can thrive and contribute their best. That is why we have established relationships with senior leaders of organizations, governments, academia and affiliated partners to drive the most impactful change.
Based on 55 years of experience, research and studying leading corporations, Catalyst has consistently seen that without senior leadership buy-in, effective change will neither happen nor become entrenched within organizational culture.
Principle 6: Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy
Tell us what your company is doing to advance the selected principle above:
Catalyst Inc. brings together a community of over 800 organizations in the United States, Canada, Europe, India, Australia, and Japan. Catalyst is the leading non-profit global thought leader with a mission to accelerate progress for women through workplace inclusion. Catalyst is dedicated to engaging organizations to create inclusive workplaces where employees representing every dimension of diversity can thrive.
– For 55 years, Catalyst has provided cutting-edge knowledge products on a broad range of issues to promote gender equality in workplaces. Research Reports, Practical Tools, Organizational Practices and various types of Events cover topics ranging from the Business Case for Diversity and Inclusion, Corporate Governance, Creating and Sustaining Employee Resource Groups, Inclusive Leadership, Engaging Men as Champions of Inclusion, Sponsorship/Mentorship, Talent Management, Women in Leadership, Women of Colour/Visible Minorities and Work-Life Effectiveness.
– Catalyst also provides Advisory Services to its corporate supporters guiding organizations on how to create actionable solutions that embed cultural change and drive business results through inclusiveness.
– Catalyst, through the Catalyst Award recognizes businesses which have demonstrated positive and impactful changes in their workplace culture advancing women and diverse groups. In addition, the Catalyst Canada Honours recognition program, celebrates exceptional role models for championing progress for women through workplace inclusion.
– One of Catalyst’s community initiatives, MARC (Men Advocating Real Change) leadership program, has shifted the paradigm for men’s engagement in promoting inclusive work cultures. This unique initiative has become the leading community created for professional men who share a common commitment to creating equitable and inclusive workplaces.
– Catalyst is the leading non-profit advocacy group providing a global repository of solid research and practical tools utilized by businesses. Catalyst also engages academia and informs public policy. For example, Catalyst’s experts have presented to the highest levels of government in Canada and the USA on the Gender Pay Gap.
– Catalyst supports and partners with a host of like-minded organizations globally to broaden its mission and impact, including; All in Together, Ascend Canada, Ceres, edX, Inkluziva, Japan Women’s Innovative Network, LeanIn, 30% Club, The Representation Project , Talent Lab, Women in Capital Markets, Minerva, and many more.
Tell us why your company is advancing the selected principle above:
Slow pace of women’s advancement on corporate boards:-
Catalyst monitors the progress of women in corporate leadership through its Census Research project which reports on the proportion of Corporate Board Director and Senior Executives by gender in Canada and the USA. In addition, the Catalyst Information Centre displays data on the share of board seats in major European and Asia-Pacific countries using multiple sources along with a host of other knowledge products.
1. Influence Leading Corporations and Firms around the world:-
Through its work with over 800 leading global organizations, Catalyst partners to promote the inclusion of women and diverse groups to contribute their full potential at work, which research shows drives better business performance.
2. Work with community stakeholders, officials and others to eliminate discrimination and exploitation and open opportunities for women and girls:-
Catalyst has established strategic relationships with a cross section of stakeholders who advocate for more opportunities for women. It does so by collaborating with top leaders in the largest global corporations, firms, academia, government and other non-profit organizations. Through its cutting edge research Catalyst exposes issues of inequality for women and diverse groups in workplaces and offers practical solutions.
3. Promote and recognize women’s leadership in, and contributions to, their communities and ensure sufficient representation of women in any community consultation:-
Catalyst, through its research-informed initiatives, continues to advocate for increased representation of women in senior leadership roles. One impactful initiative is the Women On Board® initiative in Canada which promotes the appointment of ‘CEO-endorsed’ women to corporate boards by pairing them with CEOs and Board Chairs of leading corporations/firms. Over 50% of Women On Board® alumnae have been appointed to corporate boards. The program was expanded to the USA in 2015 and is already making an impact.
4. Use philanthropy and grants programs to support company commitment to inclusion, equality and human rights:-
Catalyst is able to continue its mission through the generous funding of the business community. These donations are made specifically to further our research and advocacy work, and to support our focused impact within the business community and broader society (government and academia).