Accenture sets goal to achieve gender balanced workforce by 2025

By Digital News Asia June 19, 2017

Currently has 150,000 women, nearly 40% of its global workforce
Grown its percentage of women managing directors to 25% globally

Accenture sets goal to achieve gender balanced workforce by 2025

ACCENTURE announced that it will achieve a gender-balanced workforce, with 50% women and 50% men, by 2025.

“We believe strongly that gender equality is essential for a high-performing, innovation-led organisation,” said Accenture chairman and CEO Pierre Nanterme (pic).

“Diversity makes our business stronger and more innovative and, most important, it makes the world better. With this new goal, we are sending an important message to our people and our clients that our future workforce is an equal workforce.”

Currently, Accenture has 150,000 women, nearly 40% of its global workforce. Over the past several years the company has set – and achieved – milestones on the path to gender equality. These include:

Surpassing its goal to reach 40% women new hires in 2016.
Promoting its largest percentage of women to the managing director level in 2016 (30%).
Growing its percentage of women managing directors to 25% globally

Accenture sets goal to achieve gender balanced workforce by 2025

Accenture has taken a number of steps to attract, retain, advance and sponsor women on its path to achieving a gender balanced workforce, including:

Sponsoring a global executive leadership programme for the company’s most senior women. Since its inception six years ago, approximately 80% of the women in the programme have been promoted or have significantly expanded their areas of responsibility.
Delivering on a commitment to transparency. The company has set and published clear, measurable targets to grow its number of women, and has published its workforce demographics in many countries including the US, Canada, South Africa, Japan, India and Asean countries.
Launching initiatives that provide women with in-demand skills. For example, the company’s Women in Technology programme helps fast-track the careers of high-performing women toward the position of Technical Architect, a high-demand and short-supply role.
Collaborating across business and government to further gender equality in the workplace, with commitments that include the White House Equal Pay Pledge, Paradigm for Parity, and Catalyst CEO Champions for Change.

“We embrace diversity as a source of creativity and competitive advantage,” said Accenture chief leadership & human resources officer Ellyn Shook.

“As we work toward ‘50 by 25,’ our ultimate goal is to create a truly human environment where people have a real sense of belonging, where they can show up every day, be who they are and be their best, both professionally and personally.”