This review is part of the Catalyst staff book review series, in which Catalyst staffers highlight works that deepen our understanding of the experiences of women and members of marginalized communities so that we can build solutions to systemic barriers to equity in our communities and workplaces. Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed by Men by Caroline Criado Perez is a wake-up call that women are systematically discriminated against—but that much of the time, we don’t even know it. A lack of data about women—our priorities, experiences, even our biology—has consequences that are af ..read more

In your multinational company, are employees living in different regions and working at different levels offered the same benefits package? In many cases, the answer is no. In modern workplaces with diverse workforces, it’s all too common to witness disparities in the benefits offered to frontline or junior employees compared to colleagues in higher positions, or to see certain benefits only accessed or used by some employees. At the recent Catalyst webinar “Equalising Benefits to Drive Employee Engagement,” top diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) leaders in EMEA shared their expertise on h ..read more

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) can be powerful tools for organizations striving to advance an inclusive culture and support employee development. But how, exactly, do you make your ERGs effective drivers of workplace inclusion? Dow Chemical’s Shruti Bahadur, Global Employee Experience and ERG Leader, and Tiffany D. Torain, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Relationship Manager for the Great Lakes Bay Region, offered up these helpful guidelines for maximizing ERG potential at the 2024 Catalyst Awards. Above all else, it’s key to have an intentional focus and take deliberate action to drive mean ..read more

This is the inaugural review in the Catalyst staff book review series, in which Catalyst staffers highlight works that deepen our understanding of the experiences of women and members of marginalized communities so that we can build solutions to systemic barriers to equity in our communities and workplaces. By Joy Ohm Love. Respect. Bravery. Honesty. Humility. Wisdom. Truth. These are the seven principles that guide Anishinaabe life and serve as the north star for Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City by Tanya Talaga, the keynote speaker at 2023 Catalyst Hono ..read more

The gender pay gap (the difference between the earnings for men and women) for women of color is a serious obstacle to racial and gender equity. In the US, Black women and Latinas face the widest wage gap, according to Pew research, earning only 70% and 65% as White men based on median hourly earnings. White and Asian women earn 83% and 93% as much as White men, respectively. 1 With pay transparency laws changing across the US and UK, pay equity is now becoming a standard practice among leading organizations. More importantly, it is a key competitive differentiator for those looking to attract ..read more

In celebration of Women’s History Month (March in the US, UK, and Australia), Catalyst is recognizing people committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and respectful and rewarding work environments who create a powerful force leading to a massive wave of change—what we call the Catalyst Effect. Two staff members of the Catalyst community—Paula Hornbaker, Product Executive and P&G Secondee, along with Julie Nugent, Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Services and Community—shared their own examples of the Catalyst Effect in their lives. Supporter companies can learn more in t ..read more

Attracting top talent and creating a strong workplace culture remain some of the biggest challenges for HR and DEI leaders today. For companies focused on remaining an employer of choice, the Catalyst Award is one way to demonstrate commitment to their people. The Catalyst Award recognizes outstanding organizational diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives that create workplaces that work for women. The winning initiative must embody programs, practices, and systems that drive inclusion across employees. So, what does it take to achieve excellence in equity? This year’s winners, Seph ..read more

Catalyst celebrated International Women’s Day (8 March) and Women’s History Month (March in the US, UK, and Australia) with a webinar, Driving the Catalyst Effect: Women Leaders Cultivating Workplace Equity, where we discussed the Catalyst Effect—when people committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and respectful and rewarding work environments create a powerful force leading to a massive wave of change. We reached out to webinar participant Zabeen Hirji, executive advisor, future of work, Deloitte Canada, and former chief human resources officer, RBC, about how to make a difference and ..read more

Named one of Savoy magazine’s 2023 “Most Influential Executives in Diversity & Inclusion,” Melonie Parker, Chief Diversity Officer, Google is a force for change. Today she leads a team that creates a positive ripple effect across the organization and technology industry. At the recent Catalyst Awards, Melonie shared her path from a small town in North Carolina to the chief DEI role at the tech giant. Hers is a legacy of activism and groundbreakers. Melonie’s parents marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and her mother was the first Black bank teller in her town. She and her brother wer ..read more

Melonie Parker, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Google recently sat down with Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO and President, Ariel Investments to hear Mellody’s story of rise within the corporate ranks and her hope for the future and women of color in leadership roles. This interview was shared as part of the 2024 Catalyst Awards. Get the latest updates Sign up to receive reminders for upcoming webinars, roundtables, and conferences. Transcript 00:00:13,555 Mellody, it’s so great to see you again. I still think fondly of when you came to Google a few years ago at our Women of Color con ..read more