It all comes down to you

What a year, what a time! It is hard to remember what it was like before, when every headline didn't seem to report on the momentous, historic, sweeping or just plain massive in scale and consequence. It is sometimes easy to forget that behind the stories are people.

While people may get overlooked in the coverage, we know that, ultimately, the biggest changes are driven by individuals. And when it comes to inclusion, every person counts – a point made clear by the upcoming Catalyst Europe symposium, as well as this month’s Thought-Starter.

We would like to thank you for your ongoing support, engagement and the unique contributions you bring. We hope that after such a big year, the holiday season brings each and every one of you time to reflect, enjoy and recharge.

Best wishes,
The Catalyst Europe AG Team

Latest Catalyst Census shows stagnation in women’s advancement

On 10 December, the much-anticipated 2008 Catalyst Census of Women Board Directors and Women Corporate Officers and Top Earners of the Fortune 500 was released. The Census annually tracks the percentage of women holding leadership positions in the largest US companies and has become the standard statistical assessment of women’s advancement in corporate leadership. In light of the downturn and current business climate, this year's lack of progress is striking. “Exceptional circumstances require exceptional leaders. Now more than ever, as companies examine how best to weather an economy in crisis, we need talented business leaders, and many of these leaders, yet untapped, are women,” said Ilene H. Lang, President and Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst, in response to the figures. For more information on the 2008 Census results and methodology, please click here.

Catalyst Europe Board grows to reflect expanded regional presence

Catalyst Europe is proud to welcome representatives of Endesa S. A., Microsoft International and Schlumberger Limited to the Catalyst Europe AG Advisory Board. The Board, composed of a select group of individuals from committed member organizations, meets twice yearly to discuss Catalyst Europe activities, new initiatives and perspectives from the field. The next meeting will take place on 11 March 2009.

Catalyst Europe “Live Thinking” event unites women’s networks

Media Corner: Catalyst on flexibility and leadership

Catalyst Europe Symposium: Revisiting Workplace Inclusion (Paris)

Catalyst Europe is delighted to announce that registration is open for the third Catalyst Europe AG Regional Symposium, to be held on 12 March 2009 in the heart of Paris. Revisiting Workplace Inclusion: The Missing Link will build on new Catalyst research that delves into the forgotten yet vital role men play in creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The full-day event is also being designed to spark stimulating discussion on the interplay between cultural norms, gender and organizational dynamics. True to previous Catalyst Europe symposia, Revisiting Workplace Inclusion will combine fresh learning with personal experience, in the aim of leaving participants both enriched and equipped with tools and practices. We invite you to register soon as space is limited.

(New) Catalyst Europe Event: Re-sourcing D&I in tough times

Catalyst Europe Sponsorship: C-cubed for instant visibility

Call for input: Practices-in-Motion

Catalyst membership: To stay ahead of the headlines

Practitioner’s Perspective – The individuals behind inclusion

“My first experience with diversity and inclusion was on the ground, and it concerned culture, not gender. As a younger manager on assignment in the US, I needed to help contract workers integrate with existing BP employees, despite differences in ethnicity, culture and age. We needed to make people aware of just how damaging exclusion could feel as an individual, and so how destructive it could be in terms of delivering business value. Basically, if we wanted to keep the business running, we needed to take inclusion to heart.
 
Today, diversity and inclusion at BP is at a more mature stage, with each Strategic Performance Unit (business group) expected to draw together diversity action plans to ensure that employees – irrespective of gender, race or culture – are given the support, flexibility and vision to perform to the best of their abilities. But it’s still about reaching individuals, making them feel part of the business and working out the best way to do so, be it on an offshore platform in Angola or in a refinery in Australia. Everyone is aware of the objectives, but ultimately the question is about what inclusion means to individuals out in the field. If it works, we are all better off – if it doesn't, then valued employees leave and the business cuts its own commercial throat.”
 
Joan L. Wales is Head of Function, Remediation Management, at BP International Limited. She is also a member of the Catalyst Europe AG Advisory Board.

Double-Take – The geography of dissatisfaction

According to the Leaders in a Global Economy: Talent Management in European Cultures report by Catalyst and Families and Work Institute, Latin European leaders perceived promotion decisions and the allocation of work assignments as less fair than leaders in other regions did. Women leaders in Latin Europe were also least likely to perceive promotion decisions and work assignments as fair.