Catalyst Announces 2014 Catalyst Award-Winning Initiatives (Media Release)

Exceptional initiatives from Kimberly-Clark and Lockheed Martin to be honored at the Catalyst Awards Dinner, celebrating the advancement of women in the workplace.

NEW YORK, NY (January 29, 2014)—Catalyst announces that initiatives from Kimberly-Clark and Lockheed Martin are the recipients of the 2014 Catalyst Award, the prestigious annual award honoring innovative initiatives that expand opportunities for women and business.

“This year we celebrate two unique initiatives in two very different industries,” says Deborah Gillis, President and CEO, Catalyst. “What they have in common is a commitment to making the advancement of women part of company culture, be it in engineering or consumer products. With a strong focus on strengthening pipelines of talented women, these Award-winning initiatives prove that having a diverse workforce benefits all and has a transformational impact on business, communities, and lives.”

Since 1987, the Catalyst Award has recognized cutting-edge initiatives that advance women in the workplace. Catalyst Award-winning initiatives are evaluated in a rigorous year-long process against the following criteria: business rationale, senior leadership support, accountability, communication, employee engagement, innovation and measurable results.

This year’s Catalyst Award-winning initiatives are:

• Kimberly-Clark Corporation—Unleash Your Power: Strengthening the Business With Women Leaders: This global, enterprise-wide initiative addresses Kimberly-Clark’s need to look, think, and behave like the people who use and buy its products.
• Lockheed Martin Corporation—Women Accelerating Tomorrow: This U.S.-based initiative comprises a variety of programs, processes, and tools to support women’s advancement as part of a broad strategic effort to attract, develop, and retain diverse talent in a highly technical and engineering-focused industry.

Close to 100 CEOs of multinational corporations and firms, along with an anticipated 1,600 guests, will celebrate the Catalyst Award-winning initiatives at the gala 2014 Catalyst Awards Dinner, held at The Waldorf Astoria in New York on April 2, 2014. The Dinner is sponsored by Alcoa Foundation and Shell Oil Company, and Co-Chaired by Ilene H. Lang, Retired President & CEO, Catalyst, and Peter Voser, Chair, Catalyst Board of Directors, and Former Chief Executive Officer, Royal Dutch Shell plc. The Board Reception is sponsored by The Home Depot, Inc. and General Motors Company. Earlier in the day, the 2014 Catalyst Awards Conference, also taking place at The Waldorf Astoria, will feature hot topic discussions and inspirational speakers. Walmart is the lead sponsor; Unilever is a supporting sponsor.

ABOUT CATALYST
Founded in 1962, Catalyst is the leading nonprofit organization expanding opportunities for women and business. With offices in the United States, Canada, Europe, India, and Australia, and more than 700 members, Catalyst is the trusted resource for research, information, and advice about women at work. Catalyst annually honors exemplary organizational initiatives that promote women’s advancement with the Catalyst Award.

ABOUT THE CATALYST AWARD
The Catalyst Award annually honors innovative organizational approaches with proven, measurable results that address the recruitment, development, and advancement of all women, including diverse women. Since 1987, Catalyst has recognized 82 initiatives and at 76 organizations from around the world whose groundbreaking diversity and inclusion initiatives have changed workplaces, communities, and lives.