Catalyzing

Catalyzing is the Catalyst blog, bringing together and amplifying diverse voices that share Catalyst’s mission to expand opportunities for women and business. Catalyzing reflects the wide range of opinions, ideas, and experiences of Catalyst employees, incorporating perspectives from our offices in North America, Europe, Asia, and beyond. It also features non-Catalyst industry leaders, experts, and academics committed to changing workplaces and lives. 

  • Catalyzing
    And the Winners Are...

    On March 18, 1976, Catalyst held our first-ever Awards Dinner at The Waldorf=Astoria Hotel in New York City to honor women board directors who supported Catalyst’s mission. Reflecting the mindset of the time, a 1979 New York Times article in the Family/Style section highlighted that year’s...

    January 25, 2011 by Ilene H. Lang

  • Catalyzing
    Let Them Jump

    Women can't jump?

    The International Olympic Committee said it “needs more time” to decide the fate of women’s ski jumping in the 2014 Winter Games. The committee met late last year to discuss, among other issues, possible inclusion of the high-flying sport banned in years past.

    You read...

    January 20, 2011 by Ilene H. Lang

  • Catalyzing
    C This

    American accounting firms lead the way in providing flexible work arrangements. Flex policies saved Deloitte more than $45 million a year by reducing turnover, while PricewaterhouseCoopers’ estimated turnover dropped to 15 percent a year, from 24 percent. “Every night, our assets walk out the...

    January 14, 2011 by Ilene H. Lang

  • Catalyzing
    A New ERA?

    Are women “persons”? Not according to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s reading of the U.S. Constitution.

    Recently asked whether the 14th Amendment prohibits discrimination based on sex, Scalia replied flatly: “It doesn’t.”

    As perplexing as this remark may sound at first, Scalia...

    January 11, 2011 by Ilene H. Lang

  • Catalyzing
    Diversify or Die

    Why does the phrase “diversify or die” get thrown around a lot when it comes to diversifying output, but not talent?

    From real estate, to retail, to the newspaper industry, and even wedding planning, the phrase refers to the idea that it’s better to not have all your eggs in one basket.

    Thi...

    January 7, 2011 by Ilene H. Lang

  • Catalyzing
    Snowpocolypse Now?

    The fierce blizzard that slammed the Northeast U.S. in the last days of 2010 reminded me of the importance of a few things: hot chocolate with marshmallows, a pair of thick waterproof boots, and a strong work-at-home business culture.

    Catalyst’s offices were closed for the holidays when the storm...

    January 4, 2011 by Ilene H. Lang

  • Catalyzing
    Holiday Wishes

    To mark the end of 2010—and my final Catalyzing post until January 2011—I asked my colleagues at Catalyst what they wish for in the days ahead for women and work. Here are Catalyst’s top ten wishes for 2011:

    We wish for…

    10. Inclusive, agile work cultures that reward results rather than...

    December 22, 2010 by Ilene H. Lang

  • Catalyzing
    C This

    Catalyst’s latest Census of female leadership in the Fortune 500 and our report, Mentoring: Necessary But Insufficient for Advancement, received strong media coverage last week. Below are two clips highlighting the new research. Also in C This, new studies point to the challenges that Indian...

    December 20, 2010 by Ilene H. Lang

  • Catalyzing
    The Ropes

    This just in: the latest Catalyst research highlights deep challenges—and potential solutions—for women seeking to climb the corporate ladder.

    For the fifth year in a row, our Census of women leaders in the Fortune 500 showed that women are stuck. Women hold only 14.4% of Executive Officer...

    December 13, 2010 by Ilene H. Lang

  • Catalyzing
    Work@Home

    Almost every weekday morning, messages with the subject “W@H” sprinkle my work email. In Catalyst-speak, this means “working from home today.” While emails like these might spike the blood pressure of managers at other organizations, for me, every “W@H” email is an indicator of just how...

    December 7, 2010 by Ilene H. Lang