Transformational initiative from Gap Inc. will be celebrated at the Catalyst Awards Conference and Dinner in March.
NEW YORK, NY (January 21, 2016)—Catalyst announces that Gap Inc.’s game-changing global initiative, Women and Opportunity, will be honored with the 2016 Catalyst Award, which recognizes breakthrough corporate initiatives that accelerate inclusion in the workplace and the world.
More than 1,600 guests, including CEOs, leading executives from top global corporations, professional firms, governments, NGOs, and educational institutions will celebrate Gap Inc.’s initiative at the gala 2016 Catalyst Awards Dinner, sponsored by Target and UPS, on March 16, 2016, at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Earlier in the day, the 2016 Catalyst Awards Conference, sponsored by Target, will feature Marillyn A. Hewson, Chairman, President & CEO, Lockheed Martin Corporation, in a fireside chat with Deborah Gillis, President & CEO, Catalyst. The Conference will also include solution-oriented breakout sessions focused on the inclusive leadership traits known as EACH (for Empowerment, Accountability, Courage, and Humility) that can help each of us make changes in our workplaces and lives.
“Each and every organization has the power to make transformational change for women,” says Ms. Gillis. “We are proud to recognize Gap Inc.’s commitment to ensuring that all talented individuals have equal opportunities to succeed and grow, regardless of gender and background. Gap Inc.’s remarkable results raise the bar for what can be achieved, and its initiative provides strategies that other companies can replicate to create a culture of inclusion that unlocks employee innovation.”
“We know from Catalyst research that creating an inclusive corporate culture is a critical component of any strategy for attaining sustainable change across a global organization,” says John Veihmeyer, Chairman, KPMG International, and this year’s Catalyst Awards Dinner Chair. “What Gap Inc. has done to encourage and support women in the workplace and their local communities is truly groundbreaking. Other organizations can learn from Gap Inc., in particular lessons on how to create localized strategies that drive inclusion and lead to success in an increasingly competitive landscape.”
Gap Inc.’s initiative leverages the company’s long-standing culture of equality and inclusion as a business tool to attract top talent, advance women’s representation globally, increase employee engagement and retention, and drive business results. It highlights how Gap Inc.’s leaders have become more intentional in their work, sharpening the strategic focus on gender and increasing programming that promotes women’s leadership across regions. And, it shows how existing diversity and inclusion efforts were reorganized and integrated more systematically across the organization to make a positive impact on employees’ lives and the business.
Catalyst Award-winning initiatives are evaluated in a rigorous, year-long process against criteria such as strategy and rationale, senior leadership activities, accountability and transparency, communication, employee engagement, innovation, and measurable results. Since 1987, Catalyst has recognized 85 initiatives at 79 organizations from around the world, and Gap Inc. is the first company in the fashion/accessories industry to receive the honor.
ABOUT CATALYST
Founded in 1962, Catalyst is the leading nonprofit organization accelerating progress for women through workplace inclusion. With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, India, Australia, and Japan, and more than 800 supporting organizations, Catalyst is the trusted resource for research, information, and advice about women at work.
ABOUT GAP INC.
Gap Inc. is a leading global retailer offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta, and Intermix brands. Fiscal year 2014 net sales were $16.4 billion. Gap Inc. products are available for purchase in more than 90 countries worldwide through about 3,300 company-operated stores, over 400 franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.
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