International Conference organized by BPW Estonia about Gender Equality and best practices

1. The value of Gender
Equality
International Conference BPW Estonia
in Tallinn 9 November 2012
Sabine Schmelzer
Regional Coordinator BPW Europe
www.bpw-europe.org

2. Why Gender Balance is great
for Business
‣ “companies where women are
‣ “gender diverse boards show most strongly represented at
greater evidence of a diversity board or top management
of thought and perspective and level are also the companies
at the same time, greater unity that perform best on both
and collegiality” (Insync Surveys 2010) organisational and financial
performance” (McKinsey 2007)
‣ “companies need a mix of men
and women - teams with a ‣ “companies with women in
gender balance achieve the best senior management
results in most areas that drive outperform peers in return on
innovation – they are more likely assets and annual sales
to experiment, share knowledge growth” (Columbia University & University
and complete tasks” (London Business of Maryland 2011)
School 2007)
www.bpw-europe.org

3. Our founder: Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips
www.bpw-europe.org

4. Goals of BPW
To advocate and lobby for professional women
To ensure equality and equal opportunity
To develop the professional, business and leadership
potential of women
To empower women in the ecomony, networking and skill
building
To support young women (Young BPW)
www.bpw-europe.org

5. Structure of BPW
BPW
International
North Latin Asia/
America America Europe Africa
Pacific
5 Regions
Switzer-
Italy Germany France
land
Federations Young
BPW
(up to 35)
Clubs 280
40 Clubs
Clubs
www.bpw-europe.org

6. BPW International has
representatives or consultative status:
 UNO – ECOSOC
 CSW Commission on the status of women
 ILO International Labour Organization
 EWL European Women„s Lobby
 WHO World Health Organization
 FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
www.bpw-europe.org

7. You can develop your skills on
different levels
And we can lobby
International
on these levels!
National
Many learning
opportunities for Local
Young BPWs!
www.bpw-europe.org

8. BPW International Awareness
Campaign: Equal Pay Day
 Equal Pay Day was initiated in 2009 by BPW International as an
international awareness campaign
 All across the globe – from Australia to Taiwan, Korea via 16
European countries to Brazil and Canada. All these BPW
federations are organizing an equal pay day in their countries.
www.bpw-europe.org

9. Equal Pay Day in Europe
started by BPW (2008 – 2012)
Equal Pay Day
in 18 countries
up to now.
Number of
activities
increased every
year.
www.bpw-europe.org

10. WEPs Women’s
Empowerment Principles
Equality Means Business
www.bpw-europe.org

11. Created and Launched by
Lead NGO Collaborator: BPW International
www.bpw-europe.org

12. BPWs Role
 Leading NGO Collaborator
 Active through our BPW Federations and Clubs
worldwide
 Organizing WEPs signatory events
 Working on initiatives and projects that support
the WEPs
– Equal Pay Day (WEP 2 and 6)
– Educational programs like PEP, Mentoring, Keys to
Achievement (WEP 4)
Bringing the voice of women to business...
www.bpw-europe.org

13. The 7 Principles
1. Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality
2. Treat all women and men fairly at work – respect and support
human rights and nondiscrimination.
3. Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all women and
men workers.
4. Promote education, training and professional development for
women.
5. Implement enterprise development, supply chain and
marketing practices that empower women.
6. Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy.
7. Measure and publicly report on progress to achieve gender
equality.
www.bpw-europe.org

14. CEO Statement of Support:
• signals intention to integrate
and implement the WEPs
• meets corporate responsibility
and sustainability commitments
• advances support for equality
• provides a framework
• encourages fellow business
leaders to support the WEPs by
signing the Statement
• fosters sustainable
development in countries
• furthers companies‟
competitiveness
www.bpw-europe.org

15. Why over 420 CEOs have
signed their commitment
• Promote further competitiveness
• Bring together the broadest pool of talent
• Ensure they are meeting corporate responsibility
and sustainability commitments
• Model behaviour that reflects desired culture to
employees, fellow citizens and families
• Foster sustainable development in operating
countries
www.bpw-europe.org

16. www.bpw-europe.org

17. Best practices from
Switzerland
www.bpw-europe.org

18. Representation of Women in
Switzerland
 Only 5% of seats on the executive boards of Switzerland's 115
largest companies are occupied by women.
 Women make up 11% of the members of the boards of directors of
the 89 largest companies (Schilling Report).
 Or vice versa: 95% of the executive boards of Switzerland's 115
largest companies and 89% of boards of directors are men.
This means that
 women's share of power and income is not in line with the
proportion of women in the general population.
 Due to the small number of women in senior management positions,
the interests of women as a social group are poorly represented,
or are not represented at all.
www.bpw-europe.org

19. Many studies show:
Companies are more profitable with
more women on boards
 McKinsey studies "Why Women Matter" (1-5) show: The
higher the number of women in management
positions, the more successful a company is.
 Credit Suisse Research Institute's report on "Gender
Diversity and the Impact on Corporate Performance"
determined that over the past six years, the share prices
of companies with at least one woman on the board of
directors have outperformed those of other
companies (26 % on average over 6 years)
Despite these financial benefits, the proportion of women
on boards of directors and in management positions has
not increased significantly.
www.bpw-europe.org

20. Voluntary targets set by
companies
 Roche intends to increase the proportion of women
in management roles from 10% to 20% by 2015.
 Raiffeisen intends to increase the share of women in
management to 30% by 2015.
 COOP, Swisscom and Allianz Suisse are planning
internal guidelines
 Woman already occupy 25% of the seats on
Nestlé's board of directors.
 Die Post's has 22.2% women on the board of
directors, and the group CEO is a women (the first
one)
www.bpw-europe.org

21. Best practices:
Equal Pay Tools
1. Logib (http://www.ebg.admin.ch)
– Created by the department of Equality
– Free download, voluntary, more than 50 employees
– No data, how often applied
– Adapted in Germany
2. Equal Salary (www.equalsalary.ch)
– Salary analysis and audit process
– Label for Companies for three years
– Costs depending on number of Employees
– Promotion as «attractive employers»
www.bpw-europe.org

22. Best practices:
Databases for competent women
 Femdat
– Database for female experts (since 2002)
– Relaunch in 2013: «Womens‟ career portal»
 Getdiversity
– Women on supervisory boards
– Private initiative and business (since 2007)
 Female board pool
– Created by University of St. Gallen (2006)
– Women on supervisory boards
 Female Executives
– Private initiative
– Women for Executive positions (2011)
www.bpw-europe.org

23. Best practices:
Quota discussion in CH
 Campaign «no longer without on
the top» launched by political party
in 2011
– New initiative for temporary quotas
in 2012
 BPW Switzerland officially
supports quotas and created list of
arguments in September 2012
 Event on quotas with presidents of
many swiss womens organizations
in September 2012
www.bpw-europe.org

24. BPW Europes position
concerning quotas
 We participated in the public consultation of the
EU commission about Women in decision-
making in March 2012
 Viviane Reding gave a welcome video message
at the opening of our European congress
 The European Presidents decided in Sorrento to
sent a letter of support to Viviane Redding for
quotas.
BPW Europe supports quotas!
www.bpw-europe.org

25. Participate in the annual
European Event in May
 Networking and
Training Day in
Brussels open for all
members
 And Presidents
meeting for National
Presidents and
Delegates
www.bpw-europe.org

26. Do not only lay back, …
… the more active you are,
the more you get.
www.bpw-europe.org