Gender Diversity and Women's Networking Initiatives

Corporate India has latched on to gender diversity and doing more than it has ever to attract and retain women employees. The benefits being rolled out include flexi time, extended maternity benefits, safe work environment, affirmative action and establishing women's networking chapters.

The idea behind the women's networking chapters is to have a platform for women employees to gather, network and also learn from each other. Some organizations like GE, Deloitte and Microsoft have really taken their women’s networking chapters to new levels and leveraged them effectively to manage their diversity and talent management initiatives. Take a good look at the majority of the organization which are trying to do better on this and you will find that what helps is: -

Having a clear focus or vision for the chapter
Top / senior leadership championing the chapter
Making it local and relevant
Leveraging it as a communication and feedback channel

While having hooks in the beginning like networking lunch, fashion shows and rangoli competitions will help drive participation the true value of the women's networking chapter will be felt if it goes beyond these hooks and provides a channel for feedback, development and refinement of talent attraction and retention initiatives.