American Electric Power’s support of the Women’s International Network of Utility Professionals and IEEE Women in Engineering creates a better world for its own women.

Women forge tight alliances at this utility company, where they make up less than a fifth of employees. Up to 85 gather each month at meetings of the Executive Women’s Network to share challenges and successes. Those being considered for a position at the level of director or above are matched with projects that will help raise their profiles and offered extra mentoring and training. Women make up about a quarter of those at or above the VP level: two great examples are Lisa Barton, president of AEP Transmission, and Venita McCellon-Allen, president and CEO of the Southwestern Electric Power Company.

President & CEO: Nicholas K. Akins

VP, HR: Genevieve Tuchow

% of senior managers who are women: 13%

% of corporate executives who are women: 23%

% of promotions to manager, senior manager and corporate executive positions that went to women: 13%

% of the top 10% of the company’s earners who are women: 13%

% of corporate executives with profit-and-loss responsibility who are women: 16%

% of the executives running divisions with revenues of more than a billion dollars who are women: 30%

% of executives who report directly to the CEO who are women: 20%

% of the members of the board of directors who are women: 23%

% of female workforce participating in mentoring: <1%