78% of diverse women at Procter & Gamble participate in its affinity groups, which include the Hispanic Leadership Team and African Ancestry Leadership Network.

Female executives flocked to the Women’s Leadership Seminar held by this consumer goods company in November 2011, where the need to foster an inclusive environment and accelerate gains for diverse women were among topics discussed. To enact transformative change, management often seeks input from multicultural employees, who have long shared their experience with executives through reverse-mentoring programs. These days, diverse high performers also serve as “multicultural ambassadors” and advise senior leadership on the development of important employee policies and career initiatives. Managers engage in formal diversity education and make use of the guide Head Start: Building Cultural Fluency with Multiculturals, which explores workers’ unique backgrounds and details ways to maximize their strengths. In the market development organization, diverse employees who change positions or get a new manager also meet with their direct managers to discuss mutual expectations.

Chairman, President & CEO: Robert McDonald

CDO & Senior VP, Research & Development Global Hair & Color: William Gipson

Multicultural women represent…

9% of total employees

5% of corporate executives

8% of senior managers

9% of the top fifth of all earners

17% of all promotions to manager, senior manager or corporate executive in 2011

0% of the board of directors in 2011

What percentage of multicultural women employees participated in mentoring in 2011? 70%

What percentage of multicultural women employees participated in affinity groups in 2011? 78%