IBM’s Taking the Stage™ program shows female employees how to project an aura of leadership whenever they speak at work.

Women make up 31% of employees at this technology juggernaut, and they got a big boost last year with the introduction of its North American Women’s Council. Boasting a special team that addresses the needs of multicultural women, the council pinpoints areas multicultural women would like to learn more about and organizes lectures and discussions around the topics with senior leaders. The initiative also sponsors the Multicultural Women Leadership Forum, a one-day seminar—held this year in Atlanta, Austin, TX, and Research Triangle Park, NC—that gives high-potential female employees valuable face time with executives. Reverse mentoring is being piloted through the council as a useful adjunct to existing mentoring programs already sponsored by female executives, leadership forums and diversity networks. One particular standout is the La Red MBA group for Latina women, which offers virtual speed mentoring. Women looking to move into higher management, sales or technical positions may sign up for Blue Talent, a new program in which they follow a career map for six to 18 months. Additionally, the company’s pipeline development programs have a dedicated focus on women and minorities, backed up by executive sponsorship.

Multicultural Women 9%
Chairman, President & CEO Samuel Palmisano
VP, Diversity & Workforce Program Ronald Glover

At IBM, multicultural women represent…
2% of corporate executives
4% of senior managers
4% of the top earners
11% of the company hires
1% of the company lossesNot tracked % of participants in mentoring programs
Not tracked % of participants in career counseling programs