In-company women’s networks

“Accent sur Elles” network at Accenture

- When was it created?  First initiative in 1999 in the USA. Creation of a business network in 2004.

- Why was it created? To promote women’s careers at the highest level and to develop gender equality

- How many people belong to it today? There are 1200 female managers, including 850 from other firms, with at least 10 years of experience in management careers.

- What are the aims and the concrete results? The association organises regular events on specific topics, quarterly meetings with people higher up in the hierarchy, internal events and workshops (quarterly breakfast meetings). In all, 90 events were organised in 2012 including the organisation of International Women’s Day in 35 countries. 100 ambassadors talk about the projects or pass on the message in offices. Training for women executives (65% were able to take advantage of this scheme) with an increase in the proportion of women and female managers in the consulting sector.

X’Elles Network at Xerox

- When was your network created? In January 2004

- Why was it created? Ghislaine Auxoux (GE 1981), today President of Xerox France, created the X'Elles network with the support of Jacques Guers (GE 1980), CEO of Xerox Europe and the whole executive committee, at the time largely made up of … men, as they quickly understood that complementarity of talent is a real corporate strategy with long-term implications that are essential in terms of both human capital and business. Its motto is: “X’Elles: measures conceived by women, for the company’s men and women.”

- What are the aims and the concrete results? Through the bias of work groups and think tanks, both male and female executives at Xerox analysed all the recruitment and development processes in place, as well as those related to women’s promotion, to better understand what prevents them from reaching key positions. Since then, many of the staff at Xerox have become aware of certain reflexes and behaviours that need changing and have taken on board the fact that mindsets must change to help women to move forward.

Connectelles network at 3 SI Group

- When was your network created? Women network of the Group was created in December 2010

- Why was it created?         
As part of a gender policy at 3SI Group, management wanted to build a network to help women across the Group, support their initiatives, and help to resolve the challenges they come across in their careers on a daily basis. As women have a different approach to difficulties than men, and as their answers are often different to their male counterparts, they can provide an original perspective and a new approach that can be really useful in mixed gender teams. The Connectelles network is chaired by Catherine Fanien (GE 1986), director of BtoC customer relations.

- How many people belong to the network today? There are 260 members

- What are the aims and the concrete results?
The network works on 4 topics that interest women:
• Balancing work and family life
• Self-confidence and making headway
• Sharing experience and good practice
• Events and activities
The concrete results:
-    16 store management committees (management of local initiatives) + 1 management committee at group level
-    A mentoring pilot programme set up in 2012 (11 pairs), with support for the mentors from an external coach. The success of the pilot programme managed by the Group’s HR team has led to mentoring being included in the training programmes.

Contact: cfanien@3si-btoc.com