Opportunities for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are driven by inclusion across career environments, according to a study by IBM and the Boston College Center of Work & Family.
The case study outlines how IBM brings women in STEM together for development opportunities, provides them resources to advance their careers and share best practices across the industry.
In 1899, IBM hired its first female employee. The study shows how IBM links its culture to growing and supporting an inclusive work environment to create a culture where women in technology can thrive and succeed.
“IBM has focused on building and fostering an inclusive career environment,” said Lindsay-Rae McIntyre, chief diversity officer of IBM.
The study outlines IBM’s approaches to helping women advance including:
Identify talent early
Through IBM’s Executive Potential & Extraordinary Leadership Identification program, managers identify IBMers who display extraordinary leadership and initiate a development journey with them.
Focus on technical women
IBM’s Technical Women’s Pipeline program aligns women with an executive coach and sponsor, offers face-to-face workshops and learning labs, and creates a development roadmap to track progress and readiness for the next milestone in their career path.
Lift up women around the world:
The company’s Elevate program develops leadership skills through education, experience and exposure.
Recently, IBM partnered with Girls Who Code to close the gender gap in technology, recruiting girls in grades 6-12 for after-school clubs and summer programs to learn coding and learn about career opportunities in technology.
IBM said its Tech Re-Entry program, together with the Society of Women Engineers and iRelaunch, enables women to rejoin the tech industry.
