Life at Deloitte

International Women’s Day 2014

Women in leadership: What’s in it for men?

Traditional approaches to diversity are getting women in the door, but not advancing sufficient women to leadership. What is often forgotten when discussing women’s empowerment is the role of men. Most leadership positions are held by men, and unless they accept the business case for the recruitment and advancement of women to executive positions, little is likely to change.

On 5 March, 2014, the Deloitte Global Diversity team hosted the 6th annual International Women’s Day (IWD) webcast:  Empower. Invest. Accelerate. Women in leadership: What’s in it for men?

This event brought together two distinguished business leaders to take a deep dive into exploring the role of men in general, and male leaders in particular, in supporting the business case for the attraction, retention, development, and advancement of women to leadership in organizations and society.

Download a recording of the webcast and join the conversation across Deloitte’s social media networks (#IWD 2014) about the role men play in the advancement of women to leadership. It’s an opportunity to share insights and spotlight and explore moves organizations and governments can take to change traditional policies and bolster the ranks of women in leadership.

The International Women’s Day 2014 panelists and moderator

Panelist: Steven Almond, FCA
Global Chairman, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited
Managing Partner, International Markets – Deloitte UK

On 1 June 2011, after eight years on the Global Executive, Steve was elected Chairman of the Global Board, Deloitte’s highest level governance forum. Previous global roles include Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Clients and Global Managing Partner. He has been a member of the Deloitte UK Executive Committee for 13 years and was a member of the board of partners for nearly 15 years. His current UK role is Managing Partner, International Markets. Steve has over 30 years audit experience primarily in the Financial Services Sector. His experience outside Deloitte includes a two-year secondment to the Bank of England and 18 months as Group Head of the Financial Division of J P Morgan Securities in London.

Panelist: Shelly Lazarus
Chairman Emeritus
Ogilvy & Mather

Shelly has been working, as she would say it, “In the business I love,” for more than four decades, almost all of that time at Ogilvy & Mather. Shelly rose through the ranks, assuming positions of increasing responsibility in the management of the company, including president of O&M Direct North America, Ogilvy & Mather New York and Ogilvy & Mather North America. She was named worldwide CEO of Ogilvy & Mather in 1996 and Chairman in 1997. She became Chairman Emeritus in July 2012. Shelly has been a frequent advertising industry honoree and serves on the boards of several corporate, philanthropic, and academic institutions. She is a member of Advertising Women of New York, The Committee of 200, Council on Foreign Relations, The Business Council, and Women’s Forum Inc., and she has also served as Chairman of the American Association of Advertising Agencies.

Moderator: Vanessa Borchers
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited
Global Leader, Diversity

Vanessa Borchers is the DTTL Global Leader, Diversity. Currently based in South Africa, Vanessa has 23 years of experience at Deloitte. She has worked in South Africa, the United States, and the Netherlands. During this time, she has served large multinationals in various industries and capacities, including as an audit partner and Global Lead Client Service Partner for one of the organization’s largest clients. Borchers qualified as a chartered accountant in South Africa and has an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She is married and has two daughters.

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