Module Four: Advancing Women Employees
Numerous studies show that companies with gender-diverse boards and leaders are more profitable and more resilient than those lacking diversity. 1 Yet women are under-represented in leadership and management positions in most utilities 2, due to lack of women in STEM fields, entrenched processes for promotion and succession planning that favor the status quo, cultural norms that inhibit women’s participation and advancement, and care-giving constraints.
In response some governments have created legislation to mandate minimum percentages of women on corporate boards or in leadership positions of companies (typically based upon size and/or ownership structure), with various degrees of penalty for those who don’t comply. Norway, for instance, has legislation that mandates women should comprise at least 40 percent of boards of publicly listed companies, while Kenya has a Constitutional provision that mandates no gender should hold more than two-thirds of the jobs in publicly owned enterprises. Whether a target is imposed or voluntary, no company can meet true gender equality targets if women are not represented in its leadership.
This module discusses ways in which utilities can reduce gender gaps in management and leadership positions. By clicking on the relevant section and/or sub-topic in the table below, you’ll find corresponding resources and tools.
Creating Equitable Procedures
Resources and specialized software designed to eliminate bias from performance management systems are often proprietary. The following selection is available online for free, and covers such topics as employee development, performance evaluations and succession planning.
Fostering Women’s Advancement
Mentoring and leadership training programs have become popular options both to retain and promote women in the energy utility workforce. While mentoring programs often are managed in-house, online and in-person leadership training courses for women may be outsourced to private companies, non-profits, or educational institutions. While these courses often can be customized to a specific institution’s needs, they also come at a cost. The following resources are available for free online, though some may require registration. They can be utilized by utility staff to create their own programs or to help them think through the components of a customized offering by an external party.
Provide Mentors for Women Employees
| Resource |
Description |
Source |
| How to Build a Mentoring Program |
This toolkit is designed to assist organizations start and maintain an effective mentoring program, covering everything from selecting a program manager to evaluating the program. Associated forms and templates can be found here. |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) |
| Mentorship Toolkit |
This toolkit is especially relevant for program managers starting a new mentorship program. It contains checklists to help guide program management, as well as templates for mentor/mentee application and selection processes. |
National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) |
| Mentoring Toolkit |
This toolkit can guide companies through the various aspects of setting up a mentorship program, from selecting mentors to matching them with mentees. It also contains sample mentor and mentee application forms, program evaluation forms, and activity sessions summary forms. |
Department Of Administrative Services Office Of The Chief Human Resources Officer, State of Oregon |
| Mentorship Toolkit for Mentors |
This toolkit was developed as part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for young African leaders. Designed for mentors, the toolkit contains guidance and templates covering topics such as goal setting and communication with mentees. |
The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) and USAID |
| Mentorship Toolkit Supporting Mentors and Mentees |
This Mentorship Toolkit provides a framework, practical tools, and resources that can support a successful mentoring relationship. |
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health |
| Sponsoring and Mentoring Women Leaders for Success |
This workbook is focused specifically on mentoring and sponsoring women, and contains tips and guidelines for executives and HR teams looking to build the pipeline of women leaders at their organization. |
Center for Creative Leadership |
Provide Leadership Training to Promising Women Employees
| Resource |
Description |
Source |
| Leadership Best Practices Toolkit |
This toolkit provides insights and tools in the areas of business strategy, organizational culture, high-performance teams and talent management best practices. |
LSA Global |
| Leadership Courses |
Harvard offers a number of free leadership-related lectures and courses that can be audited online, including one on foundational principles of leadership developed by the Harvard Kennedy School. |
Harvard University |
| Leadership Resources for Organizations |
This professional coaching organization has compiled a list of free resources, including multiple personal assessment tools, on its webpage. |
Coaching4Good |
| Master Delegation Toolkit |
Focused on supporting women leaders, Bosstrack provides a free toolkit on how to delegate tasks and better manage time. |
Bosstrack |
| Women in Leadership: Inspiring Positive Change |
This online course developed by a professor at Case Western University addresses negotiation, communication, assertiveness, and leadership skills to inspire enrollees to engage in purposeful career development. |
Coursera |
