INSEAD gender diversity initiative

INSEAD, the leading international business school has created the INSEAD Gender Diversity Initiative. The initiative will coordinate, support and build on the school’s many activities relating to women’s participation in business and business education. Its creation reaffirms the school’s commitment to harnessing the management potential of women from diverse cultures throughout the world.

‘Diversity is at the heart of INSEAD’s mission,’ said Professor Herminia Ibarra, Faculty Director of the INSEAD Leadership Initiative. ‘It gives us a guiding principle, a practical learning tool and a unique research perspective. Today, however, we acknowledge that cultural diversity is not enough. Along with the business world we serve, we must act to increase women’s representation in business and business education – and to harness its potential.’

A particular focus of the INSEAD Gender Diversity Initiative is to partner with organisations that share the school’s vision for women in business. These partnerships enable INSEAD to have a presence at major global events, to engage in research collaborations, to participate in the world’s leading women’s networks, and to build key corporate relationships. Recent examples of partnership activities include:

• The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards: The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards are a unique business plan competition for female entrepreneurs created in 2006 by Cartier and the Women's Forum with the support of McKinsey and INSEAD. Each year, five laureates, one from each continent, receive a US $20,000 grant and personalised coaching support for a full year. This year’s award ceremony takes place on 17 October during the Women’s Forum.
   
•  The Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society: Rated by the Financial Times as one of the world's top five international forums, the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society promotes women's vision on the economic and social issues that matter most and that are at the heart of the most compelling concerns of our times. On 17 October, INSEAD Dean Frank Brown will participate in a ‘Men’s Corner’ with, among others, Philippe Castagnac, Managing Director, Mazars, and Patrick Sayer, Chairman of the Board, Eurazeo. The topic is ‘Gender Balance in my company: what can I do next Monday at 8am?’
   
• The World Bank’s Global Private Sector Leaders Forum: This Forum comprises a group of influential global business leaders who have made commitments to creating opportunities for women as an integral part of their core business, corporate social responsibility agendas or diversity and inclusion. Several INSEAD faculty members have contributed to the forum.
   
• The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative: INSEAD is an academic partner in this initiative which aims to provide 10,000 women in developing countries and targeted areas of developed countries access to a business and management education, and help improve the quality and capacity of business and management education around the world.