Have you ever dreamed of being a cover star for The CEO Magazine? Now is your chance to make your dream come true.
In an exclusive partnership, Catalyst has taken over The CEO Magazine to shine a light on leading with empathy – and achieving it all starts with you being the face of the global digital magazine.
Highlighting the importance of empathic leadership no matter your job title, anyone in the business world can create their own magazine cover to share with their network, propelling Catalyst’s mission towards workplace equity.
“Empathy is a leadership superpower and a muscle we can all develop – and it’s good for business.” – Lorraine Hariton
Striving to #BiasCorrect years of unconscious beliefs through reclaiming the CEO title to Chief Empathy Officer, Catalyst will help promote empathy as a core leadership skill, rather than it being deemed too ‘feminine’ for C-suite positions.
“This campaign shows that empathy can be universal,” Lorraine Hariton, CEO of Catalyst, tells The CEO Magazine. “Empathy is a leadership superpower and a muscle we can all develop – and it’s good for business.
“Catalyst research shows that leaders and companies that prioritise empathy and create inclusive working environments improve productivity, innovation and engagement for their employees and organisations. That’s good for everyone.”
For 60 years, Catalyst has been dedicated to making change. Founded by Felice Schwartz, the not-for-profit organisation combines thought leadership, actionable solutions and multinational corporations to advance female leadership.
While the organisation champions change all year around, International Women’s Day acts as a global moment to acknowledge and celebrate Catalyst’s overarching mission – to make workplaces work for women.
“Through the Great Reimagining of the workplace, we see unprecedented opportunities to finally create workplaces that work for all,” Hariton says. “I hope leaders will seize this moment and reimagine their own leadership, their own company culture and their policies to create more inclusive and humane workplaces.”
Global businesses that lead with empathy
Bank of America
As the CEO of Bank of America, Brian Moynihan believes empathy is a force of innovation, engagement and inclusion.
What does this year’s Catalyst International Women’s Day Chief Empathy Officer campaign mean to you?
“At Bank of America, we recognise, empower and celebrate the contributions of women at our company all year long,” he says. “As CEO, part of my responsibility is to provide a culture that implements equal pay for equal work, and one that gives women the tools necessary to learn and grow, from the C-suite to our interns. I know from collaborating with leaders at all levels at the company that there is more to do.”
In a male-dominated industry, why is it important for Bank of America to celebrate women?
“Creating an inclusive environment starts at the top and extends to all teammates,” he says. “We have clear priorities that are focused on the representation of our people, and we take pride in mirroring the clients and communities we serve. Women comprise half of our global workforce, and since 2015 we’ve increased female representation in the top three management levels by 29 per cent. In fact, we’re one of only nine S&P companies with more than six women on the board.”
What are some steps that need to be taken for achieving gender equity?
“We must have leaders at the top who not only talk the talk, but walk the walk by showing their commitment to these efforts every day,” he says. “Change requires accountability – that starts with the CEO.”
Dow
As the Chief Human Resources Officer at Dow, Karen S. Carter believes to keep employees from leaving, leaders must leverage empathy to reduce turnover – and it’s more urgent than ever before.
What does this year’s Catalyst International Women’s Day Chief Empathy Officer campaign mean to you?
“The Chief Empathy Officer campaign is brilliant because we typically think about the acronym CEO in terms of the top leader of an organisation,” she says. “But as we think about the past two years and everything that the collective workforce and society have been faced with – from the pandemic to a long overdue reckoning on race, severe weather events and political unrest – empathy is not only important, it is imperative.
“For me personally, I have seen Chief Empathy Officers at every level of our organisation who have helped us navigate through some of the most unprecedented times. This campaign is more than a slogan, it is recognising that empathy is an essential skill and integral to how we must lead going forward.”
In a male-dominated industry, why is it important for Dow to celebrate women?
“At Dow, we know diversity matters,” she says. “We are better because women work here including in manufacturing – the largest part of our organisation. Celebrating the achievements of women helps to increase awareness across team Dow and drives a more positive employee experience, which impacts retention.
“Amplifying the stories of women, their achievements and the barriers they have overcome can serve as motivation to others of what is possible.”
What are some steps that need to be taken for achieving gender equity?
“Achieving gender equity at all levels in the workplace is important,” she says. “While there has been some progress, we know that there is more that needs to be made, especially for women of colour, who are still the furthest behind. In order to advance progress, there are some important steps to take including helping people identify their unconscious biases and providing tools and training to address them.”
Genpact
Genpact CEO Tiger Tyagarajan is determined to be innovative, engaged and inclusive when it comes to empathetic leadership.
What does this year’s Catalyst International Women’s Day Chief Empathy Officer campaign mean to you?
“Empathetic leadership has always been a priority for me, but never more so than in the past couple of years,” he says. “I don’t see empathy as a soft skill – I think of it as a power skill. It can boost innovation by allowing us to understand and collaborate with each other better, translating into significant business results. Empathy is the starting point of inclusion, a fuel for innovation and an essential skill to make the impossible possible.”
In a male-dominated industry, why is it important for Genpact to celebrate women?
“At Genpact we recognise the strong connection between diversity, inclusion and innovation,” he says. “We firmly believe in the notion that different backgrounds and diverse perspectives lead to breakthroughs. If we want to leverage cutting-edge technologies and solve the biggest challenges in the world, we can’t leave out half of the brightest minds.
“International Women’s Day is a leadership opportunity to take unique action and spearhead change. We hope to collectively break existing biases, drive empowerment and raise awareness around the importance of gender diversity and inclusion.”
What are some steps that need to be taken for achieving gender equity?
“For me, there are three steps to pursuing gender equality: make diversity, equity and inclusion a core business imperative; set metrics to guide your progress; and create ecosystems of impact to drive partnerships.”
Women’s National Basketball Association
As the Commissioner of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), Cathy Engelbert reflects on what is one of the most important days on the league’s calendar, where the WNBA will celebrate with virtual conversations, online player features and a teaser for an upcoming documentary.
What does this year’s Catalyst International Women’s Day Chief Empathy Officer campaign mean to you?
“Empathy is critical in uplifting players, fans and employees, particularly coming off two years of the COVID-19 pandemic while at the same time, growing a business mindfully, and leading an organisation through crisis and social change,” she says. “The Chief Empathy Officer campaign truly resonates with the league.”
In a male-dominated industry, why is it important for WNBA to celebrate women?
“It’s important for everyone to celebrate International Women’s Day regardless of gender or industry,” she says. “That’s why I admire Catalyst’s Men Advocating Real Change program, as no groups should be left out of the conversation around the fight for equity.”
What are some steps that need to be taken for achieving gender equity?
“We need to change the way women are valued, whether it’s on a spreadsheet or in everyday life,” she says. “We also need to make sure we are uplifting women and giving them the resources they need to succeed.
“As with everything that requires significant change, the hard work takes time, as well as commitment and dedication, even when no-one is looking.”
