The retention and promotion of women into leadership positions is of increasing concern to organisations.
Business currently loses approximately one third of its women (source: EOWA Census 2008) between middle management and senior management, creating a paucity of women in executive positions and in the pipeline. Talented women - women in whom organisations have invested - are making decisions to leave organisations whose cultures do not support women or their work/life balance.
At the same time, Catalyst, in a study of 353 Fortune 500 companies in America showed that “companies with a higher representation of women in senior management positions financially outperform companies with fewer women”. And that:
- There are significant barriers to women's employment and advancement
- Having a mentor is a significant factor in assisting women achieve leadership roles
- The barriers include a lack of both mentoring and of effective women role models.
At Orijen, we have proven that retention and advancement of women within organisations is clearly achievable through our structured and measurable mentoring programs.
Orijen Mentoring Programs for Women specifically address the barriers to women's advancement by providing professional external mentors - women who have successfully navigated the paths before them - to act as both mentors and role models for other women.
Women who have completed our mentoring programs consistantly report that as a result of the mentoring program they have:
- Gained significantly in levels of confidence and self-esteem
- Increased their level of contribution to the organization
- Improved their existing skills and performance
- Networked more effectively across the organization
- Broadened their perspectives on leadership and management issues
- Developed new strategies for achieving their career goals and aspirations
- Increased their ability and motivation to mentor others