PALO ALTO, CA--(Marketwired - Mar 9, 2016) - The Anita Borg Institute (ABI), a non-profit organization focused on the advancement of women in computing, opens submissions for Top Companies for Women Technologists, a program that recognizes leading companies where women technologists thrive, and provides industry and company-specific insights on the participation of women in the technical workforce.
The winner of the 2016 Top Companies award will be announced at the 2016 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing (GHC). The 2016 Top Companies Leadership Index and Change Alliance members will also be recognized at the leading conference for women technologists. Submissions for Top Companies will be accepted through May 25, 2016.
Measure What Matters
To increase the participation of women and underrepresented minorities in the technical workforce, companies must start by measuring what matters and understanding where their numbers stand today. Top Companies provides an opportunity for organizations to get a rigorous statistical analysis of their current participation of women, a benchmark across the industry, plus guidance on areas to improve based on that data.
"Measurement and accountability are crucial to building inclusive workplaces and bridging the diversity gap in technology," said Telle Whitney, President and CEO of the Anita Borg Institute. "I applaud participating companies and encourage all eligible companies to submit their data and gain recognition through Top Companies."
Unlike most public disclosures of diversity data, Top Companies has developed the gold standard for defining the technical workforce, allowing for consistent comparisons across organizations. Top Companies utilizes information on the full range of women's participation in the technical workforce by level, for recruiting, retention and advancement of women, as well as year-over-year changes.
This year, Top Companies will pilot the inclusion of two additional dimensions of data.
ABI is partnering with Kanjoya, a leader in employee experience and workplace intelligence, to give technology companies deeper insights into the key cultural drivers that foster inclusive workplaces and engaged workforces. Through this partnership, ABI's Top Companies will add measurements of inclusiveness and the impact of cultural elements.
ABI's Top Companies will also pilot measures of company programs and policies with the 2016 submissions. This additional insight will help the industry understand the correlation between different types of programs and policies with attracting and retaining women technologists.
Data-Driven Guidance
ABI's Top Companies for Women Technologists uses rigorous statistical analysis to calculate individual companies' scores and determine an industry benchmark. This statistical analysis is the basis for the data-driven guidance that ABI provides to participating companies.
"Understanding what works to increase the participation of women in the technical workforce, and what programs create inclusive cultures, is the key to driving change," said Dr. Susan Davis-Ali, Senior Director of Organizational Transformation programs at the Anita Borg Institute. "Top Companies is the most comprehensive data-driven benchmarking program in the industry."
Top Companies recognizes companies at three levels: a winner, an annual Leadership Index which includes all companies that score above the mean, and our Change Alliance, which recognizes all participating companies for their commitment to make meaningful change. Companies at all levels, including the winner, will be announced at GHC in October 2016.
Participate in Top Companies Today
Top Companies is accepting submissions now through May 25, 2016, so start preparing your materials. Review the application instructions and sign up for Top Companies for Women Technologists today.
About the Anita Borg Institute
The Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology (ABI) connects, inspires and guides women in computing and organizations that view technology innovation as a strategic imperative. Founded in 1997 by computer scientist Anita Borg, our reach extends to more than 65 countries. We believe technology innovation powers the global economy, and that women are crucial to building technology the world needs. The Anita Borg Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 charitable organization. For more information, visit anitaborg.org.
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