ABI Opens Applications for 2015 Top Company for Women in Computing ABIE Award Initiative

PALO ALTO, CA--(Marketwired - Oct 9, 2014) - The Anita Borg Institute, (ABI) a non-profit organization focused on advancing women in computing, today opened submissions for the 2015 Top Company for Women in Computing ABIE Award, the only industry-wide initiative focused on quantitative measurement of women's participation in the technical workforce. In light of the recent release of disappointing diversity data from technology firms such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, and others, ABI's Top Company initiative takes on significance as a true measure of progress for organizations that are dedicated to building diverse technical teams.

The winner of the Top Company Award and other participants in the initiative will be featured at the 2015 Women of Vision Awards Banquet in Santa Clara, CA on May 14, 2015. The deadline to participate in the 2015 Top Company for Women in Computing initiative is November 21, 2014.

"Participating in the Top Company initiative is an important next step for companies that are serious about the inclusion of women in their technical workforce," said Telle Whitney, president and CEO of the Anita Borg Institute. "Measurement is essential to accountability, and we are thrilled to see an increasing number of companies publicly acknowledge their focus on building diverse technical teams."

The call for participation in the Top Company initiative comes on the second day of ABI's annual Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing (GHC), where 8,000 attendees, representing 925 technology organizations, have come together for the largest gathering of women technologists in the world.

This year's conference features a track on organizational change that includes participants from the 2014 Top Company Award initiative.

The Organizational Change track includes the following sessions:

• Accountability and Metrics featuring Laszlo Bock (Google), Danielle Brown (Intel - 2013 Top Company Winner), Theresa Kushner (VMWare), and Denise Menelly (Bank of America - 2014 Top Company Winner)
• Dynamics of Hyper-Effective Teams: How Inclusive Environments Drive Innovation lead by Lori Mackenzie (Clayman Institute for Gender Research) and Caroline Simard (Clayman Institute for Gender Research)
• Accelerating the Advancement of Women Technologists featuring Michelle Angier (eBay Inc.), Susan Davis-Ali (Leadhership1), Peggy Irelan (Intel - 2013 Top Company Winner), and Susan Puglia (IBM - 2011 Top Company Winner)

Past winners and 2014 participants in the Top Company initiative are also featured at the career fair and highlighted in the career fair guide. 

ABI partner companies will also take part in the Anita Borg Institute's Technical Executive Forum, an invitation-only event at GHC, for top industry leaders to discuss the challenge of getting more women in technical roles. This year's Technical Executive Forum boasts 88 participating executives from leading technology firms, including CEOs, CIOs, CTOs, and other executives. The Executive Forum includes discussions about eliminating bias in recruiting, the advancement of women in technical roles, programs to support the retention of women technologists, and addressing cultural challenges of the technology industry as a whole. ABI encourages its partners, sponsors and all companies who view technology innovation as a strategic imperative to participate in the Top Company initiative.

"Participating in the Top Company initiative gives companies an opportunity to benchmark their progress and an identify areas to improve their numbers," added Whitney. "We applaud all participants and recognize their commitment to building inclusive environments."

Every year, ABI provides each participating company a confidential report benchmarking their performance against industry norms and aggregated peer data. ABI evaluates companies using research-based industry benchmarks in hiring, retaining, and promoting women technologists as well as representation across career levels (entry, mid, senior and executive levels). At the end of the process, ABI recognizes one company with the Top Company for Women in Computing ABIE Award for demonstrating measurable results in the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in technical jobs at all levels. Companies who receive the award are widely recognized as leaders in leveraging diverse talent for greater innovation.

In 2014, 24 leading technology organizations participated in the Top Company Award initiative, and participation in the program is expected to increase this year. Bank of America was recognized with the 2014 Top Company for Women in Computing ABIE Award, for exceptional representation of women technologists in both its technical management and team of technical experts. The Company has the highest percentage of women among its technical experts of any company ever considered by the Anita Borg Institute for a Top Company Award. In addition, Bank of America successfully retains the vast majority of its female technologists, with only 3% voluntary turnover annually.

To participate in the 2015 Top Company for Women in Computing ABIE Award initiative, fill out the application on the Anita Borg Institute website.

About the Anita Borg Institute (ABI)
The Anita Borg Institute (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 67 countries. We believe technology innovation powers the global economy, and that women are crucial to building technology the world needs. As a social enterprise, we recognize women making positive contributions, and advise organizations on how to improve performance by building more inclusive teams. ABI partners include: Cisco, Google, HP, Microsoft, Thomson Reuters, CA Technologies, Dell, Dropbox, eBay Inc., Facebook, First Republic Bank, IBM, Intel, Intuit, Juniper Networks, National Science Foundation, NetApp, SAP, Symantec, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Amazon, Bank of America, EMC, GoDaddy, LinkedIn, Lockheed Martin, Nationwide, Neustar, Rackspace, Salesforce.com, VentureLoop, Viacom, VMware, and Yahoo! The Anita Borg Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 charitable organization. For more information, visit www.anitaborg.org.

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