A Fortune 500 CPG company sought to launch its own women’s leadership program amid growing scrutiny over its low representation of women in senior leadership. Committed to equality of opportunity and recognizing the risk of inaction, leadership made investing in women’s advancement a top priority to support talent growth and succession planning. The program engaged all senior women leaders, sparked policy improvements and innovation, and accelerated the rise of top talent, strengthening leadership and business performance.
In a company where high performance and meritocracy shaped career progression, affirmative action was a sensitive issue. Stakeholders were wary of anything resembling an unfair advantage, making it critical that the women’s leadership program focused on equipping leaders to navigate bias and enhancing capabilities that added measurable value to the business.
A leadership capabilities audit and user-led content survey shaped a program tailored to real leadership challenges. Key focus areas included managing misperceptions of emotionality and leading remote teams with inspiration and influence. Monthly roundtables, small-group coaching, and executive 1:1 coaching helped leaders refine critical soft skills, close capability gaps, and accelerate career growth.
The program fostered deep connections, with structured networking, executive keynotes, and leadership recognition. An alumni community provided ongoing leadership development and drove initiatives in parental leave policy and consumer-centric leadership. After three successful years - engaging every senior woman leader - the company expanded its focus to ESG, reflecting a broader commitment to leadership impact.
The program received an average Net Promoter Score of 9.4 from participants across the 3 years.
The multi-year program ran for 3 years.
24% of participants were promoted through the program.
"I was inspired by the deep self-awareness, the coaching and networking, and most of all by the supportive community of women this program established."
VICE PRESIDENT, PROGRAM PARTICIPANT
The executive coaching was conducted at a caliber of quality and professionalism beyond expectations or anything I have participated in previously. The detailed reference back to assessments made recommendations and activities very personalized. So valuable and appreciated!
SENIOR DIRECTOR, PROGRAM PARTICIPANT
