For Sodexo, it is the chance to increase the visibility of its commitments to Diversity and Inclusion and more specifically how it supports the advancement of women and promotes gender balance at every level of the organization.

This year, Sodexo has led an internal study that demonstrates the impact of the gender balance on performance through different indicators. Gender balance studies to date have looked extensively at the correlation between women in top-tier management positions and financial performance. Sodexo takes a step further by looking at how gender balance at all levels of management impacts both financial and non-financial performance.

To better understand the important impact of gender balance on performance, please discover the # 2 of our special feature, Gender Balance Business News.

Progressing towards equality

Women represent 54% of Sodexo’s workforce. Convinced that fostering the advancement of women, nurturing their talent and, more generally, encouraging gender balance is of vital importance, Sodexo has long placed gender balance at the heart of its strategy and performance.

The cornerstone of Sodexo's  gender strategy is the Sodexo Women's International Forum for talent, SWIFt, an advisory board dedicated to promoting women's advancement and is primarily focused on women in operational roles, positions in which women are traditionally underrepresented.

Our Women in Leadership and Learning (WILL) employee network group’s mission is to foster a culture in which enhancing women's individual and professional growth contributes to the global success of our company and the communities we serve. WILL serves to further develop skills for female leaders in the organization and break barriers to increase diversity awareness within the organization. WILL also provides community outreach efforts in support of organizations such as The Canadian Women’s Foundation.