Deirdre Mahlan is the President of Diageo North America and leads the company’s largest market regarding sales and profit. In an interview with Leaders Magazine, Deirdre recognises Diageo's progress towards diversity in the workplace and why this is one of the reasons she loves working for company.
Diageo removes barriers to diversity and inclusion
In the article, Deidre discusses Diageo's commitment to diversity and inclusion, particularly gender equality, and what the future holds for Diageo's continued progress in its goals for diversity.
"Forty percent of Diageo’s global executives are female and the executive committee members come from six different ethnic backgrounds. In North America, we are now very close to gender parity on the North American executive committee, and the head of our U.S. spirits business is a woman," says Deirdre.
"We have been actively looking to encourage women to continue their careers in the industry and we engage our distributors and suppliers in that same conversation. We are also working to ensure that our own supplier base is diverse."
"It’s a journey and we have to continually keep our eye on the goal. We must continue to remove the barriers so that everyone can progress, and we are making positive strides overall," adds Deirdre.
Diageo is committed to its values
Deirdre also explains why she loves working for Diageo and why she has pursued such a long-term career at the company.
"I joined Diageo through an acquisition. There are two reasons I have stayed here: first, we are always striving for excellence, so I’m constantly feeling challenged. There are only so many businesses where, if one demonstrates the aptitude, willingness and leadership, they are given an opportunity to step forward," explains Deidre.
"The second reason is Diageo’s commitment to values. We are committed to inclusion and the core values of the business, which include celebrating life, every day and everywhere. It really is an enjoyable place to work."
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Women's work is valued at Diageo and they thrive with the support and opportunities given to them in the company. As one of the leading alcohol beverages company, Diageo offers a wide range of opportunities to talented women. Learn more and apply now!
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Disclosure: Where Women Work researches and publishes insightful evidence about how its paid member organizations support women's equality.