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Diageos activity for International Womens Day was impressive

Diageo's activity for International Women's Day was impressive

 March 11, 2020

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Diageo showed its support for International Women's Day (IWD) and the campaign's #EachforEqual theme in a variety of innovative ways - from launching new initiatives supporting women through to celebrating the achievements of its female employees.

Here's a round-up of some of the many ways that Diageo got involved in IWD:

Celebrating Craftswomen

Diageo's Craftswomen program celebrates the talented women who make the company's spirits, including two limited-edition whiskies from Johnnie Walker and ​​Bulleit for IWD - Jane Walker from Master Blender Emma Walker, and Bulleit Bourbon Blenders’ Select No. 001 from Blender Eboni Major.

Johnnie Walker is also launching an industry program and event series under the Craftswomen platform that will support women entrepreneurs in food and beverage to grow their businesses through access to funding, education, resources and mentorship.

Hosting panel discussions

Diageo hosted events and panel discussions across its offices and sites worldwide that examined how everyone can individually act as allies for gender equality.

Among these events was a panel discussion on accelerating gender equality in business, where the company asked speakers and guests what allyship means to them. 

Supporting Creative Equals

Diageo Creative Equals

Diageo has partnered with Creative Equals again to support programmes in London, New York and Mumbai that will help 100 women to return to work in the creative industries following a career break.

Diageo works with the Creative Equals scheme to support women to make a 'creative comeback'. Pictured above is the Diageo team spending time at the London scheme, sharing briefs with the returners for some of its biggest brands.

Employees being allies for change

Diageo celebrated the women that make up its business by releasing a collection of candid video interviews.

In the video series, Diageo's employees share their career journeys and powerful experiences of contributing to a culture of inclusion, alongside their thoughts on being allies for change.

Watch the videos on Where Women Work.

Profiling employees via social media

Diageo also took to social media to celebrate many of its employees - for example, Hollie Stephenson, Head Brewer at the Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House in Maryland, who worked in government relations for almost six years before she moved into beer and brewing.

And the company gave social media followers a look behind the scenes with the all-female management team running the Talisker Whisky distillery on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.

Plus, Abanti Sankaranarayanan, Diageo's Dhief Strategy and Corporate Affairs Officer in India, and Belinda Brown, GAR Director for Europe & Africa spoke with the media about breaking steotypes and working in an inclusive environment. See insight from Abanti at Mint Lounge and from Belinda at Irish News.

Submitting an IWD Influencer Statement

Diageo submitted an official IWD Influencer Statement from Mairéad Nayager, Chief HR Officer. 

"I am very proud that our 28,000 people are celebrating International Women’s Day in our offices and sites worldwide this week, making inspiring #EachforEqual pledges," Mairéad commented.

"To me, #EachforEqual is about each and every one of us using our voice and our influence to create change, challenge stereotypes, fight bias, and broaden perceptions. It’s about taking action – and we’re committed to playing our part at Diageo. That’s why last year we equalised maternity and paternity leave in a majority of our offices around the world so that our people, regardless of gender, can play an equal role in the early days of their child’s life."


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Diageo is truly committed to gender equality and forging equal opportunities across the company.

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Disclosure: Where Women Work researches and publishes insightful evidence about how its paid member organizations support women's equality.


                       

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