ALISO VIEJO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UST GlobalSM, a leading provider of IT services and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) solutions for Global 2000 enterprises, announced today that the first group of women selected for a leadership development program in 2007 is on track to successfully completing the interactive program and will be moving into more senior roles in 2008. NowU, the internal volunteer organization that is spearheading the development and executive mentoring activities, is focused on identifying and implementing best practices to promote women into leadership roles. Developing, advancing and retaining women leaders within the organization are all critical components for the company’s future sourcing and diversity plans.
In 2007, the organization’s focus was on building momentum and support for its launch activities in Kerala, India. The culmination of these activities was the hosting of its first annual meeting for women - the 2007 Women in Leadership Summit. Plans are under way to expand the leadership and executive mentorship program globally in 2008 in order to foster the next wave of women leaders within the company.
A Pressing Need for Women Leaders: It Makes Financial Sense
Research over the past ten years clearly demonstrates the connection between the economic advantages of having women in leadership positions and the overall successful performance of an organization. One leading research firm analyzed Fortune 500 enterprises and concluded that those companies with a greater number of women corporate officers averaged a 33 percent higher return to shareholders. From Wall Street to the corporate boardroom, many executives are noticing an apparent connection between successful diversity programs and the bottom line.
The UST Global 2007 Women in Leadership Summit Surpasses Expectations
The 2007 Women in Leadership Summit held in Trivandrum, Kerala, India, was hosted by UST Global. It was an inaugural event that provided women with a forum for networking and an uninterrupted opportunity to discuss workplace strategies and challenges with successful women leaders from varied professional realms. Breakout sessions ranged from culture consciousness to building careers in a gender diverse world.
“A lot of women were hesitant to join in when the event kicked off. As the day went on and they participated in the round tables and interacted with the speakers, they realized how serious everyone is in supporting their development,” said Tammy Dollar, vice president, corporate functions and chair of NowU, UST Global. “The 2007 Summit really motivated our employees and helped them to understand that the vision of actively promoting women into leadership roles is quickly becoming a reality. Many people, including men in our organization, saw the dynamic interactions and volunteered to be more involved in NowU activities.”
Open to women within the company and within the community, the event garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews amongst the participants, volunteers and professional women who spoke at the event as well as local and national press.
“We were so fortunate in being able to attract the caliber and unique range of speakers for the Summit. Distinguished women leaders in society spoke about how they got to be where they are today, what challenges they faced along the way and how they overcame those challenges. Participants were able to hear first hand that the challenges women face are not industry or age-specific,” continued Ms. Dollar. “The action items captured during the Summit will have a positive, far-reaching impact on not just women, but the entire company. The success of the 2007 Summit has set the stage for future global events that are slated to be held in the U.S. and the U.K., followed by a combined summit in India, in 2008.”
About NowU: Empowering Women
NowU is a global community of empowered company personnel dedicated to helping women within the company and community achieve their highest potential. It provides access to women in leadership as well as opportunities for growth and learning through networking, sustainable development and training. Established in November 2006 and chaired by Tammy Dollar, the top three goals of NowU are to:
| 1) | Place more women in leadership in the company | |
| 2) | Enhance diversity throughout the company | |
| 3) | Provide networking and mentoring opportunities for women to train themselves and access to leaders they wish to emulate | |
UST Global is committed to sourcing and diversity equality. Based on the 2007 success, NowU is working even harder to make a positive difference and impact in the lives of as many women as possible.
About UST Global
UST GlobalSM is a leading provider of end-to-end IT services and BPO solutions for the Global 2000 market. UST Global offers a client-centric Global Engagement Model that provides the optimal mix of senior local resources with the cost, scale and quality advantages of offshore operations for each client. The company is known for its relentless focus on clients, flexibility, and commitment beyond contract. Headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, UST Global has more than 5,000 employees worldwide and is certified globally as CMMI® Level 5, P-CMM® Level 5, and ISO 27001. For more information visit: www.ust-global.com.