Diageo marks International Women’s Day with equality pledge

Drinks giant Diageo is marking International Women’s Day by asking each of its 28,000 employees to state how they will help accelerate gender equality in the workplace.

“Good allies are those who don’t just have good intentions, but who are making a positive impact”, Belinda Brown, Diageo’s global audit and risk director for Europe & Africa

As part of the company’s commitment to championing inclusion and diversity at work, Diageo has asked each of its employees to make an #EachForEqual pledge.

Diageo will be running series of events and panel discussions linked to the ‘each for equal’ theme, examining how employees can be allies for gender equality.

“I am proud to see Diageo employees around the world pledge to be ‘each for equal’. This pledge is about each and every one of us using our voice and our influence to create change, challenge stereotypes, fight bias, and broaden perceptions,” Mairéad Nayager, Diageo’s chief HR officer, said.

The firm will also be releasing a series of candid video interviews with female Diageo employees from around the world working in a variety of roles.

In the videos the women share their career journeys and experiences of contributing to a culture of inclusion, offering advice on how to be an agent for change.

“By sharing your achievements others can feel inspired – you could be an example, or you could spark an idea. I find that very powerful,” Cristina Diezhandino, Diageo’s Scotch category director, said.

Belinda Brown, Diageo’s global audit and risk director for Europe & Africa, added: “Good allies are those who don’t just have good intentions, but who are making a positive impact and are taking action.”

For the second year running Diageo is partnering with Creative Equals to support programmes in London, New York and Mumbai that will help women to return to work in the creative industries following a career break.

Diageo has been ranked as the top company globally for gender equality by Equileap, and as the second most diverse and inclusive workplace by Refinitiv.

An encouraging 44% of Diageo’s board and around 40% of Diageo’s executive committee are women, and the business is working towards targets for its global senior leadership team to be 40% female by 2025.

Thus far, Diageo has supported over 400,000 women through initiatives like hospitality skills training and supporting female entrepreneurs.

International Women’s Day takes place on Sunday 8 March.