Women-forward workplaces (large)

THIS AWARD honors organizations with over 250 employees that give women a voice in planning and operations.

BY LAUREN DEFAZIO

New York City Council

Through its pioneering actions, the New York City Council is enhancing the way women in the city live and work.

Under the leadership of Speaker Adrienne Adams, the first Black woman to hold that title, the City Council has protected and expanded access to abortion and reproductive health care by enacting the historic Abortion Rights Act. In addition, the council initiated one of the largest municipal funding commitments made by any U.S. city to support abortion health care by providing $1 million for those in need of financial assistance.

With nearly two-thirds of its committees being led by women, the council has passed eight bills to increase access to child care for working families and to advance professional opportunities for women in the workforce. The council passed the Support Survivors legislative package to provide critical services to survivors of domestic and gender-based violence.

The City Council’s groundbreaking efforts to confront longstanding inequities in the city are underway internally as well, with improved Equal Employment Opportunity practices and policies, anti-discrimination training for every employee, and upgraded lactation rooms to meet the needs of working parents.

The council hosts diversity panel events to highlight and empower female leadership.

Som

Architecture, engineering and construction firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill has come a long way since its predominantly male-run beginning in 1936. In 2020 SOM marked a significant milestone by electing the third member of its all-female Executive Committee, and today 50% of new hires at all levels are women.

Not only is SOM responsible for significant architectural achievements, but through the founding of the SOM Women’s Initiative, the firm has managed to lead a female-driven movement that has reshaped its and the industry’s cultural landscape.

The SOMWI was ahead of the curve when it was co-founded in 2011 to advance the development and success of women at the firm. The initiative set the scene for advancing equity and inclusion for future affinity groups across the organization, including Pride, the Asian Alliance and Arquitectos.

Through surveys and roundtable discussions, the SOMWI allows the firm to keep its finger on the pulse of employees’ work-life challenges and aspirations. The firm listens with an open mind and a resolution to help women excel in their careers without compromising their personal lives.

Chief

Executive women’s network Chief is on a mission to drive more women into power and keep them there while it paves the way to bring others with them.

Since launching in 2019, this private network of female leaders has evolved into a $1.1 billion unicorn with 20,000 executive female members collectively managing $800 billion of the economy. Chief says that nearly half of its members have increased their compensation since joining the network.

Throughout the company’s business milestones, Chief has remained grounded in its mission—never prioritizing its growth over its purpose and always putting women's leadership progression at the forefront.

Internally, Chief focuses on cultivating a people-first culture with fully paid health insurance premiums, a remote-first workforce and a 4.5-day workweek. Externally, Chief partners with nonprofits to mentor the next generation of female business leaders and donates $1 million annually to nonprofits that align with its objectives.

Chief’s dedication to influence a future where women have the same opportunities and representation in leadership as men has earned it awards. Chief has won awards for gender equity and innovation from Digiday and Fast Company.

Services For The Underserved

As a community-based, nonprofit health and human services organization, Services for the UnderServed plays a critical role in supporting the well-being of the city’s most vulnerable individuals and families each year. While its reason for being is to help those in need overcome complex and challenging life circumstances, this humanitarian organization is committed to fostering career opportunities for women.

With a 65% female staff and 76% of its leadership positions held by women, Services for the Underserved understands the universal value that gender equity brings to its staff, its organization and the people it serves. Bolstering a more diverse workplace is a key priority because more than half the 37,000 people that the organization serves are Black, indigenous and women of color.

By advancing a diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and accessibility initiative across the organization, Services for the Underserved raises the role models women and women of color need to advance in their careers.

Furthering its efforts to elevate women in the workforce, the organization looks to promote from within, then leans into the community to recruit talent. Employees with aspirations to transition into leadership roles are given access to programs designed to strengthen their capabilities.

Schonfeld

New York City-based hedge fund Schonfeld prioritizes nurturing talent, and the firm’s retention metrics are a testament to its people-first

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