LEAD THE WAY 

It is no secret that women have often faced barriers to advancement where men encounter bridges. Inconsistent opportunities, persistent pay gaps and a distinct lack of representation in senior decision-making roles has stalled women’s advancement to the point that the current pace of progress puts us 100 years away from gender equity in the C-Suite.
 
But change is on the horizon. The spirited conversation taking place on the national stage today about the importance of gender equity and fair treatment for women at work is important and encouraging. But we are not newcomers to helping women advance. WFF has been working for women’s advancement for almost 30 years and is out in front galvanizing the Food Industry to LEAD THE WAY to becoming one of the first industries to close the gender gap.  
 
WFF’s comprehensive LEAD THE WAY gender equity will create competitive advantage for the Food Industry by increasing business performance and positioning our companies to win the war for talent. Our initiative starts with critical research and insights from convening the Food Industry’s first (and ongoing) participation in the Women in the Workplace Study and is progressing with our creation of the industry’s first Gender Equity Index (GEI) to measure year-over-year progress. With data from the GEI and other research sources, WFF will develop Success Roadmaps to chart the way forward for the industry, organizations and individuals committed to driving gender equity.

Good for business

We have always known instinctively that creating gender equity is the fair thing to do, but an extensive body of research now makes it clear it is also the smart thing to do. It makes countries more competitive, companies more profitable and increases GDP per capita. It is simply good for business. Research by McKinsey & Company shows that gender diversity is correlated with both increased profitability and long-term value creation. (McKinsey & Company’s 2015 Why Diversity Matters).  
 
In fact, McKinsey’s 2017 data set shows companies in the top quartile for executive-level gender diversity had a 21% likelihood of outperforming fourth-quartile industry peers on earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT). They also had a 27% likelihood of outperforming them on long-term value creation.
 

Winning the war for talent

Increasing gender equity in the Food Industry specifically will address our pressing need for talent, drive better consumer insights (93% of household food purchases are directed by women) and increase organizational performance.

We see the Food Industry as the exemplar others will strive to emulate as one of the first to tap women’s potential and drive stronger organization performance. To transform our vision into reality, we have committed to bold action.
 
WFF has galvanized the INDUSTRY around this critical issue and is equipping Partner COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS with the tools to build effective work cultures and developing INDIVIDUALS who are prepared to lead.
 

CEO Engagement

Drive CEO Engagement & Commitment to Culture 
 

WFF has proactively galvanized the Food Industry around the compelling case for gender equity and is now equipping our Partner Companies with a Success Roadmap that provides validated, practical steps to promote gender equity. As a thought partner with industry leaders, we will share best practices proven to move the needle. We also reward and recognize leaders implementing innovative and successful initiatives that result in improvement in the representation of women.
 
Research shows that companies that make gender equity a priority at the senior level are twice as likely to place gender diversity among the top three priorities on their strategic agenda, to have strong support from the CEO and management, and to integrate gender diversity at all levels of the organization

Leaders of Leaders

Develop Leaders of Leaders
We understand that direction comes from the top and that implementation is most often carried out by managers with direct supervision of co-workers and teams. Therefore, we are committed to educating managers about critical gender equity issues such as unconscious bias, the Ambition Gap and fair hiring and promotion practices that address specific barriers to advancement.
 
We provide human resources and diversity & inclusion professionals with specific insights into recruiting, screening and hiring practices that can work for, or against, gender inclusion. And, provide development opportunities that empower managers in all functional areas to more effectively support women’s careers.
 
Of course, as the premier leadership development resource for women in the Food Industry, we offer extensive in-person and online education and powerful networking to enable women to grow their skills and careers.  An area of particular focus is helping women strengthen their skills and interest in profit and loss (P&L) roles that are often the prerequisite to senior leadership positions.