Change starts at the top.
Senior managers should understand how a better gender balance will benefit the business as a whole and how the culture needs to change to achieve this. They should visibly support and communicate the need for this and be held accountable for performance.
What you should do
- Incorporate diversity and inclusion into the company’s fundamental values, approved and communicated by senior leaders.
- Provide support for managers to lead change. For example, introduce reverse mentoring programmes in which male executives hear from female colleagues about the challenges facing women in STEM careers.
- Make executives responsible for performance targets and particular aspects of diversity, such as sponsoring diversity networks.