Havas Group has announced the launch of Femmes Forward, an accelerator program designed to prepare high-potential female employees at Havas to advance their careers at a faster pace. The program is a unique combination of career vision setting, leadership awareness and development leveraging the Lumina Spark skills-based training and mindfulness exercises. The program also includes presentations and conversations with internal and external thought leaders, experts and entrepreneurs. Havas Village leadership and sponsors play a key role in supporting the women.
Yannick Bolloré, CEO, Havas Group, said, “Women make up almost 60 percent of Havas Group’s employee population. I want Havas to become the destination where women can grow their careers. Femmes Forward is just one of our initiatives to make Havas a diverse and inclusive workplace and I am really excited about the positive impact it is going to bring to our female talent pool.”
Patti Clarke, chief talent officer of Havas Group, said: “Although we have increased the number of women on our executive and operating committees, we noticed that at the senior manager/director level, women weren’t being promoted at the same pace as men. We committed to changing that trend. Femmes Forward is designed to involve, engage and empower women within our organization and accelerate the progression of their careers.”
The first Femmes Forward programs took place in London and New York in January and February respectively. A total of 40 senior manager/director level participants from across all areas of the business joined these programs which include a pair of two-day modules and group coaching over a period of six months. The company is committed to rolling out this program across key major markets over the coming months.
As part of the initiative, Havas Group has made a donation in the name of Femmes Forward to The Global Fund for Women, an organization fighting for women to have basic human rights, including the right to live free from violence, slavery and discrimination, the right to be educated, the right to own property, the right to vote and the right to earn a fair and equal wage. The Fund also works towards rights for women’s equality.
