Gender equity success stories

Technology, Media and Entertainment (TMT)
Industrial and Manufacturing
Consumer
Health Sciences
Energy, Utilities and Natural Resources
Financial, Professional and Business Services

As experts in the design and delivery of results-driven gender equity programmes, Shape Talent brings together evidence-based methodologies with our extensive experience delivering change for complex organisations. We bring passion, professionalism and expertise to provide tailored solutions that meet the unique challenges of each organisation.

Photo of two business women reading a report

With our clients, we focus on the programmes and solutions that result in sustainable change and ultimately accelerate gender equality.

With over 1,200 participants having completed our programmes, we see common patterns in the results. More than 50% of programme participants are promoted within 6 months and 100% report that they have increased their impact as a leader. 94% of participants say they would recommend our programmes.

Here’s a flavour of how we are helping CEOs, senior talent leaders and sophisticated EDI professionals deliver programmes that make an impact in their businesses and beyond.

1. Diagnose 2. Align 3. Debias 4. Engage 5. Develop

Diagnose

For a global client, we conducted a comprehensive diagnostic to uncover the barriers behind women’s under-representation. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods – including our proprietary Three Barriers® Diagnostic – we gathered insights from employees of all genders through an intersectional lens. Focus groups and interviews added depth, surfacing powerful stories that revealed the lived experiences behind the data.

Our analysis not only identified critical risk areas, such as women being 59% more likely than men to leave, but also pinpointed the specific groups, levels, functions, and regions where barriers were most acute. This gave the organisation a clear roadmap for targeted action, showing exactly where and how to intervene for maximum impact.

Align

We work with you to identify barriers, assess your current state, and create a targeted plan to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

Shape Talent worked with a European client with global expansion plans; they were just at the starting blocks when it came to EDI and were feeling pressure from investors, customers, end consumers and employees around the need for greater focus, particularly around gender.

This was also contributing to their difficulty attracting talent. Our approach involved a workshop with a cross-functional group to understand the pressure points on the business, a landscape review of competitors, customers and suppliers to bring some outside-in thinking, and a facilitated discussion with their executive leadership team, resulting in an honest assessment of the situation and a commitment to develop a focused plan.

Next, we ran focus groups to bring to life the employee experience, which revealed some deeply surprising findings for the client, and with the other insights enabled us to build concrete recommendations.

Debias

Sustained change requires more than individual behaviour shifts – it needs systems and processes that reinforce equity over the long term. We partner with organisations to redesign core processes in ways that actively counteract bias, stereotypes, and unconscious behaviours that hinder gender equity.

Rather than attempting to "debias" individuals – a method shown to have limited long-term impact – we focus on removing bias from the systems themselves. Using our Three Barriers® Debias Audit, we’ve helped clients make meaningful changes: from improving salary review practices and advancing pay transparency, to enhancing parental leave policies and reducing bias in performance management systems.

Engage

From intimate sessions to keynote addresses for thousands, we support Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), leadership teams, and whole organisations with engaging webinars and talks that raise awareness around the barriers to equity and inclusion, and foster allyship.

We also help clients build new ERGs from the ground up – or revitalise existing networks in need of fresh momentum. This includes co-designing ERG charters and terms of reference, creating practical playbooks for launch and operations, and providing professional development for ERG leads through summits, mentoring, and one-to-one coaching.

Develop

For several years, we’ve partnered with a global client – employing over 100,000 people across 180+ countries – through our flagship Breaking Barriers programme. Originally launched to address the under-representation of women in key parts of the business, the programme has become a strategic lever for driving equity and progression at scale.

Each participant begins with a personalised development plan co-created with their line manager and a Shape Talent coach. A senior sponsor is assigned, and participants engage in a series of workshops and coaching circles tailored to address the specific barriers identified during the Diagnostic stage.

With over 800 participants completing the 10-month programme, the results speak for themselves: more than two-thirds are promoted within a year of finishing the programme.

I have absolutely loved the program, it has opened my eyes to new horizons.

Overall it's an amazing program that allowed me think about my ways of working. Really game changing!

The coaching circles have been one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had in any leadership program I have been a part of. Being able to share experiences with other women in similar situations holds huge power, there should be more situations in our professional lives were we could do so.

Not only did I gain a better understanding of myself as a professional woman and a leader, but I was also given tools to continue growing in my career, and a large network of other amazing women with whom to continue on my development journey

This is an extremely wonderful & powerful program which mainly focuses on development and building "can do" attitude in all female leaders.

Really was a great session, thoroughly engaging and we’ve already been discussing how we actually make change.

CLIENTS

Read the success stories from organisations who have partnered with Shape Talent to achieve meaningful progress in gender equality.

Case studies

Transforming careers and accelerating equality: a telecommunications success story

This global telecommunications giant identified the need to address the underrepresentation of women in its workforce. Shape Talent’s targeted women’s acceleration programme was implemented to empower and advance women within the organisation. After several years of delivery, this programme has proven highly popular and is achieving some outstanding results.

READ THE FULL CASE STUDY

Participants within 12 months of
programme completion

Beiersdorf accelerates Finance leadership pipeline with 60% of women promoted

International skincare company, Beiersdorf set a bold ambition to achieve gender parity across management levels by 2025. Shape Talent designed and delivered a tailored ‘Female Leadership in Finance’ pilot programme. The programme has yielded tangible and transformative results with promotion and responsibility increases.

READ THE FULL CASE STUDY

Hear more about the impact we have on our clients' organisations

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You have helped me in so many ways – dare to act big, and have fun

Although I have participated in many different trainings/programs, this has been the best one. It's amazing how people open up in this environment. We had so much fun and learnt a lot. Thank you so much! 

We came out of the program not just with tools to manage our career but also a support group of leaders and my female peers with whom we can be completely transparent with. Every session has taught me something new. I think it was fantastic and I highly recommend it. 

This is one of the best training programs I have ever participated in. I never imagined an online program could be so excellent and as a cohort we could feel so close to each other.

[This] is the most exciting, fun and beneficial learning journeys I've ever had. The content finally solidifies the issues that females face in the workplace in a way that makes you realize you are not alone, and then gives direction on how to overcome.

The circle of contacts that I met will stay as very close and loved friends forever. Shape Talent did an amazing job setting up this program. Thank you Sharon and team!

My year in the program has been a journey of introspection, honesty, sharing, and growing, alongside other strong and competent women. We've built a network where we share information and coach each other to support one another's success.

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We partner with forward-thinking organisations who recognise the benefits of accelerating gender equality