Women’s History Month: Advancing Gender Equality within Equifax and Beyond

AT EQUIFAX, we are continuously working to foster a vibrant and inclusive culture in which all employees are encouraged and empowered to live their best, grow and lead in our markets. In furthering this vision – and in bettering our overall employee experience – Equifax’s Global Women’s Network helps to connect, develop and empower our female-identifying employees and the allies within Equifax that support them. 

The Global Women’s Network celebrates the unique perspectives of our employees at Equifax, uniting our seven regional and business unit-specific women’s groups, including Women Advancing Technology Together, Women’s Career Development Network, Women Amplifying Voices at Equifax Security, Women in Finance, Professional Women’s Committee (Equifax Canada) and the Workforce Solutions Women’s Network, to name a few. Overall, the Global Women’s Network has over 900 members across the globe. 

This year, we’re reflecting on the strides the Global Women’s Network has made towards empowering women – both as an employer of choice and for women around the world – this International Women’s Day, Women’s History Month and beyond. 

 

Joining the global movement 

Whether unconscious or deliberate, gender bias can make it difficult for women to receive equal opportunities and support both inside and outside the workplace. March 8 is the globally-recognized International Women’s Day (IWD) holiday, and this year, people around the world came together to #BreakTheBias and forge greater gender equality. 

Across our global footprint, Equifax leaders and teams joined the global movement to #BreakTheBias through a variety of different channels. We hosted IWD panels in the U.S., Canada and in Australia/New Zealand, the latter of which had a special guest speaker, Natalee Johnston, the first female helicopter pilot and instructor in the Royal Australian Navy. We launched a social media initiative on LinkedIn, encouraging users to share a photo of themselves showing solidarity with this year’s #BreakTheBias pose, which received impressive engagement numbers from both internal and external audiences sharing their IWD pride. Finally, we launched video series in Latin America, Spain, Australia and New Zealand discussing how they #BreakTheBias and confront gender inequality in their communities and in the workplace.  

“From creating a culture where women thrive, stay and achieve leadership roles, to furthering representation in traditionally underrepresented career paths for women, Equifax is committed to breaking the bias each and every day,” said Kristen Cook, Vice President, Engagement, Inclusion and Diversity at Equifax. “International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month provides an opportunity for us to take that a step further, championing women and elevating their voices across the world.” 

 

Driving empowerment during Women’s History Month 

While International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries, those in the United States may be more accustomed to recognizing Women’s History all March long, celebrating the vital role of women in American history. Despite significant strides towards gender equality made in the U.S. over the years, there is still progress to be made. 

At Equifax, powered by the Global Women’s Network, we not only work to make strides toward greater female representation in historically male-dominated industries like technology and cybersecurity, but also work to provide the resources to elevate and advance the careers of women. 

These efforts are a major focus of this year’s Women’s History Month activities, from employee spotlights showcasing some of our female leaders. Throughout the month of March, Women Advancing Technology Together – the women’s group within Product, Data & Analytics and Technology at Equifax – is also hosting global workshops through the Google-branded program, “I Am Remarkable,” focused on empowering women in the workplace. 

“Our women’s groups and employee networks like Global Women’s Network are a vital part of our Equifax culture,” said Andrea Lawson, Chief Talent and Diversity Officer at Equifax. “Having more women in leadership is shown to increase a company’s bottom line, and increasing representation of women in industries such as security is proven to drive innovation. At Equifax, including more diverse perspectives in decision-making roles is key to fostering a workplace in which employees feel a sense of belonging. It’s also an essential step to better serving our communities.”