a strategy for standing up a successful employee resource group

Society of Women EngineersWE15 ConferencePresenter: Catherine Schmoll

Nashville, TN22-24 October 2015

Level 4 - Bechtel Public

INFRASTRUCTURE

MINING & METALS

NUCLEAR, SECURITY & ENVIRONMENTAL

OIL, GAS & CHEMICALS

A Strategy for standing up a successfulEmployee Resource Group in a large Global Company

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Bechtel’s key resources- its people

Bechtel recognizes that women are important contributors to its success at all levels

Our Employee Resource Group, Women@Bechtel..... in its inaugural year….Capitalized on Bechtel’s strengths


Bechtel is among the most respected (EPC) engineering, project management, and construction companies in the world.

We stand apart for our ability to get the job done right—no matter how big, how complex, or how remote.

Since its founding in 1898, Bechtel has worked on more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents.

Today, our 58,000 colleagues team with customers, partners, and suppliers on diverse projects in 40 countries. www.bechtel.com

Bechtel

© 2015 Bechtel | 3 Level 4 - Bechtel Public

http://www.bechtel.com/

Women@Bechtel-Mission

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Mission Statement

Women@Bechtel (W@B).....We help Bechtel build a better Bechtel

• Provide learning forum• Connect our employees around the world• Promote the development and advancement

of women at all levels• Build a more inclusive environment

• Focus area, 3C’s• Support to Company, Colleagues, Community

3C’s- Support to Colleagues, Community, Company


Corporate Survey results indicate:

─ ‘a need to improve how women and men perceive fairness and opportunities to succeed in the company’

─ we were on a parallel path with the Company

Women@Bechtel- Our Journey


Q4 2012 Q1 2013 Q2 2013 Q3 2013 Q4 2013 Q1 2014 Q2 2014

Conference held centered on Inclusion,Focus groups shaped the global priorities.Concept of ERG was introduced.

Global steering committee formed; Executive Sponsors were named.Draft Chartercompleted.

Initial Global board members appointed; Women@Bechtel officially launches with 4 pilot chapters

15 additional chapters formed since inception

2014 Women’s Leadership Conference, Gladstone, Australia

First year’s ‘Global Board Business’ Organized as a Global Board

Established our Scope and Mission─ treated it like a Project

Developed a Value Proposition─ 3 Focus areas-

» Support to Colleagues» Support to Community» Support to Company

Women@Bechtel- Global Board


First year’s ‘Global Board Business’ (continued) Defined our ‘Rules and Tools’─ Governance/Startup Documentation─ FAQs─ Website─ Membership Database─ Social Media sessions

Established Metrics/Success indicators ─ Chapter─ Membership

Build a Network─ HR─ Communications─ Other Bechtel Organizations interested in connecting/mentoring our

members



First year’s ‘Global Board Business’ (continued) Chapter Startup─ Focus: set up Chapters for Success

» Established guides for the Chapters» Made ourselves available for our Chapters

Provided clear focus for the Organization─ Consistent focus

Sought out leadership at all levels─ Strong Sponsors─ Chapter Board leaders

Stressed the importance of diversification across the Organization─ Gender─ Age─ Experience- all types (career and personal)

Important take away: DON’T LIMIT YOURSELF─ ERG needs to be able to flex, adapt to change



Women@Bechtel- Membership

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Membership Campaign in Reston – April 2014


Reaching out to members, through social media, emails, local chapter activities

Women@Bechtel- Global Chapter MapSeptember 2015


LEGEND

Active Chapters [15]Prospective Chapters [2]

Reston

Houston

Richland

Gladstone

United Kingdom (London)

San Francisco

Santiago

Bantrel (Calgary)

New Delhi

Savannah River

South of Embley

Glendale

GCC (Gulf

Cooperation Council)

Bristol

Oak Ridge

LANL

PCAPP

Women@Bechtel- Our Members

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Issued our First survey

─ Board wanted to know what our members valued as a priority in terms of focus and importance

─ Strong response from members

─ Consistent and Clear message

─ Priorities / Focus areas included:» Career Development» Leadership Development» Mentoring


Women@Bechtel- Organizing as a group


Scope and mission

Value proposition

Startup local chapters around the globe

Established communication vehicles (Newsletters, Social Medias, Meetings)

Kept focus on our 3 C’s

Started to build our own Network─ Opportunity to establish peer and mentoring

relationships inside the Membership base─ Connecting Globally – IWD, SWE─ Connected with HR, Communications- other

organizations─ W@B became a Conduit for other

organizations to connect with our Members

Women@Bechtel- Support to Colleagues

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Examples include:

Initiated Unconscious Bias training

Initiated Forthright Conversation classes for members

Organized Speed-networking, Senior management Panel sessions

Created ‘Straight talk’ interview sessions with Senior Management

Connected members with Webinar information (including SWE)


Women@Bechtel- Support to Community

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Examples include:

Major focus areas:STEM events/Discover EBreast Cancer Awareness

Sample, other events:Domestic ViolenceFood DrivesUnited WayHelping HandsMarch of Dimes


Women@Bechtel- Support to Company

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Examples include:

NAWIC Award- Australia

Your Life Campaign- UK

AmCHAM- GCC

SWE participation


Note: NAWIC- National Association of Women in Construction; AmCHAM- American Chamber of Commerce in the Gulf Cooperative Council; SWE- Society of Women Engineers

You are part of the Company, you are part of the solution

Look for Opportunities to help the Company expand its horizon regarding Diversity and Inclusion─ Could be a meeting/conference

Initiate dialogue, gather information and capitalize on communication tools-─ Social Media in the Company ─ Networking with key Corporate resources (ie HR/Communications)─ Outside resources- Catalyst, SWE

Remember to diversify. Tap into all talents at all levels─ This isn’t just a women’s organization─ Men make up the majority of our business and the Management chain,

they certainly have something to offer

Women@Bechtel- Key Take Away


Stay Committed, stay Connected, get Creative….Capitalize

Look for Strong leaders to participate─ Next be prepared- these are people of action─ Offer a plan, bring ideas

Stay the course- get organized

Raise your hand! Lean in- be part of the solution

Be flexible…if we want change…things can change

Women@Bechtel- Key Take Away


a strategy for standing up a successful employee resource group

Engineering