Internal Diversity Initiative Award Winner

EY

EY is committed to doing its part in building a better working world with 171,000 people based in 728 offices in 150 countries, organized into 29 Regions and four Areas, working in Advisory, Tax, Transaction Advisory Services – or in Core Business Services. The insights and quality services delivered by this international team help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over.

The firm’s top six global priorities make sure differences are celebrated so that talented people from any background can rise to the top, and ensure that opportunities to develop and advance are available for all from day one. These priorities not only help to attract and retain the best people, but also help get better answers for clients and the organization as a whole.

The main objectives of EY’s diversity and inclusion initiatives are to embed the core principles of inclusiveness in all processes and across the organization, so that D&I is part of everything EY does. These initiatives form the underpinnings of EY’s global strategy, establishing a baseline and a cascading awareness throughout the organization allowing its people to know the current state of the company and understand why D&I is crucial to business. It is set to explicitly recognize and reward role models for Diversity and Inclusion who team and lead inclusively, enabling culture change. This is accomplished by ensuring that formal and informal processes and practices provide equitable experiences for EY’s people through a system of rewards and recognitions that inspire broad cultural enablement.

An important component of the D&I initiative is its Professional Networks. As grassroots network of EY people who share a common demographic or characteristic, Professional Networks provide opportunities for employees to connect with clients, the community and the EY culture. Members expand personal networks, exchange information and develop professional skills, all while working with leadership on their respective network’s goals and marketplace opportunities. Professional Networks celebrates the fact that diversity matters and serves as an important recruiting tool, impacting the inclusive environment by encouraging each member to bring his/her authentic self to the workplace.

EY also works with organizations and on campuses across the United States to foster understanding of the professions. In partnering with organizations like INROADS along with internal events, EY provides opportunities for ethnic minority candidates who historically have not chosen accounting as a profession to build the knowledge of and a passion for professional services.

To measure the results of their efforts, RY regularly analyzes both scheduled and ad hoc reports produced at the local and organizational level. Their 2013 Global People Survey results are stronger than those from past years, with more of their people, including women and ethnic minorities, having a higher level of engagement. EY is now at a point where minority partners and staff represent approximately 32% of their total employee populations in the US and Canada, more than double the representation from a decade ago. The representation of minorities at the partner/principal rank has also nearly tripled since 2000, and currently, five women serve on their Americas Area Executive, with women comprising an overall 42% of their client-serving professionals in the Americas.