No. 2 Sodexo
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Why It’s on the List
Sodexo’s placement in the top two three years in a row is an indication of how seriously this company takes the link between diversity management and its business goals. Sodexo is absolutely the best at measuring what is effective and using the data analysis to drive improvement. The company consistently uses its diversity efforts as the competitive differentiator in its business growth. It really starts with the top at this facilities-management company. President and CEO George Chavel, a long-time diversity leader who has spoken at our events numerous times, is the gold standard for holding people accountable for diversity results. Chavel meets with resource groups every quarter and links 25 percent of the compensation of his senior reports to their successful completion of corporate and personal diversity goals. Senior Vice President and Global Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Rohini Anand, who has been the driving force in this company’s amazing diversity success, reports to Chavel and has a key say in business initiatives. For a video from our event of their discussion on how they make it work at Sodexo, click here. |
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DiversityInc Lists
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Mentoring & Talent Development
Sodexo’s formal mentoring program is the best we’ve seen anywhere in corporate America. In 2011, every one of its executive-committee members was involved in mentoring partnerships. Its signature IMPACT mentoring program had 125 partnerships, 94 percent of which were cross-divisional and 74 percent of which were cross-cultural. Three of its resource groups had their own customized mentoring programs. The company’s Diversity Business Leadership Summit, aimed at employees and clients, has become a model for other companies trying to set up business-focused diversity events. The summit, which was featured at DiversityInc’s Innovation Fest!, had 634 attendees, including 117 clients, and a waiting list of more than 300 people. Sixteen workshops were offered, and participants gave the summit an overall positive rating of more than 95 percent. Sodexo continues to improve the diversity of its demographics at all levels. The year 2011 was a record year in college hires for the company, with 153 hires, almost half of whom were women and more than 40 percent of whom were Black, Latino, Asian or American Indian. At the executive level, almost all slates presented were diverse. In addition, the company has expanded its use of social media as a significant diversity recruitment tool. Sodexo’s 2010 Engagement Survey found that 82 percent of managers (compared with 73 percent in 2006) agreed that “at Sodexo, diverse employees are valued for the difference they bring to the workplace.” |
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Diversity Leadership
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Company Information
U.S. Headquarters: Gaithersburg, Md. Global Employees: 391,000 U.S. Employees: 116,825 Last Year’s DiversityInc Top 50 Ranking: No. 2 |
