NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a new twist on helping women break the glass ceiling, several New York City-based law and accounting firms and other companies are following a different roadmap with remarkable success.
Women attorneys, accountants, sales executives and others are participating in a unique forum, which includes intense professional development and networking.
This groundbreaking program was designed and developed by the Women’s Advancement Compact (WAC) and has already achieved significant results. Last week, at one of the nation’s largest law firms, Alston & Bird, WAC conducted its latest in a series of events that integrate career satisfaction, life challenges and personal development.
“Corporate America’s women face unique challenges that have been addressed piecemeal,” says Deborah Goldstein, founder of WAC. Recent research points up that more than half of female executives say their productivity would increase by 10 to 25 percent if their organizations played a more active role in helping them balance their work and non-work lives.
“The WAC brings to corporate employees a full menu of solutions, aides and tools to create opportunities across industry lines and gives women the infrastructure to leverage networks and become rainmakers,” says Goldstein. “Further, we motivate women to set their daily and long term goals with perspective, and stay mindful of these commitments, which results in a well-managed life on the job and at home.”
In the field of law, women account for 45% of associates, yet represent just 15% of equity partners. Studies have shown that this is due to some number of women not fitting in or adjusting to a corporate culture; other women who lack the courage or resources to strive for partnership; and many who drop out when they have children and then can’t get back into the workplace. “WAC provides the tools to help women face their professional and personal challenges,” says Goldstein. “As a result, we are starting to see a rise in retention rates, promotions and a drop in turnover.”
About the Women’s Advancement Compact:
The Women’s Advancement Compact (WAC) is a community of NYC corporate professionals sharing the common goal of career advancement, while integrating family life and personal growth. Services include professional development, family dynamics and relationship counseling, physical fitness/health events, book groups and food and wine events. WAC offers businesses the opportunity to outsource or bolster existing women’s initiatives with the bonus of networking across industry lines.