Keeping Women Happy

Fifty-seven percent of working women are dissatisfied with their jobs, according to a recent Accenture report.

As corporate America loses more and more talented women, companies are in search of a model that works.

Brandeis University experienced a similar problem.

They were losing high potential students who received scholarships because those students didn’t have the chance to be around “a posse” of people like them.

When women leave jobs, no one benefits. The same goes for the students.

That’s why they implemented the Posse Program, one of the most competitive national scholarship competitions in the country. In 2010, President Obama

donated a portion of his Nobel Peace Prize money to the program.

Selected based on leadership skills and academic performance, “Students become leaders in the classroom, join campus organizations and bring a real excitement to the school,” says Kim Godsoe, director of student services at Brandeis.

Godsoe thinks the program would work for companies too. It could mean bringing in a group of female employees with similar interests and backgrounds.

When individuals work around comrades and feel comfortable in their environment, it’s likely to increase happiness, productivity and success.

Employee resource groups do this, but Posse takes it a step further.

“It’s about intentional inclusion,” says Godsoe. “When we’re looking around the table where decisions are being made, we want to make sure [diverse groups] are well represented.”

Bonus PINK Link: Want more on how to keep the women at your company? Check out our online exclusive.

Would your company benefit from a program like this? and tell us.

By Caroline Cox

“It takes chances to make changes.” Danielle Ballentine