Seeking gender equality in leadership, RGP joins Paradigm for Parity
Global management consultancy RGP has joined the Paradigm for Parity coalition, which enlists business executives to enact full gender parity in member organizations’ leadership by 2030.
Paradigm for Parity is a coalition made up of business leaders (CEOS, execs, board members, etc.) that seeks to bring gender parity to senior executive roles by 2030, with a near-term goal of 30% women in senior roles. Member firms implement a roadmap with specific actions that will help them more effectively increase the number of women in leadership positions. Professional services firms that have committed to the Paradigm for Parity movement include Willis Towers Watson, McKinsey & Company, Kantar, EY, and Accenture.
Global management consultancy RGP is the most recent professional services firm to join the gender parity coalition. Based out of Irvine, California and founded in 1996 by a team from Deloitte led by senior partner Donald Murray. The company became independent in 1999 through a management buyout, and went public in 2000. Today the company has over 3,000 employees across over 60 offices worldwide providing advisory services across a number of areas – including finance, change management, IT, legal risk and compliance, transactions, and supply chain.
RGP’s joining of the parity coalition is a solidification of its previous efforts and core values, which centrally include having an inclusive workplace. 52% of leadership roles for vice president and above are held by women at RGP, while 66% of those in regional vice president/senior vice president roles are women. Women on the consultancy’s executive leadership team include Kate Duchene (CEO and president), Kerry Barrett (executive vice president, head of integration), Tanja Cebula (executive VP, talent), and Tracey Figurelli (executive VP, integrated solutions).
“The cause of gender parity is in our DNA as a company. Our founder was determined to create greater opportunity for women in professional services as they struggled to balance career aspirations with the demands of family life,” said CEO Kate Duchene. “Today, RGP continues to be a place where women and working mothers enjoy boundless opportunity – supported by a nearly gender equal Board of Directors! It therefore felt very natural for us to join Paradigm for Parity® and sign the pledge, as this is the core of who we are as a firm.”
As part of Paradigm for Parity, RGP will implement the movement’s 5-point action plan to continue making progress toward gender equality in leadership. The action plan includes: eliminating or minimizing unconscious bias in the workplace; significantly increasing the number of women in senior operating roles, with a goal of full gender parity; setting measurable goals and holding the entire senior team accountable to gain meaningful progress; basing career progress on business results and performance, rather than physical presence in the office; and providing sponsors, not just mentors, to women well-positioned for long term success.
