PALO ALTO, Calif., October 19, 2016: The AnitaB.org (ABI), a nonprofit organization focused on the advancement of women in computing, today announced ThoughtWorks as the winner of the 2016 Top Companies for Women Technologists program. With the highest overall score, the global software company has been recognized as a true leader in recruiting, retaining and advancing more women in technical roles.
The national benchmark program evaluated 60 companies with more than 1.4 million US employees, including 552,000 technologists across 10 industries. Highlights from ThoughtWorks include:
- 5 percent of all new recruits as women across all career levels (entry, mid, senior and executive), compared to an average of 23 percent
- Women technologists being represented at higher rates at all career levels
- Entry level: Women hold 59.6 percent of the positions, compared to an average of 26.8 percent at all participating companies
- Mid level: Women hold 46.2 percent of the positions, compared to an average of 22.6 percent at all participating companies
- Senior level: Women hold 30 percent of the positions, compared to an average of 18.4 percent at all participating companies
- Executive level: Women hold 23.8 percent of the positions, compared to an average of 14.1 percent at all participating companies
- Representation momentum (year-over-year changes in representation) increasing across entry, senior and executive career levels
“We began focusing on the diversity of our workforce more than six years ago, and to be designated as the top company for women technologists by AnitaB.org is deeply gratifying,” said Dr. Rebecca Parsons, chief technology officer, ThoughtWorks. “Diversity benefits everyone and the industry is beginning to embrace this opportunity. The concrete commitment to measure and improve will expand diversity, fostering new ideas and better business results.“
“Women are critical to the future of technology, and ThoughtWorks has demonstrated it is possible today to dramatically increase the representation of women in the technical workforce. They have clearly created a culture where both women and men can thrive,” said Telle Whitney, president and CEO of AnitaB.org. “What ThoughtWorks has accomplished to date not only provides an excellent example to other organizations of what they can do but also a challenge to the industry overall to do more.
ThoughtWorks has implemented a number of programs and philosophies over the last six years to increase diversity within the company. This includes:
- Taking a unique approach to hiring: Conventional wisdom says IT jobs require a four-year computer science degree. That no longer holds true, and ThoughtWorks has found success by looking beyond the typical computer science degree and casts a wide net for talent, which includes self-taught coders, or graduates who majored in disciplines like economics, liberal arts or mechanical engineering..
- Purposeful onboarding and investing in all talent from day one: Investing in employees at all levels is essential and results in better employee engagement and loyalty. All new graduates attend ThoughtWorks University, a five-week intensive training program which simulates projects and covers both technical and soft skills. All other hires, mid-level to executive, are paired with onboarding buddies, helping them navigate all aspects of the business, especially the cultural ones.
- Reward teamwork: Creativity and innovative problem solving thrive when diverse opinions and perspectives are shared, and ThoughtWorks’ collaborative culture values teamwork and shared knowledge over individual heroics.
Since 2010, Top Companies for Women Technologists has used data supplied by participating companies and a rigorous statistical methodology to objectively score participants on a number of key metrics. Compared to publicly released diversity data from companies where definitions vary, the program provides a standard measurement of the representation of women technologists at entry, mid, senior, and executive levels, as well as the recruitment, retention and promotion of women in technical roles.
An insights report from 2016 Top Companies program can be found here.
ThoughtWorks to accept award at the 2016 Grace Hopper Celebration
Dr. Rebecca Parsons, chief technology officer, Joanna Parke, managing director for North America, Tarsha McCormick, head of diversity & inclusion and Guo Xiao, chief executive officer will accept the Top Companies award on the main stage on October 19 at the Grace Hopper Celebration.
About Top Companies
AnitaB.org’s Top Companies for Women Technologists is a U.S. program that recognizes companies committed to building workplaces where women in technology roles can thrive. The program uses a rigorous methodology to analyze data from participating organizations and produce insights across three key areas: representation, employee experience, and programs and policies.
About AnitaB.org
AnitaB.org connects, inspires and guides women in computing and organizations that view technology innovation as a strategic imperative. Founded in 1997 by computer scientist Anita Borg, our reach extends to more than 65 countries. We believe technology innovation powers the global economy, and that women are crucial to building technology the world needs. AnitaB.org is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 charitable organization.
Follow AnitaB.org on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.
About ThoughtWorks
ThoughtWorks is a software company and community of passionate, purpose-led individuals that specialize in software consulting, delivery and products. We think disruptively to deliver technology to address our clients’ toughest challenges, all while seeking to revolutionize the IT industry and create positive social change. We make pioneering tools for software teams who aspire to be great. Our products help organizations continuously improve and deliver quality software for their most critical needs.
Follow ThoughtWorks on Twitter or LinkedIn and like us on Facebook.
Media Contact
Veronica Herico
AnitaB.org
abius@hotwirepr.com
Reyne Quackenbush
ThoughtWorks
rquacken@thoughtworks.com
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