26  |  HBAdvantage As study after study continues to prove the business case for gender parity and broader diversity, companies across every sector are fast accepting that diversity drives innovation and business success. And, as these companies seek out proven ways to promote diversity and inclusion, they are increasingly recognizing the power of internal corporate initiatives that support targeted groups of employees, often called employee resource groups. These resource groups can help companies create an inclusive culture that attracts, engages and retains top talent. They offer underrepresented groups an environment in which to build confidence, skills, collaboration and connections. And, when linked to strategic business initiatives, they can help to promote the cross-pollination of ideas that leads to more innovative solutions. Perhaps nowhere is this more critical today than in healthcare, an industry that faces huge challenges, from rising costs and complex regulations to technological advances and evolving customer needs and expectations. In addition, resource groups that focus on women, often known as internal women’s networks (IWNs), of- fer an added benefit. Given that women make 85 percent of all customer decisions in healthcare, organizations that leverage their women’s groups effectively can garner key customer insights and perspectives to drive product development, marketing and sales initiatives, and customer engagement efforts. Despite their many benefits, however, employee resource groups often fail to move the needle on gender parity in companies. After all, while 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies have employee resource groups, women made up just five percent of Fortune 500 CEOs in 2018. The failure is typically due not to lack of motivation, but rather ineffective implementation. Lessons from Pfizer, Insigniam and KPMG – the 2018 HBA ACE Award Honorees Willard McCloud, global lead, diversity & inclusion culture, Pfizer Inc.; Megan Montgomery, senior manager, U.S. marketing, Chantix, Pfizer Inc.; Sabina Ewing, vice president, business technology, global women’s council chair, Pfizer Inc. Shideh Bina, founding partner, Insigniam; Jon Kleinman, partner, Insigniam Laurie Cooke, president and CEO, HBA; Chris Stirling, global chairman of life sciences, KPMG LLP; Katie Dahler, U.S. life sciences advisory leader, KPMG LLP; Shannon Resetich, chair, HBA board of directors, and head of rare diseases & rare blood disorders, North America, Sanofi Genzyme PFIZER FOR GLOBAL WOMEN’S COUNCIL EXCELLENCE INSIGNIAM FOR GENDER PARITY IN LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE KPMG FOR INNOVATIVE RESEARCH EXCELLENCE RADICAL HOSPITALITY | PROFESSIONAL ENRICHMENT | BUSINESS GROWTH | INCLUSION forImplementingaSuccessfulWomen’sLeadershipInitiative inYourHealthcareCompany FIVE BE T PRACTICES Winter 2018  |  27 5 continued next page