UN Global Compact U.S. Network 2013 Symposium to address “The Business Value of Women’s Empowerment

San Francisco, Oct. 10, 2013 /3BL Media/ - The United Nations Global Compact U.S. Network invites members and interested parties to attend its annual symposium on November 5^th in San Francisco. The event will be a unique opportunity to learn, share, and network with senior leaders from prominent, forward-thinking companies and organizations.

This year’s timely theme, “The Business Value of Women’s Empowerment,” will foster discussion and offer expert insights on how empowering women can boost overall economic opportunities in both the business and social spheres. According to the non-profit research and advisory group Catalyst, just 14 percent of Fortune 500 executive officer positions were held by women as of 2012—a figure that has remained essentially stagnant since 2009. A number of studies have shown specific economic benefits when women are involved in organizational and social leadership.
 

Featured Symposium speakers will include:

• Keynote speaker Anne Rohosy, Executive VP and President, Commercial Operations Americas and Europe, Levi Strauss & Co.
• Gavin Power, Deputy Director, United Nations Global Compact
• Ursula Wynhoven, General Counsel, UN Global Compact Office
• Emily Murase, Executive Director, City of San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women
• Suzanne Fallender, Director of CSR Strategy & Director of Global Girls & Women Initiative, Intel Corporation
• Kayce Freed Jennings, producer, GirlRising
• Joe Keefe, President & CEO, Pax World Management LLC
• Kellie McElhaney, John C. Whitehead Faculty Fellow in Corporate Responsibility; Faculty Director, Center for Responsible Business at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business
• Laura Tyson, Professor of Business Administration and Economics, Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley

Key presentation and panel discussion takeaways will include how to identify and reduce barriers that impact women’s access to leadership opportunities, action steps on how to encourage women to participate in these roles, and an understanding of the organizational benefits of the inclusion of women in high-level management positions. For the full event agenda, visit the Global Compact U.S. Network site.

The event is open to individuals from UN Global Compact signatories as well as other professionals with an interest in learning more about the organization.  Attendance is free for qualified attendees. We hope to see you in San Francisco!

The event will take place on November 5^th, from 9:00 a.m to 4:30 p.m. in San Francisco, CA.

Registration is open through October 29^th at http://conta.cc/1dZnKKA

For more information, please contact:

Michelina Docimo

mdocimo@framework-llc.com

(203) 563-0644

About the UNGC U.S. Network

Launched in 2000, the United Nations Global Compact brings business together with UN agencies, civil society and governments to advance ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. Through the power of collective action, the UN Global Compact seeks to mainstream these ten principles in business activities around the world and to catalyze actions in support of broader UN goals. With more than 6,000 participating companies and stakeholders in 135 countries, it is the world’s largest voluntary corporate sustainability initiative. Please visit the http://ungc-us.org for information on how to join. 

Cecily Joseph, Symantec’s Senior Director of Corporate Responsibility, is the United Nations Global Compact Chair for the U.S. Network. Symantec was recently selected for inclusion in the UN Global Compact 100 (GC 100), a new global stock index that combines corporate sustainability and baseline financial performance. The GC  100 is composed of a representative group of Global Compact companies selected based on their adherence to the Global Compact’s ten principles as well as evidence of executive leadership commitment and consistent baseline profitability. Learn more about the GC 100 here.