“Every year, we reinforce our mission to advance women by spotlighting companies that do outstanding jobs of attracting, retaining, and promoting women employees,” said Catalyst President Ilene H. Lang. “Each of this year’s winning initiatives has succeeded using strategies that lead in their industry and provide a mix of strong lessons and examples for the business community.” Shell’s initiative, Valuing and Leveraging Diversity to Become a Model of Inclusiveness, focuses on developing and advancing women and people of color. This is a comprehensive effort based on the organization’s business principles and includes tools to assess current state, map future goals, and provide specific direction for diversity management. In addition to Shell, General Electric Company and Harley-Davidson, Inc. also received 2004 Catalyst Awards. Henry A. McKinnell, Jr., Chair & CEO Pfizer Inc, will chair the Catalyst Awards Dinner and preside over the star-filled room at the March 25, 2004, Awards ceremony held annually at the Waldorf Astoria, New York. The dinner attracts over 175 companies and more than 50 Fortune 500 CEOs. About the Catalyst Award Catalyst annually honors companies and firms with outstanding initiatives that result in women’s career development and advancement. Catalyst conducts a yearlong evaluation of initiatives and their measurable results, accountability, replicability, and originality. Thomas J. Engibous, Chairman, President & CEO of Texas Instruments and Chairman of Catalyst’s Board of Directors, proclaimed, “Catalyst challenges its applicants with a rigorous evaluation process that sets a standard in itself. As a result, the business world is strengthened by the competition.”
About Shell’s Initiative
As part of its continued commitment to diversity and inclusiveness, the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies adopted a Diversity and Inclusiveness (D&I) Standard that includes a strategic diversity framework and outlines long-term goals for women in senior-level jobs. In its implementation of the Group standard, Shell Oil Company in the U.S. has established commitment and accountability systems and stringent assurance processes for meeting D&I requirements throughout the organization. The Diversity Progress Enhancement Project (DPEP) was commissioned by Shell Oil’s leadership to assess current state and map the strategic direction of diversity for the future. DPEP components include a scorecard for measuring progress and guidelines for strengthening employee networks – all intended to enhance Shell’s ability to meet the D&I standard. In addition, diversity representation data – including hiring, attrition, and promotional figures – are posted on Shell’s intranet for all employees to see in order to identify gaps and demonstrate progress in closing them. Shell’s efforts have met with tremendous success. Currently, women comprise 25 percent of the employee population and 57 percent of corporate officers. Between 1997 and 2003, women’s representation at the senior executive level increased from 8 percent to 32 percent; at the senior management level, it increased from 7 percent to 14 percent; and at the middle management level, it increased from 9 percent to 22 percent. About the Catalyst Awards Conference Catalyst will host a full-day conference in addition to the Awards ceremony. Each company will present an in-depth analysis of its initiative. In addition, there will be candid discussions about personal success strategies with high-level global businesswomen/businessmen and workshops to outline strategies companies can employ to better recruit, retain, and advance women. About Catalyst Catalyst is the leading research and advisory organization working to advance women in business, with offices in New York, San Jose, and Toronto. As an independent, nonprofit membership organization, Catalyst uses a solutions-oriented approach that has earned the confidence of business leaders around the world. For additional information, please visit  www.catalystwomen.org or call 212-514-7600. Previous Catalyst Award Winners (1987-2003): Accenture The Allstate Corporation American Airlines The American Business Collaboration for Quality Dependent Care Arthur Andersen & Co., S.C. American Express Avon Mexico Avon Products, Inc. Bank of Montreal Baxter Healthcare Corp. Bayer Corporation Charles Schwab & Company Con Edison Connecticut Consortium for Child Care Continental Insurance Corning Glass Works Corning Incorporated Deloitte & Touche LLP The Dow Chemical Company E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company Eastman Kodak Company The Equitable Financial Companies Ernst & Young LLP Fannie Mae Gannett Co., Inc. Hewlett-Packard Company Hoechst Celanese Corporation IBM J. C. Penney Company, Inc. John Hancock Financial Services J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. Knight-Ridder Inc. Marriott International Inc. McDonald’s Corporation Mobil Corporation Morrison & Foerster Motorola The Northern Trust Company Pitney Bowes Inc. The Procter & Gamble Company Sara Lee Corporation SC Johnson Wax TD Bank Financial Group Tenneco Inc. Texas Instruments US Sprint Communications Company U S West, Inc. WellPoint Healthnetworks Inc.
For more information contact:
Anne Knisely
Shell Oil Company
Phone: (713) 241-8021
Fax: (713) 241-6988
Houston, TX 77002
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