The Tata group has taken the lead again. In a first-of-its-kind initiative the largest Indian company has put out a plan to launch its cross-company mentoring programme, say news reports.
The programmes will groom 300 highly talented women executives through 180 CXOs and 35 CEOs from 45 group companies. This would give women executives to select from a wider network of leaders.
It must be noted that The Tata group employs 1.45 lakh women, but has only a few who head the CXO positions. This programme aims to have more women in top positions to encourage gender diversity in the group which is also the vision of the group chairman Cyrus Mistry.
Lessening the gender diversity ratio
In March 2014, he had stated that the group wants to have at least 1,000 women leaders by the end of this decade even as it looks to double the number of women employees during the said period. The group as it currently has a gender diversity ratio of merely 10% at the top level.
"On the leadership journey, hand-holding by an experienced mentor can be a vital support to help us grow. Through the cross-company mentoring programme, we provide an opportunity for our women professionals to fulfil their potential and move up the ladder," said N S Rajan, group chief HR officer of Tata Sons.
Rajan said the mentoring programme reinforces the group's commitment to women and encourages them to stay and be an integral part of its future leadership pool. It acts like a retention tool, shielding women managers from dropping out.
The programme will not just be restricted to India but also be applicable in the 100-plus countries where the group operates.
This news was first posted here.
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