WPP AUNZ has launched ‘Walk the Talk’, an award-winning global initiative to ensure women thrive and progress in their careers, as part of the group’s core proposition to create richer diversity and greater inclusion across its leadership teams.
Walk the Talk was launched on the weekend to around 80 senior female leaders from across WPP AUNZ. These employees experienced an intensive two-day programme, which involved delegates identifying ways to lead with purpose, while developing plans to drive a diversity movement within their businesses.
Mike Connaghan CEO WPP AUNZ said WPP AUNZ remains fully committed to recognising and supporting diversity, in all its forms, and continues to invest heavily in its people by encouraging and enabling them to fully contribute towards their own success and the group’s success.
Connaghan said: “Initiatives like Walk the Talk (WTT) are aimed at further unlocking the leadership potential of the group’s female senior leaders and I am delighted we are launching the programme in this region. As a group we have 32 per cent of women in senior leadership positions and recognise there is still a long way to go, so we remain focused on leading the change.”
Here at B&T, we’re also passionate about getting women into senior leadership positions – so in less than a month, we’re holding an event to champion equality and inclusion in the industry.
Similar to WTT, Changing the Ratio is a day to support diversity and gender equality, and is a day crammed with panel discussions, keynote speakers (like Lisa Wilkinson and Deng Adut) and short stories – meaning attendees will walk away with practical tools, case studies and things to do right now within their own organisations to drive diversity, gender equality and inclusion.
Lindsay Pattison, founder of the WTT initiative and head of transformation at WPP (based in London), said of the Australian launch: “I am a passionate and vocal campaigner for gender equality in business. I truly believe WTT is transformational, both for delegates and our business and I am delighted WPP AUNZ has decided to launch the programme in this market.”
Walk the Talk was originally launched in 2016 by Pattison as a Maxus initiative. Following its success, it was adopted globally by WPP plc and has now been attended by several hundred high potential women from all over the world helping them achieve greater business acumen, leadership and success.
The Australian/NZ launch of Walk the Talk follows the recent announcement of WPP AUNZ’s employee share ownership scheme plus a raft of other leading talent initiatives for its employees across Australia and New Zealand including MyTime, a Wellbeing Programme and The Academy.
Changing the Ratio will be held on May 28 at Sydney’s Belvoir St Theatre in Surry Hills. Grab tickets here, and for all other info, head to the website.
