Goldman Sachs

What

This case study outlines the Women’s Career Strategies Initiative (WCSI) at Goldman Sachs. It is a six-month global career management programme designed to strengthen the retention and engagement of its high potential, mid-level female associates and help them to successfully move to the vice president level. WCSI was initially piloted in 2005 with 100 participants in Europe and the United States. The programme has since expanded to Asia and Japan. The four regional programmes run in parallel, ensuring that WCSI is a truly global initiative. So far, over 800 women have taken part.

The programme provides developmental opportunities focused on:
• Broadening participants’ exposure to the  fi rm’s businesses and culture
• Deepening participants’ knowledge of
career development tools
• Facilitating firm-wide networking and increasing visibility of senior female and male role models

The developmental opportunities are provided through a combination of monthly training sessions and seminars, workshops,  small group meetings with senior role models and divisional heads, and networking events. Training sessions and seminars cover topics including  defining our own leadership style, recognising gender differences in your communication style, and strategies for managing your career. Workshops focus on areas such as negotiation skills, effective delegation, communicating with confidence and creating commercial opportunities. Sessions with senior business leaders cover subjects such as the senior perspective on what leadership means at the firm and a session with the firm’s Chairman on insights into the firm’s strategy.