KPMG

What

This case study explores KPMG’s development programme for its women managers.  The programme, named Reach, was designed following research which explored the perceived barriers to career progression  for women at manager level. The research involved consultation with the firm’s highest performing women and men at middle management level. The top three barriers identified were; balancing work and family; the perception of women as less committed due to family commitments and lack of senior or visibly successful role models. These findings provided a basis for a sustained programme of action to tackle the gender imbalance at senior levels. Action included addressing the culture of the firm via training for leaders and managers, alongside offering support to women  to allow them to progress. The Reach initiative directly and proactively addresses many of the issues which both the men and women had identified as potential barriers to the career progression of women. It has four core modules which cover issues of; leadership; career management and planning; networking and  profile and impact. Participants are encouraged to identify and build on what they are already doing well and think practically about how they can apply their learning  back in the business. A crucial part of the programme is action planning and the creation of a support network to sustain the learning after the initial two days. Over the six months following the programme, women are encouraged to work with an internal coach to ensure that they embed the learning and deliver on the personal development plans they develop on the course.