The EPIC Corporate Challenge, a statewide public-private effort designed to increase the representation of women in leadership roles, announced last week the rollout of new metrics meant to measure the progress made in appointing women of color to leadership or board positions.
The challenge, launched in 2016, is helmed by Women Lead Change. Partners include Iowa Workforce Development, the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the office of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.
"Opportunities to grow and lead within Iowa's business community should exist for all women, regardless of race and ethnicity," Reynolds said in a news release. "I’m pleased that the EPIC Corporate Challenge recognizes this and is encouraging organizations to increase the number of women of color represented on their leadership teams."
Companies that participate in the EPIC Challenge pledge to encourage and retain female employees at all levels. The challenge is seen not only as a way to move the needle for women in Iowa, but also as a way to encourage economic development in all communities.
Member companies can now choose to report and track data in any of the following areas:
Increase the percentage of women of color in current and emerging leadership positions, including boards of directors.
Actively recruit and retain women at all levels of the organization, in order to increase the percentage of women in the company’s workforce, including women in nontraditional roles.
Increase the percentage of women among the top 10% of the company’s senior positions.
Increase the number of women on the board of directors.
Monitor pay by gender and address such gaps as they are discovered.
Iowa is the second state in the nation to create a partnership between government, private businesses and nonprofit organizations dedicated to working on recruiting, retaining and promoting women in the workforce. Iowa is the only state in the nation that also issues an annual report of the aggregate data for EPIC member companies.
