BeyondTrust was recently named a Great Places Best Workplace for Women by Fortune Magazine. As this award is based on direct input from US-based employees collected via an anonymous survey, it is especially exciting to see BeyondTrust receive this recognition.
The Great Places Best Workplaces for Women award is the only company culture award in America that selects winners based on how fairly women say they’re treated at their workplace. It is a highly competitive award, based on over 1.1 million survey responses and data from companies representing more than 7 million employees.
In this blog, I’m highlighting the ongoing initiatives and programs around culture and professional development that made this recognition possible.
How are companies selected for the Great Places Best Workplace for Women award?
Eighty-five percent of the ranking is based on what women themselves report about their workplace, and how fairly those experiences compare to men’s reports of the same workplaces. The survey measures the extent to which women report their organizations create a Great Place to Work For All™—for example, whether people trust each other and employees are able to reach their full potential, no matter who they are or what they do.
Creating opportunities for celebration and empowerment
At BeyondTrust, women are key contributors across the organization:
- 33% of US employees identify as female (27% globally)
- 30% of C-Suite, including the CEO
- 37% of Leadership Circle (functional leaders across the organization)
It is not surprising that BeyondTrust led in a survey where workplace culture and the employee experience are highly valued criteria. Workplace diversity is an ongoing priority for BeyondTrust, and the internal BeyondConnections Diversity & Inclusion program includes BeyondTrust Resource Groups, or BRTGs. These employee-led programs include the “Women & Allies” BTRG, an active group that engages all employees to learn about the perspectives of women. For example, the “Possibili-teas” program offers regular informal conversations with female leaders who have not only made significant contributions at BeyondTrust, but also continually empower other women by living our values and leading by example.
In 2022, BeyondTrust engaged with Pathbuilders®, an organization that offers programs, mentoring, and lifetime learning networks to fit the lives of women at every step of their careers. A number of women at both the mid-level individual contributor and executive management levels are completing the Percepta® and Achieva® programs this year. The investment in this initiative reflects the commitment BeyondTrust places on developing female talent within the organization.
Externally, BeyondTrust hosts a number of “Women in Security” programs, both virtually and at events such as trade shows. At Go Beyond, our annual customer and partner conference, attendees had the opportunity to meet and network with information security executive Tarah Wheeler and other women in the industry. Additionally, several employees in our UK office volunteer with “Girls Out Loud”, a Big Sister mentoring program, which focuses on empowering teenage girls to believe in themselves and channel their potential.
The value of diversifying your talent pool
In my seven years at BeyondTrust, I have witnessed phenomenal growth in the company. My own journey at BeyondTrust started when I was hired as an individual contributor, and after serving in several different roles within the Marketing department, I am now leading a team of 20+ at the VP level. My career progression is reflective of many other fantastic female leaders at BeyondTrust, and it has been inspiring to see many other women take on greater roles. It was especially gratifying when Janine Seebeck was named CEO in July 2022, a direct result of her incredible leadership and performance in her previous roles of CFO and then also COO of BeyondTrust.
According to the McKinsey study "Women in Workplace 2021," companies need to create a culture that fully leverages the benefits of diversity—one in which women, and all employees, feel comfortable bringing their unique ideas, perspectives, and experiences to the table. “Our job as a company is to intentionally create an environment and culture where employees can bring their authentic selves to work,” said Laura Edwards-Lassner, VP of Talent Management at BeyondTrust. “In addition to a sense of belonging, it’s imperative to identify and enable advancements opportunities for high potential employees across all groups.”
Conclusion: supporting diversity and inclusivity matters
When women are respected and their contributions are valued, they are more likely to be happy in their jobs and to feel connected to their coworkers. BeyondTrust is committed to making further progress in this area and expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups. Click here to learn more about Employee Life at BeyondTrust.
Stacy Blaiss, VP of Corporate Marketing
Stacy Blaiss, VP of Corporate Marketing, leads the team that enables our brand identity and executes marketing programs that drive success for BeyondTrust, our customers, and partners. Stacy has 20+ years of experience in B2B marketing in the telecommunications, payments, and cybersecurity industries, and is passionate about enabling marketing strategies that connect with the customer’s needs, business problems, and security challenges. Stacy received her MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University, and a BS from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. In 2022, Stacy participated in the KPMG Executive Leadership Institute for Women.
