Grassroots support for female development
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Photo: Laura Meyer
In the three years since it was founded, iGLOW has helped hundreds of women at CNH connect and network with each other in a way that helps them achieve their career goals
iGLOW, which stands for inclusivity, growth, leadership and opportunity for women, is CNH’s first Employee Resource Group in North America. Founded in Burr Ridge, Illinois, (USA), by Cathy Starr, Director of Global Parts Operations, and Laura Gerstner, Director of Precision Technology Enterprise Program Management, its goal is to empower women to inspire others to learn and reach their full potential.
“When we started in 2020, we weren’t filling a gap; we were creating a space for member-driven networking and professional development that human resources departments aren’t able to create,” says Starr.
“By leaving titles at the door you can create a completely inclusive space, free of judgement,” explains Gerstner.
Their camaraderie, empathy, strength and warmth are palpable — characteristics that have helped their grassroots group grow enormously in just three years. Today, iGLOW is helping hundreds of women in their careers, whether that’s progressing into management, making a sideways move or being a better colleague.
Global expansion
Eight women, including Starr and Gerstner, attended the first iGLOW meeting in March 2020, just weeks before the world was shut down by COVID-19 restrictions. Today, iGLOW and similar Employee Resource Groups have been created across the USA, Europe and Asia, boasting more than five hundred, four hundred and 350 members respectively. The membership, which includes men, has grown exclusively through word of mouth.
In the USA, most meetings are held virtually and include around 135 attendees. Members recognize achievements, publicize vacancies, encourage others to join groups such as Toastmasters International, which promotes public speaking, present a “day in the life” of a member and plan future sessions. At the manufacturing plants, where there are fewer salaried staff, meetings are in-person and might be between or after shifts.
The monthly meetings are part of iGLOW’s multifaceted approach to empowerment. The group held its inaugural annual Women in Leadership Conference in September 2022 and facilitates CNH’s representation at the annual Women in Engineering conference. It also runs a mentoring program that has grown to more than one hundred mentees in just two years, works on community outreach projects and organizes inspirational guest speakers.
One of the first guest speakers was an airline executive. “She explained how women tend to think doing a good job means putting your head down, working hard and promotion will come. The takeaway was that sometimes we’ve got to put our pencils down and put our heads up, see what’s going on and make sure we’re positioning ourselves in a way that will get us to our career goals,” says Gerstner.
Inter-generational outreach
To have the maximum impact, iGLOW tries to connect its various activities. A great example was inviting students from a Chicago high school that was already part of a community project to the leadership conference. “We brought five students from the Chicago High School of Agricultural Sciences to participate and present some of their projects from school,” says Gerstner. “Our conference became part of their education.”
At the conference, the students, along with one hundred CNH employees, met women at the start of their careers as well as those at the top, got to participate in an improvisation session where a comedian used humor to build confidence, and heard talks about the importance of a career development plan, of having goals and how to link them.
“It’s all about how to take the lead in your own development,” explains Gerstner.
In the post-event feedback, it was clear that advice from women leaders from CNH and networking held the most value for attendees, something the organizing committee has taken on board for the expanded 2023 event.
AT CNH, WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT iGLOW IS DOING, BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS THAT WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN TO PROMOTE ITS SUCCESS BY MAKING ITS GOALS OUR COMPANY GOALS
Steady growth in line with Company values
Starr and Gerstner both realize that it’s early days for iGLOW and there’s still plenty to do. This includes further expanding the leadership conference and mentoring program and working out how best to help local chapters at CNH’s manufacturing sites. “They’re really interested in community connections and involvement, volunteering and things like supporting families,” says Starr.
But the pair don’t want iGLOW to grow too fast. “Our growth has to be steady, so we can put in the right structures and develop the program so that it’s really effective,” she adds.
At CNH, we readily recognize the importance of what iGLOW is doing, value its achievements and offer financial support. But equally important is that we are doing all we can to promote its success by making its goals our Company goals. This is evidenced by the fact that iGLOW’s development is included in Starr’s annual personal goals as discussed with her manager.
“I have targets directly related to iGLOW, which means they’re integrated into the targets of the Company. That’s fantastic — it’s the best way the Company can support us,” she explains.
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