At KPMG, we believe that gender equality underpins our Values and is vital to our Purpose: Inspire Confidence and Empower Change. International Women’s Day is a reminder that we have an opportunity and responsibility to push for a fairer, more equitable society, and to help our people at KPMG to thrive and succeed.
We’re committed to creating a culture where we encourage our people to come as they are – because we know our differences can lead to stronger insights. And innovation helps us solve some of the world’s the toughest challenges so that we can lead the way forward.
Empowering women in the community
KPMG firms are working to create a fairer, more sustainable future, supporting the next generation reach their full potential.
Cracking the code for women in technology: US student summer program
Only a quarter of technology employees are women, but a recent initiative from KPMG in the US hopes to help change this statistic.
In collaboration with nonprofit organization Girls Who Code, which aims to close the technology gender gap, KPMG in the US hosted a Summer Immersion Program in 2021 for 60 female or non-binary high school students. Assisted by 80 volunteers, the two-week event focused on helping attendees build a variety of computer science skills needed to make an impact in the technology world.
The interactive sessions covered a wide range of topics including inclusion, diversity & equity in innovation, resumé writing and interviewing. And, by meeting other women who already work in the sector, participants were able to broaden their horizons for a career in technology.
One student commented saying: “Something I deeply value is diversity and inclusion, and I think KPMG does an amazing job of including that in their workplace.”
Learn more about the program here or check out highlights from the 2021 Virtual Summer Immersion Program experience.
*Source: KPMG + Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program Recap Video
Climbing the technical ladder: empowering China’s female STEM students
More and more women are studying STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects at China’s universities. And with KPMG China’s STEM is HER future program, in partnership with the Shanghai Yiyou Youth Service Center, we’re helping these ambitious students to launch their careers in a traditionally male dominated field.
KPMG’s eager team of volunteers works with more than 1,600 female students, across several universities, to help them build technical skills such as coding, AI and data analytics, assigning them business case studies and evaluating their efforts.
Eight of the most impressive students also get an internship with KPMG China, to find out more about how STEM is applied in the real world and build valuable contacts.
The 2022 STEM is HER FUTURE program will launch during the week of International Women’s Day 2022, bringing exciting opportunities for those taking part.
Aspire to go higher: raising educational prospects for India’s girls
Millions of Indian girls are held back by entrenched social and economic barriers. KPMG in India’s Aspire program gives young girls from disadvantaged backgrounds essential financial assistance and mentorship to help them achieve their educational dreams.
Starting in 2014, KPMG in India’s Aspire program now supports more than 260 young women from age 13 onwards, including subsidizing school and college fees, offering mentoring with 60 of our women leaders, training in information technology, ‘soft’ skills and English, coaching and counselling.
During the pandemic, 80-plus laptops were handed out to help keep the students connected, and allow sessions to continue online.
The results have been nothing short of outstanding. Many young women have gone on to study at some of India’s most prestigious universities and are finding jobs with many leading organizations including KPMG in India, as well as in professions like teaching. One enterprising young woman has even launched her own educational and charitable trust.
These girls are an inspiration for India’s next generation of female students, showing they can succeed no matter what barriers may stand in their way.
Find out more by reading KPMG in India’s Corporate Citizenship Annual Report.
Ambition is the same in any language: encouraging French female-led tech startups
Fewer than one in ten technology entrepreneurs in France are women*, but KPMG in France is part of an exciting initiative to change this statistic.
Since 2018, KPMG volunteers have been providing vital coaching and training for Les Ambitieuses Tech For Good (‘Ambitious Women in Tech For Good’), a 9-month program for female-led social entrepreneurship projects.
The brainchild of French association La Ruche (‘The Hive’), ten projects each year are chosen to receive intensive support to help accelerate growth by improving strategy and operations. The tailor-made program includes mentoring sessions, workshops and monthly diagnostics, with the winning project also receiving five days of dedicated consultancy.
With a focus on tech-inspired solutions to pressing social or environmental issues, the success of these startups can help encourage a new generation of female entrepreneurs.
*Source: Les Ambitieuses
KPMG collaborates with Microsoft and UNESCO on a Girls’ Edition of the Imagine Cup Junior AI Hackathon series
To further empower future generations, Microsoft, KPMG and UNESCO are working together to hold a new series of Virtual AI Hackathons for students across Europe, the Middle East and Africa aged 13 to 18 years old, including an event dedicated to young women in March. Empowering girls with technology skills over a weekend, while they generate ideas to improve the world. Find out more or check out a recent blog on how hackathons are building the next generation of changemakers.
Insights from our leaders
