Ellyn Shook, Chief Leadership & Human Resources Officer for Accenture, has been instrumental in developing and growing the company’s apprenticeship programs around the globe, with the majority of apprentices coming from underrepresented communities. People earn while they learn, with most programs not requiring a four-year degree. For example, the collaboration with NPower Canada provides technology skills training to thousands of underrepresented individuals, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit people; many have joined Accenture as apprentices. All initiatives are goal-driven and have produced tremendous results, such as contributing to increasing women’s representation in their global workforce – from 40% in 2017 to 47% today. Accenture’s Skills to Succeed initiative is a collaboration with partners to prepare people for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. Last year it equipped 1.6 million people with valuable skills.
Ellyn employs a variety of best practices. They include treating inclusion and diversity as a business priority with goals and accountability, being transparent about results, collaborating, utilizing a sophisticated listening framework for employee voice, and acting with intention to drive progress in all countries, even where it is not legal to report I&D goals. Ellyn considers learning a superpower and asking for help a sign of strength, not weakness.