Leadership and Executive Development for women of all races, cultures and backgrounds
Issue link: https://diversitywoman.epubxp.com/i/632328
MeanBusiness d i v e r s i t y w o m a n . c o m W i n t e r 2 0 1 6 D I V E R S I T Y W O M A N 45 Te First Star category recognizes an execu- tive or senior leader who was the frst busi- ness leader, or among the earliest leaders, to embrace diversity as a strategic business imperative. Te First Star is a pioneer and is often considered a trailblazer in D&I.; Tis leader has had posi- tive impact beyond his or her immediate organization and often attracts wide recogni- tion and imitation. PATRICIA HARRIS Global Chief Diversity Offcer & VP, Global Community Engagement/McDonald's Corporation FIRST STAR AWARD T hroughout her 40-year career at McDonald's, Patricia Harris has led the company's inclusion journey from the early days of afrmative action in the United States to being one of the frst corporations to expand diversity eforts globally. Harris is responsible for the devel- opment and implementation of D&I; strategies throughout McDonald's, including at over 33,500 restaurants in 120 countries. She has been a prime mover in the establishment of McDon- ald's Global Women's Initiative, which has been a catalyst for the advancement of women at McDonald's worldwide. Today, women and people of color represent 45 percent of McDonald's franchisees, 80 percent of restaurant management staf, and 69 percent of the corporate workforce. In addition, 72 percent of purchases of food, packaging, premiums, and uniforms come from businesses owned by women and people of color. Harris was a founding member of the Women's Foodservice Forum, an organiza- tion dedicated to developing leadership talent and ensuring career advancement among executive women in the food service industry. Te organization now has more than 22,000 active participants and volunteers. Under her leadership, McDonald's has been widely cited for its commitment to D&I.; Tis recognition includes Fortune magazine's Top 50 Places for Minorities to Work, Black Enterprise magazine's Top 40 Companies for Diversity, Latina Style magazine's Best Companies for Latinas, Asian Enterprise magazine's Top 25 Compa- nies for Asians, and Work Life Matters magazine's Disability Diversity Award. Harris is also committed to her work with nonproft organizations, including the Women's Leadership Board at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, the Roosevelt University Board of Trustees, the Girl Scouts USA's Board of Trustees, the Global Summit of Women, the Executive Leadership Council, and the Chicago Shakespeare Teatre. Harris documented McDonald's D&I; journey in her book None of Us Is As Good As All of Us: How McDonald's Prospers by Embracing Inclusion and Diversity.