March 2017

APAC / March 2017 53 K Company: HSBC Web Address: www.hsbc.com HSBC’s Drive to Encourage Women Back to the Workplace in India g to help these women return to the workforce. The 12-week programme will provide a structured, full-time internship program for the successful participants and will help them to plan for potential future careers at HSBC. Subir recognises the importance of choice. “There are many experienced women professionals who leave the workforce for personal reasons and may find it a daunting task to restart their careers. Our carefully designed Take Two programme offers an unique opportunity for these talented women professionals to restart after extended breaks, thus creating supported routes back to work for returners”. Subir is not alone in championing the importance of gender diversity, the Balance Network was set up as a voluntary employee group in HSBC in 2010 to bring colleagues together to talk about the things that make the biggest difference across the Group. It is now the most popular employee group and incorporates the efforts of 33,000 colleagues in six regions. Where people can be at their best Kirsty Roth has worked in a number of international organisations and believes, “a successful working culture is one which welcomes a range of views and opinions, and is comfortable with people who think and express themselves differently.” “After all, an organisation where people are confident to ask questions and raise ideas is more likely to try new things, find great solutions, adapt and innovate - and do better business as a result,” Kirsty says. 1. McKinsey - Why Diversity Matters (2016): http://www. mckinsey.com/business- functions/organization/ our-insights/why-diversity- matters 2. Korn Ferry Lack of Progress in Asia Pacific Board Diversity a Cause for Worry (2016): http://www.kornferry. com/press/lack-of-progress- in-asia-pacific-board- diversity-a-cause-for-worry/ Global Head of Operations, Kirsty Roth