Accelerating achievement of gender parity - within EY and in business at large - is not just a fairness argument but an economic imperative. It is key to building a better world. Now is the time to take action and put gender on the global agenda. EY is proud to partner with International Women's Day on the Be Bold for Change campaign. EY is calling on others to accelerate their efforts, too, and make a commitment. By working together, we can create a ripple effect that not only advances women in the workplace at present but also redefines opportunities for future generations of women. Together, we can forge a lasting legacy of growth, increased prosperity and stronger communities throughout the world. Join us: ey.com/womenfastforward

AECOM supports International Women's Day
AECOM embraces the diversity of every employee through an inclusive and accountable culture. Their diversity and inclusion is embedded in their core values and is a key driver of their success. Their innovation is enhanced by their ability to draw from a wealth of different backgrounds and experiences. Their diversity also enables them to better understand their clients and the communities in which they live and work. An inclusive culture is a dynamic, active and intentional environment that increases individual and organizational performance by creating opportunities for all employees to achieve their full potential. With AECOM's employees serving clients in more than 150 countries, they recognize that sustaining a diverse and inclusive work environment is critical to their future success. Learn more at aecom.com/careers/diversity-inclusion

Avon supports International Women's Day
Avon strives to create a world where every woman feels empowered, where every woman is independent, inspired and self-fulfilled. At Avon they believe that they can make this happen through entrepreneurship and through beauty. Over 130 years Avon has built an unrivalled female network, spanning generations and geographies around the world - the global network of nearly eight million Avon Representatives is a sisterhood of women who manage their own businesses by sharing the beauty products they love. At the same time, Avon is an iconic beauty brand, proud of delivering quality, innovation and great value to the women who enjoy their products across the world. Empowering women is part of their DNA - they know that when women are empowered, they empower others. Avon is passionate about causes that impact women and is proud to lead the fight against breast cancer and domestic violence. Globally, Avon philanthropy has donated more than $1 billion as one of the world's largest supporters of women's causes. Learn more at avoncompany.com

BP supports International Women's Day
BP aims for women to represent at least 25% of their group leaders - the most senior managers of their businesses and functions - by 2020. They're also committed to increasing the national diversity of their leaders to reflect the countries in which they operate. BP currently has three women on their board and they're actively seeking qualified candidates as they remain committed to a quarter of their board soon being female. Over 30% of their graduate hires are female in the UK through continued efforts to highlight the depth and breadth of careers available in BP which include science, trading, business and engineering. BP's perspective on diversity and inclusion is more than a box-ticking exercise - it's a business essential. BP's commitment to diversity and inclusion enables them to be creative, competitive and thrive in their environment, as they deliver safe and reliable energy the world needs now and in the future. Learn more at bp.com/en/global/bp-careers/working-at-bp/diversity-inclusion.html

Caterpillar supports International Women's Day
Caterpillar fosters an inclusive environment and believes that regardless of gender, the full value of each individual's contribution can be realized only when we treat one another with respect, trust and dignity. Inclusion drives business results. Providing all employees with the opportunity to develop and having the very best capable talent - including a gender balanced workforce - benefits everyone. The diversity of unique talents, skills, abilities and experiences lead to innovative solutions and make Caterpillar a stronger, more successful company. Addressing gender parity is the first step in a broader, more intentional diversity and inclusion journey. Because ultimately, Caterpillar believes that when employees with different opinions, experiences and backgrounds come together, innovation is born. Learn more at caterpillar.com.

EBRD supports International Women's Day
EBRD values gender equality as an integral part of their commitment to promoting sustainable and environmentally sound development across their investment and donor-funded activities. Gender equality is a principal element in the promotion of sound business management and the advancement of sustainable growth in the countries where the EBRD invests. They have a Strategy for the Promotion of Gender Equality (2016-2020 that identifies specific gender areas where the EBRD can best add value given its business model and mandate. The Strategy sets out their approach to mainstream gender equality into EBRD operations by 2020. Learn more at ebrd.com/ebrd-and-gender-equality-overview.html

F5 Networks supports International Women's Day
F5 makes apps go faster, smarter, and safer for the world's largest businesses, service providers, governments, and consumer brands. But it is their value-based culture - Excellence, Collaboration, Customer Loyalty, Employee Success, Profitable Growth, Integrity, Innovation and Diversity - that drives them forward. They embrace their differences and work together to foster an inclusive workplace that endeavors to bring out the best of all F5 employees' talents, and attract, hire and develop the very best talent for F5 for the future. Learn more at f5.com or follow them on LinkedIn.

MetLife supports International Women's Day
Women are a major global economic force accounting for an increasing portion of financial and healthcare spending decisions, so building a workplace reflecting this customer base is critical as MetLife works to understand and incorporate women's needs and values as customers. MetLife engages and develops women to take on broader leadership roles. Their Global Women's Initiative forges connections through women's business networks around the globe and their 14 month 'Developing Women's Career Experience' program strengthens the readiness of emerging women leaders for senior positions. Their 'Global Women's Leadership Forum' brings together their top women who serve as ambassadors and reach back through the pipeline to bring others along. Learn more at metlife.com/about/corporate-profile/diversity-inclusion/initiatives

PepsiCo supports International Women's Day
PepsiCo has a strong commitment to increasing female participation in the workforce, and strives to increase the number of women leaders through recruitment and development initiatives around the world. PepsiCo knows that creating a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential for their business to work at its best. Diversity of thought and experience is precisely what gives PepsiCo valuable strategic insights, fuels their product innovation and helps them to attract and retain the best talent. In Australia, PepsiCo has an ongoing commitment and effort to workplace gender equality through encouraging work life quality and flexibility in the workplace; supporting women at all levels to progress into more senior positions; and ensuring pay equity within the business. Learn more about PepsiCo's global goals at pepsico.com/Purpose/Performance-with-Purpose/People

Vodafone supports International Women's Day
Vodafone has identified women's empowerment as one of its three global transformation goals. The company has a strong commitment to diversity and women's empowerment within its own business and believes the initiatives underway to achieve greater gender parity will strengthen the company significantly over time. By 2020, Vodafone has committed to achieving 30%-plus representation of women across 7,500 middle and senior management roles, including leadership teams in each market and direct reports to the CEO. Initiatives from the company, a HeforShe Impact Champion, include its groundbreaking Global Maternity Policy, which provides an inclusive working environment for women across the company's global footprint. Vodafone is also committing to connecting 50 million more women in its emerging market footprint to narrow the gender gap and will continue to improve the lives of millions of women with an extensive portfolio of value added products and services by: enabling greater access to financial inclusion; improving health and wellbeing; and building skills and promoting entrepreneurship. Learn more at http://www.vodafone.com/content/dam/vodafone-images/sustainability/downloads/women2016.pdf

Western Union supports International Women's Day
In honor of International Women's Day 2017, Western Union, a leader in global payments services, recognizes the contributions global women workers make in their communities – both in their adopted country as well as their homeland. Of the 247 million migrants around the world, women account for nearly 50 percent, and are set to move half of the estimated US$ 610 billion that will cross borders in 2016 [i]. More than 75 percent of these remittances flows into developing countries, underpinning a powerful economic dialogue between families from one side of the globe to the other. International Women's Day is an opportunity to shine a light on the accomplishments of women, especially the hundreds of millions that cross borders and are economic change agents for their families, their home countries, and their host nations across the globe. Learn more at corporate.westernunion.com [i] World Bank Migration and Remittances fact book 2016

Catalyst is the leading nonprofit organization with a mission to accelerate progress for women through workplace inclusion. They're dedicated to creating workplaces where employees representing every dimension of diversity can thrive. They act as a catalyst through their pioneering research, tools and services, events and recognition programs. Together, their offerings raise awareness of how inclusion benefits today’s global businesses, and provide guidance and solutions on how to enact real change. Catalyst invites women, men and organizations to join them building the inclusion that'll change business, society and lives for the better. Learn more at catalyst.org

Leadership is at the core of the Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting Movement. It runs through everything they do. WAGGGS empowers girls and young women to stand up and speak out on issues affecting them. They support girls to be leaders and make positive choices. They provide girls and young women with dynamic, flexible and values-based training in life skills, leadership and citizenship. WAGGGS not only speaks out on behalf of girls and young women everywhere advocating to influence people making decisions that improve the lives of girls, but they also empowers young women to advocate for themselves.The IWD website's charity of choice for many years has been WAGGGS so that fundraising can be channelled to them. Learn more at wagggs.org or donate at cafdonate.cafonline.org/260

Interested in your organization supporting International Women's Day and being featured as one of our valued partners actively working to accelerate gender parity? Contact the IWD team to explore major opportunities for 2018 and beyond. The International Women's Day website has been operating for over 15 years as a shared global digital hub dedicated to everything IWD, and has supported many gender-focused initiatives for companies around the world like EY, Accenture, HSBC, Cisco, Deloitte, Allianz, MetLife, Scotiabank, African Development Bank, BP, Avanade, EBRD, PwC, E.ON, Western Union and more.

International Women's Day supporters are organizations and groups that provide significant in-kind services to help support and drive the delivery of the International Women's Day website and related global activity. To explore your organization being a supporter and for a detailed proposal to be considered, please contact us.

International Women's Day friends are endorsed organizations and groups that collaborate with IWD and co-brand to deliver agreed products, services and events. They actively market their collaborative involvement with International Women's Day to their communities and meet a number of selection criteria. To explore your organization being a friend and for an initiative or proposal to be considered, please contact us.