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Breaking down Corporate Social Responsibility

Published: May 29, 2009

 CSR       

Welcome to Vault's latest blog where we aim to discuss all issues related to Corporate Social Responsibility and your career. In Good Company will address questions regarding diversity—of religion, ethnicity, origin, sexual preference and race; sustainability practices at employers; leadership development initiatives for minorities and women; and lastly we’ll discuss from time to time, our green(er) world. We will also identify and question trends in the CSR world, discuss how they affect your job, your career progression and your corporate lifestyle, and keep you updated on related events (career fairs/diversity conferences/leadership workshops, etc.) organized across the country.

It's a lot of work but with a determined voice and some perspective, I think we can do it! As the economy struggles, there are many short-term and long-term trends emerging in the diversity circle at the same time. Layoffs have been going on now for more than a year and minorities and women have suffered as well. A report released by the Center for Work-Life Policy, stated that as many as 40 percent of surveyed women are looking to move to different sectors with nonprofit being on the top of their list. This exodus can mean several steps back for all the work done in the past to increase female presence in the boardroom. Next week we'll address this in more detail.

This week has been uplifting, though. Ursula Burns became the first African-American woman to achieve the CEO throne at a Fortune 500 company and Sonia Sotomayor became the first Hispanic Supreme Court nominee. Ms. Burns' story is the epitome of the kind of role model needed today for females and minority students and even mid-career professionals. She started her career at Xerox as an engineering intern in 1980. Yes, an intern. Almost three decades later, she is a corporate czar in her own right.

So, I'd like to believe that there is a lot of hope. Despite the recessions, despite the struggle ahead and despite the barriers that are cropping up again. And Vault will continue to discuss these issues, however touchy they may be.

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