JLL's SoCal Women's Business Network hosts celebration of International Women's Day

 July 23, 2019

International Women's Day can truly be a time for firsts when companies try out new events and initiatives to support gender equality.

For IWD 2019, JLL's SoCal Women's Business Network held an in-office celebration for the first time in Orange County, California.

With a newly formed local Employee Resource Group (ERG) their goal was simple: to raise awareness of the day and its history. Working in a male-dominated industry, it was important to take an educational approach to the #BalanceforBetter IWD theme. 

Their simple goal saw a huge impact with impressive attendance, particularly from male co-workers. The platform provided a great opportunity to discuss gender equality with the company's leaders.

Engaging employees to spark discussion

JLL organized loads of exciting activities for its IWD celebration.

Using the IWD resources, employees decorated the main reception area and large conference room to create a festive atmosphere.

Meanwhile, everyone was invited to have breakfast together. The group ate purple donuts that spelled out  #BalanceforBetter as a slide show displayed facts about the history of IWD.

During the breakfast, JLL discussed the #BalanceforBetter theme and encouraged each attendee to make a pledge on how they planned to forward gender equality in 2019 and beyond.

JLL used each pledge to build a themed wall and invited people to discuss their pledge with the larger group. 

JLL then screened a web conference that included a diverse panel of women sharing ways to energize and advance their careers and the careers of women and girls around the world.

Gender equality awareness raising to a wider audience

JLL made sure that its IWD celebrations had an enduring impact beyond the day itself and reached an audience greater than its workforce. 

After the event, JLL built a follow-up website that included IWD branded pictures, pledges and additional resources sent to the Orange County region. They also shared the resource via social media.

The company also collaborated with its research department to create a chart showing female employment in the U.S. This chart was later picked up in the local media and resulted in a few interview articles with its local researcher.  

Employee pledges also formed the basis of a social media campaign, where JLL posted a series of posts of their employees in the #BalanceforBetter pose alongside their pledge.

By celebrating IWD for the first time, companies like JLL can encourage their employees to make significant differences for gender equality.