Mars, Incorporated today launched #HereToBeHeard, a new global crowdsourcing campaign that elevates the voices of women from all intersections – including race, age, sexuality, religion and ability – to help shape a more inclusive business environment and create a world where all women can thrive. As part of the company’s Full Potential platform for action on gender equity in its workplaces, sourcing communities, and the marketplace, #HereToBeHeard asks women everywhere: “What needs to change so more women can reach their full potential?” The responses will inform the concrete actions Mars will take – both within its value chain and in broader society – to close the gender opportunity gap.
Currently, women make up 51 percent of the world's population and contribute $28 trillion to the global GDP, and yet so often their voices go unheard. Even before the COVID-19 crisis, the United Nations estimated it would take more than a century to close the gender opportunity gap. Now, the pandemic has set progress for gender equality back by 25 years. Its impact has been particularly devasting for women in minority groups who for far too long have been overlooked in the conversation.
The initial phase of Mars’ #HeretoBeHeard campaign, which will run through March, will focus on collecting women’s voices; after which the submissions will be analyzed by the Oxford Future of Marketing Initiative (FOMI) at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School. The results will be shared with the world in a study by Oxford this summer and will inform the policies Mars can implement and advocate for in its commitment to unlock opportunities for women.
Victoria Mars, Mars Board Member and ambassador of Mars’ Full Potential program: “Women have played a powerful role in our history and leadership at Mars. But we have more to do. We’re striving to empower more women within our workplace, and across our extended value chain.
“The magnitude and urgency of gender inequality in society demands more action. If global business doesn't listen and step up now, then when? Business can have an outsized impact on driving change at scale. At Mars we’re seizing this opportunity to expand the conversation and drive action. The #HereToBeHeard movement is about ensuring that all women’s voices have a chance to be heard and translating what we hear into impact plans that advance gender equality.”
“Over the course of the last few years, we have been proud to see a growing number of women leaders in our management teams. The region Hungary/Czech Republic/Slovakia/Romania is proud to be part of this ongoing transformation and in our Mars Central Europe Leadership Team, 5 out 10 members are women. What is even more important is that we continue to work on understanding why the gender gap exists and how we can address it – our #HereToBeHeard campaign takes this approach to the broader society” – said Brian Ayling, CEO of Mars Central Europe.
The data collection will also support the action plans of Mars’ Full Potential platform. Launched last year, the program aims to drive gender equality for all. By putting inclusivity and diversity at the heart of its efforts, Mars has:
Achieved gender pay equity across its workforce of 130,000 Associates, more than half of which are women.
Progressed to 43 percent gender-balance across business leadership teams, with a target of having 100% gender balance across leadership teams.
Expanded its partnership with humanitarian aid agency CARE to empower 50,000 people in cocoa sourcing communities, the primary beneficiaries of which are women.
Been working with the Geena Davis Institute and UNStereotype Alliance to eliminate gender bias and stereotypes in its advertising.
Embraced transparency in articulating the company’s gender commitments and progress, which can be found here.
We want to hear your voice. Visit beheard.mars.com to learn more, complete the short survey and continue the conversation with #HereToBeHeard.
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ABOUT #HERETOBEHEARD
#HereToBeHeard is a global campaign from Mars, Incorporated which drives change on gender inequality, in support of Goal Five of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. It is part of Full Potential, Mars’ platform for action on gender which aims to empower women and close the gender gap in the places we work, the communities where we source our ingredients and in the way we create our advertising. For more information on the Full Potential platform and the #HereToBeHeard survey, visit beheard.mars.com and mars.com