TrendsDec 08, 2023
Pantone’s Color of the Year Is Warm and FuzzyThe peachy hue also marks the program’s 25th anniversary.
SourcingMar 09, 2021
De Beers Group on How It Will Achieve Gender Parity by 2030
The diamond miner and marketer has extended its partnership with UN Women for an additional five years.
Kemmonye Bakupi, a senior diamond sorter, is seen here analyzing rough diamonds with a loupe in Botswana. De Beers Group is outlining its plan to increase female representation in its workforce by 2030.
London—De Beers Group has extended its partnership with UN Women for five more years as it works to achieve gender parity across its workforce by 2030.
The company first partnered with UN Women in 2017, with the goal of increasing female representation in its workforce. Its first milestone was to increase the number of women in senior leadership positions.
By 2020, the female appointment rate increased from 22 percent to 40 percent, with the number of women in senior leadership positions overall rising from 17 percent to 30 percent.
Now, De Beers said it is focusing on achieving gender parity across its entire workforce. (The company uses the International Women’s Forum definition of gender parity, which is anywhere from 40 to 60 percent.)
It’s a member of the newly formed HeForShe Alliance, which brings together global leaders from government, corporations and civil society to develop and share solutions to gender equality’s biggest challenges.
Within the alliance, De Beers is focused specifically on addressing barriers to entry in the workforce for women, and creating a more diverse STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) talent pool, where women have been underrepresented historically.
The company first partnered with UN Women in 2017, with the goal of increasing female representation in its workforce. Its first milestone was to increase the number of women in senior leadership positions.
By 2020, the female appointment rate increased from 22 percent to 40 percent, with the number of women in senior leadership positions overall rising from 17 percent to 30 percent.
Now, De Beers said it is focusing on achieving gender parity across its entire workforce. (The company uses the International Women’s Forum definition of gender parity, which is anywhere from 40 to 60 percent.)
It’s a member of the newly formed HeForShe Alliance, which brings together global leaders from government, corporations and civil society to develop and share solutions to gender equality’s biggest challenges.
Within the alliance, De Beers is focused specifically on addressing barriers to entry in the workforce for women, and creating a more diverse STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) talent pool, where women have been underrepresented historically.
In the next five years, De Beers said it will enhance its talent development and succession programs, focus on training to encourage dialogue and challenge stereotypes, review its progress regularly, and help to increase access to STEM careers and education.
De Beers Group CEO and UN Women HeForShe Champion Bruce Cleaver said in a press release: “Achieving gender parity across our workforce is a business-critical priority for De Beers Group—not only is it the right thing to do, it’s the only way we will access the full talent pool and achieve our full potential.
“Now more than ever we have a societal imperative to keep working toward gender equality, as the COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges and we must work hard for sustainable change.”
De Beers Group CEO and UN Women HeForShe Champion Bruce Cleaver said in a press release: “Achieving gender parity across our workforce is a business-critical priority for De Beers Group—not only is it the right thing to do, it’s the only way we will access the full talent pool and achieve our full potential.
“Now more than ever we have a societal imperative to keep working toward gender equality, as the COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges and we must work hard for sustainable change.”
Senior Vice President, Sustainable Impact, Katie Fergusson, added: “We’ve made really meaningful progress on increasing the representation of women in leadership roles in our business during the past three years, but now we want to accelerate this momentum with a particular focus on technical roles, where women remain underrepresented globally.”
There’s more to De Beers commitment to UN Women.
In 2017 UN Women and De Beers launched Accelerating Women-Owned Micro-Enterprises (AWOME) in southern Africa. Now, De Beers will invest an additional $3 million.
The program has provided business training and mentorship to more than 1,000 female entrepreneurs in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, and qualified 50 local trainers so the program can continue.
By 2030, De Beers wants to increase the reach of the program to support 10,000 female micro-entrepreneurs.
Cleaver said, “Our commitments announced today to continue our journey toward gender parity in our workforce and to invest an additional $3 million to continue supporting women entrepreneurs in our host countries in southern Africa are further demonstration of our resolve to be a positive force for progress, and for change.
“We look forward to continuing to work with UN Women and our fellow HeForShe Alliance peers to share learnings, scale impact and accelerate progress over the next five years.”
Additionally, since it began its UN Women partnership, De Beers has granted more than 50 scholarships to young women from underprivileged communities in Canada to pursue STEM education.
De Beers also funded summer science camp for 30 high school girls, and partnered with WomEng in southern Africa to engage more than 900 girls and young women in workshops and mentorship programs.
The company’s new goal is to engage 10,000 girls with STEM by 2030.
The diamond miner and jeweler’s UN Women partnership is part of its internal sustainability program, dubbed Building Forever.
More on Sourcing
The Latest
AuctionsDec 08, 2023
Sotheby’s Sold All Mary Tyler Moore’s JewelryThe 21 pieces up for auction, including Tiffany & Co. jewels and a Cartier watch, garnered more than $430,000 across two sales.
CollectionsDec 08, 2023
Piece of the Week: A ‘Strong & Precious’ Brooch Centered on a sunny heliodor, the “Links” pin was designed by Ukrainian jewelry artist Inesa Kovalova.
Brought to you by
The Most Important “C” in Diamonds: Confidence!Without the ability to instill confidence within the industry and directly to the consumer, a diamond holds very little value.
MajorsDec 07, 2023
Lashbrook Sues Manly Bands for Allegedly Copying Designs The wedding band company is also accusing its former customer of removing watermarks from Lashbrook images for its own use.
Weekly QuizDec 07, 2023
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge with this short test.
Policies & IssuesDec 07, 2023
The G7’s Long-Awaited Statement on Russian Diamonds Is Here It provides a timeline for the implementation of new restrictions, but no details.
MajorsDec 07, 2023
24 Karat Club of New York Welcomes New MembersThe organization has elected 12 new additions.
Brought to you by
If It’s Custom, Make It PlatinumWith holiday proposals right around the corner, encourage your customers to go for platinum when making the big purchase.
ColumnistsDec 06, 2023
On Data: How Are Independents Doing So Far This Holiday Season? Sherry Smith breaks down the numbers on jewelry sales in November and reveals the category that “emerged as a standout.”
AuctionsDec 06, 2023
A Yellow Diamond, Hollywood Jewels Stand Out at Sotheby’s Additional lots will be offered in the Fine Jewels online sale through Dec. 7.
GradingDec 06, 2023
GIA Debuts Revamped Graduate Jeweler ProgramBy mixing creative and practical skills, the new course hopes to fill the industry’s bench jeweler gap.
AuctionsDec 06, 2023
Verdura Cuff, Burmese Sapphire Shine at Bonhams Several other colored gemstones joined the pieces in the top 10 list.
FinancialsDec 05, 2023
Signet Jewelers’ Q3 Sales Down 12% The retailer is still expecting a strong holiday season with improving demand for natural diamonds.
CrimeDec 05, 2023
Police Continue to Investigate Murder of Colorado Jeweler Peter Damian Arguello, the owner of Peter Damian Fine Jewelry & Antiques, was shot and killed in an apparent robbery last week.
MajorsDec 05, 2023
Tanishq Continues U.S. Expansion With 2 New StoresThe Indian jewelry giant has opened locations in Houston and Frisco, Texas.
WatchesDec 04, 2023
Chrono24 Debuts the ‘Dow Jones’ for Luxury WatchesThe watch seller’s new index tracks sales data from 14 brands, including Rolex and Patek Philippe.
MajorsDec 04, 2023
David Bouffard to Leave Signet, RJCThe industry veteran will step down from both roles in April 2024.
TrendsDec 04, 2023
Amanda’s Style File: Decadent DecemberTanzanite, turquoise, and zircon are all options for December babies, who sometimes “get the birthday shaft,” Amanda Gizzi writes.
Lab-GrownDec 01, 2023
Lightbox Teams Up With Brand Founded by Former Tiffany ExecThe lab-grown diamond brand also collaborated with the website The Future Rocks on a collection launching today.
FinancialsDec 01, 2023
Movado Lowers Guidance Again After Q3 Sales DipThe company said it is facing a “challenging retail environment” but is prepared for the holiday season.
CollectionsDec 01, 2023
Piece of the Week: Muzo’s Emerald and Argyle Pink Diamond NecklaceIt’s the hero piece of the newest "Green Jewel" collection, a collaborative offering from the two mines.
AuctionsNov 30, 2023
This Pink Diamond Reigned Supreme in Hong KongThe 15.48-carat fancy intense “Pink Supreme” topped Christie’s fall jewelry auction in Asia, while a Patek Philippe led the watch sale.
MajorsNov 30, 2023
Claire’s Hires Former Bath & Body Works Exec as CFO, COOChris Cramer, who also spent time at Gen Z intimates brand Parade, will take on the dual role.
AuctionsNov 30, 2023
Sotheby’s To Auction 133-Carat Yellow DiamondThe stone headlining the upcoming sale could fetch up to $5 million.
IndependentsNov 30, 2023
Frank Adams Rolls Out Kwiat’s ‘Mine to Shine’ ProgramThe retail offering lets customers track their diamond’s journey.
SourcingNov 29, 2023
Largest New Diamond Mine of the Decade Coming Online in Angola The Luele mine is expected to eventually make the country the world’s third-largest diamond producer.
SurveysNov 29, 2023
Holiday Shoppers Broke a Record This Weekend, Says NRFFrom Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, 200.4 million consumers shopped online and in stores.
