Accelerating Action: Empowering Women and Driving Equity at Protiviti

Creating pathways for women to thrive

Women’s career advancement is a top priority for me as the Initiative for Growth and Retention of Work at Work (iGroww) lead at Protiviti Australia. It’s my personal mission to ensure we are creating pathways that enable my fellow women colleagues excel in their consulting careers, take on leadership roles, and drive meaningful impact. Our approach is holistic, focusing on mentorship, leadership development, providing flexible and hybrid ways of working, and access to opportunities that propel careers forward.

One of our most successful initiatives is Mentor Mondays, where employees connect with senior leaders for career advice, networking, and guidance on navigating workplace challenges. We have recently run sessions balancing life as a director and parent, imposter syndrome, negotiating pay and role expectations, resume building and skill development, unconscious or subtle gender bias in the workplace, and many more exciting topics. More recently I spoke on a panel about LinkedIn and personal branding, as it can be difficult to feel comfortable putting yourself out there, but it is a great way to collectively showcase the strength of women in the workforce. 

Addressing the gender pay gap 

Beyond professional development, Protiviti Australia is also taking meaningful steps to address the gender pay gap in line with the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) legislation. We are committed to regularly reviewing compensation structures and addressing any disparities that exist. By implementing these actions, we aim to create a fair and equitable workplace where women are valued and rewarded equally for their contributions.

Gender neutral parental leave 

Protiviti has also taken steps to level the playing field through the introduction of gender-neutral parental leave. By ensuring that all employees, regardless of gender, have equal access to parental leave, we encourage men to take time out of the workforce to share parenting duties. Personally, I believe this not only benefits families but also plays a significant role in breaking down gender norms, which can often disproportionately impact women’s career due to caregiving responsibilities.

The 18 weeks of leave provided by Protiviti (or 22 weeks if you have been with the company for more than 5 years) truly ensures women in our workforce have time and support needed during one of life’s biggest transitions. The ability to return to work on a part-time basis whilst still being paid a full-time salary, thanks to the return-to-work leave premium, has had one of the strongest positive impacts on new parents and carers in our workforce. It makes the transition back to work easier, helping to maintain a healthy work-life balance. 

Key initiatives in the community

1. For the fourth consecutive year, we have proudly participated in the Women in Banking and Finance Awards, strengthening our ongoing partnership with WiBF and supporting the recognition of outstanding women in the financial sector.
2. Every year, we host International Women’s Day events across our offices in Australia and globally. This year, we are thrilled to partner with our parent company, Robert Half, and their GWEN Women’s Network, bringing together over 450 staff members and clients to celebrate and learn from inspiring women leaders.
3. Our long-standing partnership with Risky Women is one that our teams are deeply passionate about. We continue to co-host networking events and, importantly, release an annual podcast series that amplifies the voices of women in risk and compliance, offering insights on navigating regulatory challenges with confidence and purpose.
4. Giving back to the community is a vital part of our commitment to women’s empowerment. Each year, we organise sanitary product donation drives to support Share the Dignity, ensuring that vulnerable women have access to essential hygiene products. We are a period proud organisation, and provide free period products in the workplace. 

So what’s next?  

This International Women’s Day, we are reminded that Accelerating Action starts with each of us. It’s in the moments we choose to uplift a colleague, advocate for inclusive policies, and create opportunities where none existed before. So, together, let’s Accelerate Action to speed up the rate of progress worldwide, and locally in Australia.

Find out more about Protiviti's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives here.