Thursday October 24, 2024
This month, FirstService Residential was recognized as one of Fortune’s Best Workplaces for Women, displaying a testament to the company’s ongoing work on inclusion, diversity, and equity to help further the development of all associates.
"This achievement validates our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, creating a workplace where all our associates can thrive.”
Lupe Mujica, chief people officer, FirstService Residential
"We value all our associates, and we also recognize the challenges that women continue to encounter to advance in their careers, in our industry, and others. That is why we strive to provide a great workplace for women – which means a high-performing workplace for all our associates."
People-driven success
A place in Fortune’s Best Workplaces for Women is awarded to those companies that show exceptional efforts in creating a positive, inclusive, and supportive work environment for women. To identify these, Great Place To Work® analyzes survey responses from current associates.FirstService Residential has been making strides while continuously working to improve year after year. This commitment has garnered recognition as a Great Place to Work® for two consecutive years, secured a top position at number six on the Fortune Best Workplaces in Real Estate™ list, and earned a spot on Indeed's Work Wellbeing 100 top companies list. Mujica mentions how
"These achievements belong to our people. They would not be possible without the passion and dedication of our associates, who embody our values and make our company a great place to work every day."
The "broken rung"
The company reflects on how the power of honest reflection can foster genuine growth, especially during its journey to becoming one of Fortune Best Workplaces for Women. In 2019, FirstService Residential began capturing associate demographics by role and discovered that:- Women constituted 50% of the overall workforce.
- Representation dropped at the director level.
"Honest reflection has been key to our growth. Recognizing the risks of a 'broken rung' has pushed us to create opportunities for women to rise in leadership,” Mujica stated.While FirstService Residential successfully attracted a high percentage of women associates, they saw that many needed to progress to the upper rungs of leadership. Recognizing this opportunity, the organization committed to developing programs and initiatives that provide women with the development and support necessary to thrive in leadership roles.
Taking action, FirstService Residential created the People Council in 2021, a group of cross-functional leaders from all regions that created an ambitious charter to implement strategies to foster diversity and inclusion, with many groups in mind— and women in leadership a critical element in this mission.
Progress toward greater representation
These efforts have produced significant progress. Out of 19,000 associates, women now make up 50% of all associate roles and represent 51% of directors and above, a substantial increase from 45% in 2020. “With nearly half of our workforce identifying as female and women holding 51% of our leadership positions, we’re building a culture where diverse perspectives lead to greater success,” mentions the company’s CPO. In 2023, FirstService Residential launched the Women's Leadership Network, focusing on creating opportunities, leveraging resources, and building a supportive community to help women succeed as leaders. Since its implementation, the network’s steering committee has focused on three fundamental areas: raising awareness, fostering engagement, and providing education and development.Fast forward to 2024, the company took another step into its mission, and the Women’s Leadership Network started the Circles program. Circles serves to create a network of women dedicated to personal and professional growth through shared experiences, the power of connections, relationship building, and mentoring circles. The program helps in creating a pipeline of women leaders to strengthen the organization, enhance female retention, create a sense of belonging, and enhance the company’s culture.
Breaking Barriers
The Women’s Leadership Network efforts have broken barriers with numerous initiatives—such as webinars, events, promotions, and recognitions—but most importantly, real change and opportunities for all associates. FirstService Residential continues to carve paths for women in their company from the moment they enter as new associates and throughout their journey to reach and place above the standings.Katie Ward, president of the Texas region and one of the chairwomen of the Women’s Leadership Network, emphasized during a Women’s History Month panel event:
"It's our responsibility as leaders in the organization, to continue assessing our progress. We need to pause and look around and continue to look for opportunities to advance women in our industry."Aligned with their ongoing commitment to gender equality and inclusive leadership, their place in Fortune Best Workplaces for Women serves as both a recognition of their progress and a catalyst for future growth.
"Inspired by our core values, we continue to invest in diverse hiring practices, career development, and building an inclusive community to empower women to succeed as leaders," concluded Mujica.
As the company continues to set new standards for workplace equality, it stands as an influential leader for diversity and inclusion in the industry, and the results are transformative— not just for individuals but for the entire business landscape and the communities they serve.
Learn more about FirstService Residential and the team that drives us forward. Visit fsresidential.com/corporate
About FirstService Residential
FirstService Residential is simplifying property management. Its hospitality-minded teams serve residential communities across the United States and Canada. The organization partners with boards, owners, and developers to enhance the value of every property and the life of every resident. Leveraging unique expertise and scale, FirstService serves its clients with proven solutions and a service-first philosophy. Residents can count on 24/7 customer care and tailored lifestyle programming, amenity activation, and technology for their community’s specific needs. Market-leading programs with FirstService Financial, FirstService Energy, and special districts teams deliver additional levels of support.
Boards and developers select FirstService Residential to realize their vision and drive positive change for residents in the communities in their trusted care.
FirstService Residential is a subsidiary of FirstService Corporation (NASDAQ and TSX: FSV), a North American leader in providing essential property services to a wide range of residential and commercial clients.