As a non-profit organization, Catalyst has been around since 1962. This
group has been promoting inclusive workplaces for women and has championed its
advocacy in promoting equality in the work environment.
Felice Schwartz, a feminist and renowned
writer founded the group. As an equality champion, the organization publishes
an annual census of women who are in the management and those who are in the
corporate boards of the Financial Post 500 and Fortune 500 companies. They also
roll out their annual Catalyst Award, which recognizes organizations that
strongly addresses the development, recruitment and advancement of women in the
corporate world. There were about 74 organizations that have received the award
since 1987. Recipients of the award include JP Morgan, Shell, PepsiCo and
Nissan among others.
Employing 100 individuals, the organization
has worked with the U.S. Government Accountability Office to come up with an
analysis of the minimal growth of women in the corporate world. Catalyst’s
mission revolves around their motto “Changing workplaces, changing lives”.