Tips on Forming a Women in Security Group in Your Organization

Learning Objectives

• Identify the important elements in creating a charter to obtain buy in and funding

• Replicate and implement successful programs that foster a culture of networking and inclusion among women and men who support women

• Understand the challenges and solutions to maintaining involvement and interest in a global affinity group

But First, Ask Yourself These Questions

• How intentional is MY organization in the recruitment of women? • Job Descriptions

• Sourcing methods

• Interviewing phase

• Interviewer (panel) - diversity of thought

• How intentional is MY organization in retaining women? • Peer mentorships

• Proactively engaging top tier talent

A Little Bit About Amazon…

• 10 parent Affinity Groups at Amazon

• 3 separate Security Teams

• 900+ employees in the Global Security Operations Team

• Presence in more than 30 countries

• 600,000+ employees worldwide

Develop Your Charter• Our Vision - To be a thriving Global Security organization with strong,

successful women in leadership roles helping to propel the business forward. The protection of assets requires a combination of strategic thinking, process management and the ability to implement programs and initiatives. This group will provide support to the business to deliver on its diversity and security strategy.

• Our Mission - Our mission is to increase the span of the professional network for women in Security roles at Amazon in order to provide developmental support, mentoring opportunities, and leverage the strengths and knowledge of each other to reach our goals and vision. We will be advocates for ourselves and each other in developing in our careers and representing our value to the broader organization.

Develop Your Charter – Roles and Responsibilities

• Original Assumption • Subject Matter Expertise

• Communications

• Marketing (Wiki)

• Event Planning

• Budget

• Recruiting

• Mentoring

• Current State • Quarterly Newsletter

• Amazon Circles

• Book Club

• Marketing (Wiki)

• Recruiting

• Mentoring

Develop Your Charter• Commitments and Goals

• Quarterly Global AWIS call• Quarterly community service events• Quarterly newsletter • Establish a mentoring network

• Measurement of Success• % of women in security organization• # of women promoted• Average tenure of women• Transfers in/out of security organization • # of events organized• # of mentorship relationships

Ready To Launch?!

• Find an Executive Sponsor

• Identify source of funding

• Logo creation

• Enrollment method

• Communication platform

• Find help!

Successful Sustainable Global Programs

• Quarterly Book Club

• Mentoring Program

• Amazon Circles

• Quarterly Update Call

• Quarterly Newsletter

• SWAG!!

Challenges and Learnings

• Time zones

• Enrollment

• Identifying passionate regional leaders to drive participation

• Book club logistics

• SWAG

AWIS – May 2017, launched on IWD

• 100 members

• Driven by Seattle chapter

AWIS – September 2019

• 310+ members

• Sub-regions own driving local engagement

Questions?

Contact: Dayna Howard, Director of NACF Loss Prevention daynah@amazon.com