As a HeForShe Champion, we initiated a movement within the Koç Group companies, where creating role models could play a significant role in changing people’s minds. Our Group companies developed programs in line with the needs of their respective sectors, including outreach activities to attract and retain women for manufacturing and engineering jobs, as well as specially designed trainings to support women reach senior management positions.
Also, as part of a global movement, we were able to leverage the power of our brands to reach out to consumers with gender-sensitive communications. It was the first step to position gender inequality as one of the top priority areas within the Group and to that end develop a holistic approach to address the challenges and overcome gender biases. In this context, we developed a Guide to Gender Equality in Communications. We reached out to an extensive audience including our employees, individuals in the value chain, as well as specific groups like marketing and communications experts and agencies to shift gender norms in Turkey. In order to mainstream the approach introduced by the Guide, we partnered with the key stakeholders including Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD), Advertisers Association, Advertising Foundation, Association of Communications Consulting Companies, Public Relations Association of Turkey and Association of Corporate Communicators.
In 2019, we received Sustainable Business Awards by Sustainability Academy Turkey, in the field of Sustainability Communications with the works carried out in Gender Equality in Communications.