03/08/2024
It's International Women’s Day and this year's theme focuses on investing in women to accelerate progress. The United Nations (UN) has set gender equality as one of the key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aims to "Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls" by 2030. While progress is being made towards closing the gender gap in the U.S., U.K., and E.U., women comprise only 28% of the workforce, and men still hold the majority of STEM-related jobs. At Bentley, we champion narrowing the gender gap through our support of Women in STEM organizations and providing dedicated programs to help women at Bentley accelerate their careers. This work includes the following initiatives:
🟣 Bentley proudly sponsors STEM Goes Red, an initiative by the American Heart Association that encourages young women to pursue STEM-related careers. In addition to our corporate donation, Bentley colleagues volunteer time to mentor high school girls and provide hands-on STEM activities to show them the career opportunities they can pursue — and thrive in.
🟣 Bentley’s STEM Grant program allows each full-time colleague to direct USD 250 to a STEM education program of their choice. Through this program, colleagues have donated to a range of Women in STEM programs including Black Girls Code, Girl Geeks LatAM, Le Code des Filles, Govt Girls Primary School in Pakistan, and the Rukmini Foundation. In 2023, colleagues gave USD 590,000 in STEM grants globally.
🟣 Bentley NOW is a global mentorship program that fosters the leadership development of women. The program aims to bridge gender gaps by providing women colleagues with the resources they need to reach their potential and advance in their careers. Join us in celebrating the continued growth and empowerment of women across the globe.
Happy International Women’s Day!
