CEOs Drive the Action

Inspired by his working daughters and a career-loving wife, Ernst & Young CEO, Brian Schwartz, has passionately championed the cause of female employees at his giant professional services firm and, as a result, was crowned Leading CEO for the Advancement of Women at the inaugural 2001 EOWA Business Achievements Awards.

"I believe women bring a different perspective to the table."

Due to his commitment and constant ‘talk’ about Equal Opportunity, Schwartz has created a user-friendly environment at Ernst & Young that has differentiated his firm from other accounting firms. EOWA lauded Schwartz for doubling the number of female partners in his three-year tenure, and for committing to further improving the gender balance at senior levels within the firm. 

As leader, Schwartz believes women bring a different perspective to the table and consequently holds partners and staff accountable for advancing its employees, including women.

“When I first joined Ernst & Young, it was a ‘blokey’ culture. I realised you can’t let a culture simply run and assume it will correct itself,” Schwartz said in an interview with EOWA. He subsequently introduced a Women’s Leadership Forum to the firm and also inaugurated the Lynn Sutherland award (in memory of a former female partner) to celebrate outstanding achievement within the company’s ranks. The first recipient was a female partner who was recognised despite being away at the time on maternity leave.

“I believe women bring a different perspective to the table. They understand people issues a bit better than men and without knowing it, they have changed behaviour within meetings,” the CEO noted. 

EOWA Director Fiona Krautil said Schwartz embodied all of the values the Agency hoped to encourage in business leaders. “He understands that looking after his people not only benefits his employees, it benefits his clients, and it greatly improves productivity and morale while contributing positively to the overall business objectives.”

Schwartz concurs wholeheartedly. “To not embrace diversity is simply dumb,” he quips. “Equal Opportunity is not only about justice, it simply makes good business sense.”