Tresemmé launches 'Women Lead the Way' initiative

Haircare brand TRESemmé is fighting for gender equality this New York Fashion Week. The Unilever-owned label has unveiled #WomenLeadTheWay, a pledge to help more women into leadership positions. It is joined in the commitment by major organizations and fashion names such as Vital Voices Global Partnership, Girlboss, Cushnie, Jason Wu, Jonathan Simkhai, Rebecca Minkoff, and Studio One Eighty Nine.

"Women should have access to training, mentorship and resources that can help support and propel them forward and we as companies and organizations in the industry should be accountable for providing those," said Esi Eggleston Bracey, Executive VP and COO of Beauty and Personal Care at Unilever North America, in a statement. "It's time we come together and take bold action to accelerate the pace of change."

The pledge aims to champion female equality by asking that the brands involved strive for gender balance in their own recruiting and promotion processes, and establish formal development and mentorship opportunities for women at all levels of their organizations. Tresemmé will help companies that sign on to the pledge by offering them access to subject matter experts, holding one-on-one conversations with pledge participants to understand their unique needs and facilitating closed door meetings to discuss gender equality, shared challenges and best practices.

The move follows the publication of the Rockefeller Foundation 2019 Report, which found that only 6.6% of leadership positions in Fortune 500 companies are held by women.