Empowering Women in Business: Comcast

A series highlighting longtime corporate supporters of the Women United Gala

Every day, Women United (WU) members across our region are paving the way for the next generation of women leaders. Our members represent some of the best and brightest in business, philanthropy and leadership in our region. Whether they’re volunteering at schools, mentoring young colleagues or driving change in their own workplaces, these powerful women are reshaping their communities for the better. 

The Women United Gala, on March 21 at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia, is a celebration of these women, their efforts and the corporate sponsors who so passionately dedicate resources to Women United in support of Girls Today, Leaders Tomorrow—one of Women United’s signature programs. 

Today, we continue our series with Comcast NBCUniversal (Comcast) as they share how they are helping women advance professionally and why they sponsor the Women United Gala year after year.

WU: How does your company empower women?

Comcast: Comcast NBCUniversal champions inclusion among our employees, our business partners and the communities we serve. Diversity and inclusion is ingrained in how we operate. We believe that diverse leadership is critical to our business and culture. Diversity isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s the right thing for our business. Diverse teams are more creative, more agile and more likely to challenge the status quo. Our aspirational goal is to have 50% women across all levels of our company. There is still work to be done to reach equal representation of women within our ranks, and we are committed to that work. We also have The Women’s Network, Comcast NBCUniversal’s women-focused Employee Resource Group (ERG). This ERG engages people at all levels of the organization, empowering employees to drive exceptional results while supporting an inclusive, collaborative company culture.  

WU: How have women helped shape your company? 

Comcast: Comcast NBCUniversal is fortunate to have women such as D’Arcy Rudnay, Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Comcast Corporation; Karen Buchholz, Senior Vice President, Administration for Comcast Corporation; and Amy Banse, Managing Director and Head of Funds, Comcast Ventures, be a part of our team and act as key players in expanding the reach and impact of the company through the years.

WU: What does building successful youth in our community mean to your company? 

Comcast: Comcast NBCUniversal seeks to motivate young people to achieve their maximum potential and become leaders and catalysts for positive change in their communities for years to come. Through mentoring, service and scholarship programs, we work to inspire young people to achieve their goals. In partnership with organizations like City Year and Big Brothers Big Sisters, Comcast NBCUniversal invests in changing children’s lives by providing mentors and models that keep students on track to graduate high school. 

City Year AmeriCorps members work as tutors, mentors and role models in at-risk schools in an effort to keep students in school and on track to high school graduation. Comcast NBCUniversal has provided millions in cash and in-kind support to City Year since 2003, currently sponsoring 12 City Year teams across the country, and serving as National Leadership and Opening Day Sponsor for teams nationwide. This year, Comcast NBCUniversal will sponsor its 100th team. Comcast NBCUniversal also invests in corps members’ futures by hosting annual career days to strengthen their career skills and help them find jobs after their year of service.  

Since 2008, Comcast has invested tens of millions of dollars in cash and in-kind support to change children’s lives by supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of America's one-to-one youth mentoring model, chiefly through our Beyond School Walls program. Through the program, nearly 400 student "Littles" spend time with their Comcast employee “Bigs” at Comcast NBCUniversal offices across the country. Since its launch in 2008, Beyond School Walls has grown to become the nation’s largest workplace mentoring program in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Data shows that Beyond School Walls “Littles” have better grades, are less likely to skip school and are more likely to graduate. 

WU: Why does Comcast sponsor the Women United Gala every year? 

Comcast: Comcast NBCUniversal believes in the value of fostering inclusion both inside and outside of the workplace, because diverse perspectives are critical to growth and innovation. Inclusion fuels our success by reflecting the communities we serve. We are proud to support organizations and events that champion women, like the Women United Gala. It’s also a natural extension of our partnership with United Way. Our company’s founder, Ralph Roberts, selected United Way as Comcast’s first community partner shortly after he started the company in 1963.

For more information about the 2018 Women United Gala or to reserve your ticket or sponsorship, please contact us at 215-665-2417 or [email protected]. Follow us on LinkedIn to learn more. #WeAreWomenUnited