Amplifying women's voices: how Verizon is driving global empowerment

At Verizon, creating a more equitable workplace isn’t just a mission—it’s a movement. Through WAVE (Women’s Association of Verizon Employees), the company is creating an environment where women can thrive, lead, and shape the future of tech and beyond. From mentorship programmes and leadership development to global initiatives that support women in STEM, Verizon is driving meaningful change.

In this Q&A, we explore how WAVE is making a difference, the impact on employees, and the broader strides Verizon is taking to empower women worldwide.

Can you tell us about WAVE and its mission at Verizon?

WAVE’s mission is to cultivate the advancement and professional development of women within Verizon, our local communities and across all industries. WAVE encourages all employees to bring their individuality and best selves to work; intentionally fostering a diverse and inclusive culture that enables our talent and business to thrive.

WAVE leverages three Strategic Enablers – Transparency, Engagement, Growth – to create synergies to influence positive transformations across Verizon and our communities through transparency, engagement, and growth for all women.

How does WAVE support career growth for women within Verizon?

WAVE strongly supports women in their career growth through different initiatives across all four pillars it supports.

Women can leverage WAVE as members to participate in the specific activities driven locally and globally, listen to inspiring leaders share authentically their journey and experience, drive new network connections and build a strong support environment to drive their goals. 

Secondly, WAVE, like other ERGs, is a good medium for women to become ambassadors to support people development and growth, as well as practice their own leadership skills in a different, strong and secure environment.

What impact has WAVE had on Verizon’s culture and talent development?

WAVE provides various programs from a cultural and talent development perspective in allyship with executives, men and other ERGs.

WAVE helps raise women voice and their development in four pillars:

• Culture: WAVE contributes to build an inclusive company culture where everyone can thrive on their uniqueness and contribute to the business.
• Community: WAVE fosters economic inclusion, community engagement and positive change through various local actions such as volunteering, STEM activities etc.
• Customers: WAVE provides a forum for employees to collaborate to help Verizon deliver great customer experiences in all market segments 
• Career: WAVE provides dynamic programs for employee professional development such as mentoring programs, inspiring fireside chat and professional development opportunities.

Verizon is a global company—how does WAVE extend its impact beyond the organisation?

WAVE, like all ERGs, is present globally within each region. It allows cross connections between various departments across Verizon globally as well as within the community it serves.

Verizon WAVE across the years has developed many STEM programs to help young girls build self-confidence and encourage them in their growth and more specifically embrace Tech careers.  For example, WAVE collaborates with GSMA and EQUALS Her Digital Skills to support and mentor girls and young women to get ready to enter the professional world and aspire to work in the Tech sector by growing their skills, provide advice on their CVs/resumes and help them pitch themselves etc.

Can you share a success story of a woman who has benefited from WAVE’s initiatives?

“I am passionate about diversity and inclusion, and I believe it is crucial for both personal well-being and collective success. My voluntary Employee Resource Group (ERG) leadership roles have been instrumental in my career journey, including my current position leading DLM globally.

Since joining Verizon in 2000, I've been an active member of WAVE, serving in various leadership roles. I began by leading LeanIn circles to support women's personal and professional growth. As VP of WAVE EMEA, I contributed to expanding our volunteer team, and subsequently served as WAVE EMEA President for four years.

As global co-lead for WAVE Culture, I co-led WHM for several years, and I currently co-lead the WAVE Customer pillar. Additionally, I established a successful Executive mentoring program with SAP, which ran for three years and paired over 400 individuals across our organizations.

Throughout my journey, I have collaborated with all other ERGs in Verizon. I value the passion and knowledge of their leaders and the opportunity to co-lead meaningful events for our colleagues. “  (Cathelijne Hobday - Associate Director Custom Solutions)

What specific programmes or initiatives has WAVE launched to support women in leadership?

Several programs and initiatives have been led by WAVE such as:

• Establishing LeanIN circles either in person or in a hybrid mode.  This helps women to develop a strong support network encouraging each other to achieve their goals, build skills and confidence.
• Collaborating with the talent team to encourage women to participate in Verizon WoW Connect program.  This program allows women to be taken through a program where they can explore their inner genius to create balance, define boundaries, and achieve breakthroughs.  This allows them to truly pursue their goals and develop leadership skills and grow.
• WAVE also organised mentoring programs to allow women to be mentored by senior leadership and leaders of other organisations.
• Initiatives such as fireside chats with Senior leaders, external personal development speakers (for example on the topic of “Leadership Presence”) are also key inspirations and opportunities to learn and grow.
• WAVE itself like other ERGs can also be viewed as a leadership program whereby women, in parallel with driving initiatives to help others develop and grow, can also develop their own leadership skills by taking an active role in driving WAVE activities and leading WAVE ambassadors.

How does Verizon ensure that DEI efforts like WAVE create lasting change rather than short-term initiatives?

DEI efforts like WAVE ensure a long-lasting change through its continued involvement and commitment to the recognition of the uniqueness of each individual and the importance of diversity and inclusivity so important within the workplace and within the community.  This allows each individual to bring their whole self to be confident, be more successful and drive innovation and growth

What advice would you give to companies looking to implement similar initiatives to empower women?

To ensure successful development of such initiatives several components are essential:

• Make sure diversity, equity and inclusion is an integral part of the company’s strategy and vision
• Ensure endorsement, leadership and sponsoring of the ERG at executive level
• Empower ERG leaders to drive their initiatives and encourage participation from employees
• Show the benefit and impact of the ERG activity on the employees, the community as well as on the company.
• Encourage employees to become leaders of an ERG, demonstrating not only how to serve their passion and environment but also demonstrating the leadership skills they will develop in a different manner.

What’s next for WAVE? Are there any upcoming initiatives or goals for the future?

WAVE continues to drive strong partnerships to help women have equal opportunities, grow and develop within and outside of Verizon.

Women History Month (March) is a strong springboard for WAVE each year to drive key initiatives such as sharing inspiring stories globally, building strong growth activity such as a “vision board” to help women drive their goals, bring support to the community through volunteering activities and so much more.