COTA Named to Parity.Org’s Best Companies for Women to Advance List for Third Year in a Row
For the third consecutive year, the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) is among 43 organizations in the country named in the Parity.org Best Companies for Women to Advance List. Parity.org is an impact organization working to eliminate the racial and gender gap in corporate leadership. The Parity List recognizes organizations that are implementing cultures, policies and programs that ensure women have significant opportunities to reach their full professional potential. Equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of COTA’s mission, and this recognition demonstrates the organization continues to demonstrate success in achieving its EDI goals.
“COTA is built on a foundation that ensures the organization represents the community and customers it serves,” said Monica Jones, COTA’s Chief Equity Officer. “COTA is committed to mapping out strategies that allow us to acquire diverse talent from outside of the company. A great emphasis is also placed on efforts that cultivate growth and advancement internally, particularly with women, through training and mentorship programs. While the personal and professional achievements of our employees are the greatest satisfaction, we are honored to receive this national recognition.”
In addition to COTA, 42 other companies were named in the 2022 Parity.org list, including Airbnb, Best Buy, Clorox, Nasdaq, PepsiCo and Ralph Lauren.
Under COTA President/CEO Joanna M. Pinkerton’s leadership, 42% of COTA directors today are women. COTA has also established workforce development initiatives that continue to provide a pipeline of talent from local communities. Those initiatives include tuition reimbursement for all full-time employees earning college degrees or other higher education that helps them advance in their careers, as well as job training opportunities for students, women, minorities, and formerly incarcerated individuals with construction partners at COTA’s primary transit facility renovation.
“The parity problem is complex –– but it’s not insurmountable,” said Cathrin Stickney, Parity.Org founder and CEO. “The extraordinary performance of this year’s honorees proves that a genuine commitment and focus, coupled with the right tools, measures, and practices, will absolutely move the needle toward fairness.”
For more details, visit www.parity.org/best-companies.
About Parity.Org
Parity.Org is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to closing the gender and racial gap in corporate leadership, where the gap is the widest. We take a pragmatic and research-based approach, offering a range of proven best practices and industry-leading tools for not only reaching—but sustaining—parity in leadership. Learn more at Parity.Org and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
