Catalyst Inc.

Women’s History Month may be ending, but the work continues. We were inspired by a recent Entrepreneur Magazine piece by Mita Mallick that reminded us how many of the decisions shaping careers happen behind the scenes. At Catalyst, our research examines the systems and everyday decisions that shape who gets access to opportunity. Progress for women isn’t driven by intention alone; it’s shaped by who advocates behind the scenes, how opportunity is shared, and whether inclusion is treated as a collective responsibility. Let's explore three everyday actions that help keep women at the table, not just in March, but year‑round. 👉 Take a look, and ask yourself: What’s one action you can take this week to help expand the table? And read Mita Mallick's column here: https://ow.ly/1KJI50Yym5c

Breakout Program Award Spotlight As Ashley Young, Military Talent Management, Humana Military, reminds us, inclusion isn’t abstract—it’s how organizations reflect the communities they serve, strengthen empathy, and tackle real challenges. That mindset leads to stronger teams, better outcomes, and lasting social impact—exactly the kind of leadership recognized through our Breakout Program Award. This perspective is a preview of the voices and ideas that will take center stage at Catalyst Convene New York—where leaders will come together to explore what driving global workplace inclusion looks like in practice. Join us in NYC. The conversation continues: https://ow.ly/MXh850YxJ21. #Convene26

Thank you, Bente Becker, for sharing your thoughtful personal takeaway from the Mutual Accountability, Real Change (MARC) session; so well said.

🚨Introducing our newly reimagined "Fieldnotes Dispatch" newsletter🚨 Where "Making Waves" explored the forces reshaping inclusion at work, "Fieldnotes Dispatch" brings together data, storytelling, and cross‑disciplinary insights from our new magazine "Fieldnotes by Catalyst" to help you think differently about today’s most urgent business challenges. To kickoff this new chapter, we explore a question leaders can’t afford to ignore: When women leave the workforce, what happens to team innovation? Women are exiting the workforce because of caregiving responsibilities, inflexible schedules, and low pay according to Catalyst research. And as we discuss with Anita Williams Woolley, a leading authority in team performance, this retention issue may impact team innovation. Here’s a preview of what we unpack in this first edition: • How 'collective intelligence' predicts team effectiveness better than individual IQ • Actions leaders can take to improve women's retention • What we can learn from elite sports about team innovation 📘"Fieldnotes" is where inclusion meets business performance, helping leaders like you turn insight into action. 👇🏽Read the first edition of "Fieldnotes Dispatch."

What if your trust problem isn’t about culture — but about design? Our research shows trust erodes when systems feel inconsistent or exclusionary, and it strengthens when inclusion is built into how work actually happens. Inclusion isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s how fair systems are created — and how trust is sustained. Here’s how leaders are using inclusion to rebuild trust at scale → https://lnkd.in/d8XTWSSC

Nearly 75% of employees going through menopause hide their symptoms at work. Not because it doesn’t matter, but because most workplaces still don’t know how to talk about it. In a recent Medium interview with Shawna Robins Robins, Kelly (Kleinkort) Montes, Executive Director, U.S. at Catalyst, spoke about an issue not many leaders address openly: menopause at work—and why it’s an inclusion issue hiding in plain sight. Menopause often happens during peak career years. Many employees navigating it are managing teams, shaping strategy, and leading organizations. Yet silence around menopause can create real barriers to performance, confidence, and belonging. Kelly explains why this isn’t a “women’s issue,” but a workplace inclusion issue, and how small, visible steps can help employees feel seen, supported, and make a measurable difference. 👉 The data may surprise you. Explore the insights and research behind why menopause belongs in conversations about inclusion, leadership, and the future of work. Read the full interview with Kelly Montes: https://ow.ly/ru2750YxyPo

Big update for our community. Next week, we’re launching Fieldnotes by Catalyst—a new, executive‑ready digital magazine for leaders tackling today’s most pressing workplace challenges. Blending data, storytelling, and cross‑disciplinary insight, Fieldnotes shares practical frameworks and field‑tested lessons from experts across business, design, and even world‑renowned explorers. And there’s more: Making Waves is becoming Fieldnotes Dispatch. Our LinkedIn newsletter will now break down key ideas from the magazine into timely inclusion insights and practical tips leaders can use to accelerate performance and progress at work. Want an early look? Check out a preview of the magazine on our website: https://ow.ly/ouhj50YwhCY

Proud to announce: Hitachi is the winner of the 2026 Catalyst Award. 🎉 Since 1987, the Catalyst Award has recognized organizations from around the world who are developing new and innovative ways to advance talent and strengthen workplace culture. Hitachi's Catalyst Award-winning initiative has driven a more inclusive culture across their Japan-headquartered global organization by advancing inclusive leadership and strengthening talent practices while also addressing long-established cultural norms. As Lorena Dellagiovanna, Senior Vice President & Executive Officer; Chief HR and Chief Sustainability Officer, Hitachi Ltd., explains it: "Inclusion is how we build strong teams and better ideas at Hitachi. When people have fair opportunity to contribute and grow, innovation follows and drives positive social impact.” Congratulations, Hitachi! We look forward to celebrating their global impact at Catalyst Convene New York this April. 👉 Explore Convene New York: https://ow.ly/xMP250YtsGV #Convene26

At Catalyst, in partnership with Coqual, we’ve been studying how AI is reshaping work. One thing is clear: technology isn’t the biggest barrier to adoption. People are. One finding from this research stopped us in our tracks: 34% of employees fear being replaced by AI. And only 33% feel included in decisions about how AI is used at work. That gap isn’t about resistance to innovation. It’s about leadership. When employees don’t understand what AI means for their role, their future, or their growth, uncertainty turns into disengagement and adoption stalls. But when leaders communicate clearly, involve people early, and treat inclusion as a strategic advantage, something shifts. We break down the data behind AI anxiety and what leaders can do differently: 👉 Swipe through to dive into the research. Research by Melinda Marshall (Coqual), Dr Eleanor Smith (Ellie), PhD (Catalyst), Emilia Yu (Coqual), with contributions from Birgit Neu (Coqual Fellow) and Victor Penda Penda (EMEA Research Fellow, Catalyst). Dive into all the key findings here: https://ow.ly/i4oG50YtqbS

Trust doesn’t break down because of people— it breaks down because the system around them isn’t built for it. Retention issues, stalled innovation, inclusion gaps… These are symptoms of a workplace where employees don’t trust how decisions, opportunities, and change actually happen. Here’s what actually works: 🔹 Leaders practicing inclusion as a daily business discipline 🔹 Clear norms that make teams feel safe speaking up 🔹 Human × AI leadership that inspires confidence 🔹 Real pathways and sponsorship for early‑career talent 🔹 Partnership behaviors that strengthen credibility across teams When trust becomes an operating system—not a value statement— the business works better. That’s why we built the Trust Suite by Catalyst: a connected, research‑backed framework that helps leaders practice trust every day. If you want trust to fuel how your organization works—not just what it says—explore the Trust Suite by Catalyst: https://lnkd.in/eNATB4s2.