SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gender Equity Now (GEN) awarded its first GEN-Certified status to Nia Impact Capital, an impact investing and asset management firm focused on investment solutions that address critical social and environmental issues.
GEN Certification is the first data-driven standard for gender equity for the U.S. Created by a consortium of award-winning data analysts, experts in the field of gender studies and a research team at the University of Washington, GEN Certification recognizes companies whose practices and processes support gender equality.
“We created the GEN Certification to create a new gold standard for gender equity and reward leaders like Nia, who raise the bar for workplace equality everywhere,” said Sara Sanford, executive director of GEN. “Nia has demonstrated a clear commitment to equity-centered growth by going beyond good intentions to meaningful action. Nia’s employees know its workplace culture values the talents of all of its employees.”
Businesses that apply to be GEN-certified are audited on employee experience and internal processes across a rigorous set of sentiment indicators and process criteria. Businesses that rate on the spectrum of compliance can engage in GEN processes of continuous improvement to achieve full certification.
Kristin Hull, founder and CEO of Nia, said, “Nia understands that workplace equity isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s the smart thing to do. Gender equity is ultimately a competitive advantage and a more equitable way to treat all employees. The GEN Assessment process was a very positive experience and created new opportunities to for Nia to benchmark its progress toward full equity in our organization. I strongly urge every firm to seek GEN certification.”
Sanford added that Nia’s participation highlighted best practices that are now key indicators in the GEN model, especially in the area of paid leave.
“As a result of the certification process, Nia extended its leave policies to cover domestic violence survivors and allow new parents to return on a part-time, flexible schedule until ready to return full-time. Nia is a true leader in expanding equitable access both inside and outside the workplace.”
To learn more about becoming GEN-certified company, click here.
About GEN
About GEN (Gender Equity Now) GEN, a nonprofit corporation in the State of Washington, creates aspirational business models to harness the full potential of all employees. GEN’s mission is to partner with conscious companies to elevate equity to a business imperative. Fiscally sponsored by Panorama Global, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, GEN is based in Seattle. For more information: http://www.thinkgen.org.
About Nia Impact Capital
Based in Oakland, California, Nia Impact Capital is a women-led firm providing investment solutions to wealth management professionals across the U.S. Nia Impact Capital is the firm’s Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), which manages portfolios of public equities, as well as private investments. For information, visit www.niaimpactcapital.com.
