What We Love
For this New York City–based consulting firm, advancement is all about lattices, not ladders. About 95% of the firm has adopted the revolutionary principles of Mass Career Customization (MCC), an organic, nonlinear approach to success that encourages employees to lighten or intensify their workload as personal needs dictate, without fear of career reprisals. One survey found that the use of MCC had increased staffers’ work/life satisfaction by at least 25% since its pilot four years ago. “It’s a huge comfort as things evolve in my life,” agrees Natasha Buckley, a senior manager and mother of three. Expanding leave policies further increase personal freedom, with new hires now receiving 35 paid days and holidays off (up from 31 in 2007) and eight weeks of parental leave (up from two). Another plus: 100% of Deloitte employees receive benefits for dependents (in some cases for parents and in-laws), including health, vision and dental insurance.

CEO: Barry Salzburg

Managing Principal, Talent: Cathleen Benko

Women managers/execs: 37%

Women among top earners: 19%

Women on the board of directors: 29%

Women corporate executive hires in 2008: 17%

Women participating in management or leadership training in the past year: 82%

Women participating in formalized executive succession planning last year: 20%

Women promoted last year who utilized a formal flexible work arrangement: 5%

Formal compensation policies reward managers who help women advance: No