An interview with Vice President & Global Chief Diversity Officer, Patricia Harris, on how McDonald's workforce has grown more diverse.

At a recent McDonald's Global Women's Leadership Network Conference, former chairman Fred Turner reminisced about the first women's network at McDonald's - "the Women's Lib Group," as he called it. Turner was instrumental in starting that group, which began with potluck dinners in employees' homes in the 1970s. The group was formalized as a corporate network to respond to the changing workforce of the 1980s, and now has a network in every region within the U.S., and is currently forming women's networks in other areas of the world.

The members of what is now called the McDonald's Women's Leadership Network (WLN) are a global group of female employees who serve as key advocates for the advancement of women into increasing levels of management responsibility. WLN now has its own business plan, aligned with corporate business objectives. Its members are leaders in mentoring programs, professional development, succession planning and supporting women's causes such as breast cancer awareness.

Women now comprise 28% of McDonald's corporate officers. "The Women's Leadership Network and our other diversity initiatives are such an important part of how we conduct business," says Patricia Harris, Vice President and Global Chief Diversity Officer, McDonald's Corporation. "It keeps us focused on inclusion and strengthening our talent while supporting our goals for global growth." More than 50% of women in the company participate in diversity educational seminars at the company. The Leadership at McDonald's Program (LAMP), which identifies high potential women - and men - places them in a one-year leadership program. LAMP is designed to grow the organization's internal talent and to develop the quality and quantity of leadership needed to drive business results around the world.

Beyond gender, McDonald's continues to develop broader inclusion and diversity initiatives throughout the organization. From restaurant managers to franchisees and suppliers, the company works to buy goods and services from businesses that reflect the diversity of its customers and communities it operates in. "Diversity at McDonald's is an enormous part of our culture," adds Harris. "Our success is built on having a workforce that is a bridge to the marketplace. It is one of our strongest competitive advantages."