DOUGLAS Group, a leading European destination for premium beauty through an omnichannel approach, has been recognized as one of the best companies for women according to a global survey by Forbes. In collaboration with the research company Statista, the renowned business magazine published a list of the best global employers for women in 2024, where DOUGLAS Group ranked first among global companies in retail and wholesale, third on the global list across all industries, and first among all companies in Germany. This award recognizes the Group’s ongoing commitment to creating a work environment that empowers and inspires women.
– Supporting women entrepreneurs is a key part of DOUGLAS Group’s identity. We are proud that our efforts to empower women in every possible way are reflected in the experiences and perceptions of the surveyed women – said Mareike Mende-Ratnam, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of DOUGLAS Group.
– We are absolutely committed to continuing this path and further strengthening activities to inspire and support women to develop in line with their individual vision – added Mende-Ratnam.
– These prestigious recognitions confirm that DOUGLAS sets high standards in the beauty industry and creates a work environment that supports women in their professional and personal development. In the Adriatic region, we continue to build a culture that empowers women, enabling them to achieve their ambitions and make the most of their talents. I am proud to work for a company that recognizes the value of inclusion and gender equality as key to our success – stated Adrijana Bokan, CEO of the Adriatic cluster.
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Ranking Based on Individual Experiences of Respondents and External Image of Companies
The research conducted by Forbes and Statista was carried out among 100,000 women employed in multinational corporations across 37 countries. The respondents, recruited through panels, rated companies based on general working conditions as well as women-specific issues, including pay equality, advancement opportunities, management’s responses to concerns related to discrimination against women, and perceptions of industry competitors. The responses were aggregated into “employer brand rating,” “public opinion rating,” and “leadership rating,” and then combined with data collected over the past three years. The top 400 international companies – including DOUGLAS Group in third place globally – received the certificate of “Best Global Companies for Women 2024.” A prerequisite was operating in at least two major regions, such as Central and Eastern Europe.
Empowering Women at DOUGLAS Group
Supporting women is an integral part of DOUGLAS Group’s DNA: DOUGLAS originated from the vision of two sisters, and since then, many brave, passionate, and entrepreneurial women have driven the company’s continuous growth. An above-average share of women among employees (business year 2022/23: about 97% in stores and about 70% at headquarters) and women in managerial positions (2022/23: 89%) is proof of DOUGLAS Group’s commitment to empowering, inspiring, and motivating women to develop their full potential. At the same time, the Group advocates for true inclusion and gender equality in line with its purpose – to beautify the lives of its employees, customers, and the world. This includes prioritizing equal opportunities, ensuring representation of women, and launching initiatives to attract and develop talent – such as mentoring programs and training to prepare women for future leadership roles.
