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Balancing the Scales

Lilly Ledbetter, who fought for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act after being underpaid for 19 years, discusses the importance of gender and pay equity. Photo: Chuck Kennedy for Axios

Wednesday morning, Axios' Evan Ryan hosted a business-leader-stacked conversation on the private sector's role in advancing gender equality.  

  • The lineup: Arne Sorenson, Marriott CEO; Anne Pramaggiore, Exelon Utilities CEO; Tony West, Uber Chief Legal Officer; and Lilly Ledbetter, namesake of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

Why it mattered: Ryan dug into what both businesses and advocates can do to close the gender pay gap and create safe, productive working environments for all employees.

Anne Pramaggiore, Exelon Utilities CEO

Axios Executive Editor Evan Ryan and Exelon Utilities CEO Anne Pramaggiore. Photo: Chuck Kennedy for Axios

Pramaggiore discussed the various initiatives Exelon has undertaken in order to advance the role of women in the company, including signing the Obama White House's Equal Pay Pledge and joining the UN's HeForShe campaign.

  • The effect of signing the pledge: "What it does is it sends a message ... that we have a culture that embraces women and we're going to make sure that there's fair pay."
  • Diverse teams are needed: “You can’t solve big problems, like climate change and decarbonization, without diverse teams.”

Tony West, Uber Chief Legal Officer

Axios Executive Editor Evan Ryan and Uber Chief Legal Officer Tony West. Photo: Chuck Kennedy for Axios

West spoke about the steps Uber is taking to advance gender-equality within its 20,000-person company, including ending mandatory arbitration.

  • On ending mandatory arbitration: “I think it’s becoming the new standard. I’d like to see it become the standard not just for tech but for all industries.”
  • Uber's goal: “We want to reflect the society in which we operate, and we’re not there yet.”
  • West's take: It's important to lead by example. When I came to Uber, I wanted to build a world class legal team. 12 months later I've hired or promoted 13 individuals —8 of them are women.

Arne Sorenson, Marriott CEO

Axios Executive Editor Evan Ryan and Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson. Photo: Chuck Kennedy for Axios

Sorenson, whose direct reports are 50% female, explained how and why Marriott is consistently recognized as a great place working place for women and what the company's gender parity goals are for the future.

  • How to close the pay-gap: “I think first we’ve got to give equity of opportunity, because that will drive pay.”
  • Marriott's goal for female-male leadership breakdown: "50/50 by 2025."
  • The bottomline-impact of embracing diversity: "If I know I can succeed, no matter who I am, I am going to be a better worker."
  • Top-down inspiration: “Our great women leaders attract more great women leaders.”

Lilly Ledbetter, Women's Equality Activist

Axios Executive Editor Evan Ryan and Women's Equality Activist Lilly Ledbetter. Photo: Chuck Kennedy for Axios

Ledbetter discussed why these conversations mattered and shared her own story: fighting for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act after coming across an anonymous note telling her that her salary was 20% less than her male counterparts, and had been for the 19 years she was at Goodyear.

  • Her motivation: "I could not let a company keep me from getting my fair salary. I was entitled to it. It was not a gift. It was what I earned.”
  • Advice to women: "Research companies and get reliable pay early. Once you've lost it, you can't get it back. It's not just that job it's the rest if your life. It impacts retirement, social security, and raises based on percent-increases."

Thank you Uber for sponsoring this event.

Gender equality