Founded in 1835, Havas Group is one of the world’s largest communications companies, with over 23,000 employees across more than 100 countries, united by a single mission: to make a meaningful difference to brands, businesses, and people.
At the heart of this mission is a deep commitment to the employee experience. Havas fosters a culture rooted in Belonging, Learning, Wellbeing, Career, and Impact, core pillars that shape how the company supports its people. Through a wide range of global and local programs, Havas empowers employees to bring their authentic selves to work, ensures diverse perspectives are embraced, and provides equal opportunities for career growth.
One standout example of this commitment is the Femmes Forward program, which directly supports the Career pillar.
In 2018, internal representation data revealed a clear gender gap in roles at the senior manager/director level, with women being promoted at a slower rate compared to men. In response, Havas launched Femmes Forward, a tailor-made development program designed to accelerate the careers of women at this level across the organization. Powered by the expert facilitation and personality insights of Lumina Learning, the initiative empowers women across the organization to take ownership of their career paths and step confidently into leadership roles.
Havas had made strides in increasing the number of women on their Executive and Operating committees, but it was determined that women at the senior manager/director level were not advancing to their next role at the same pace as men. To find out why, they conducted interviews with women within their organization and found there were several potential reasons for this.
Confidence gap: Many women underestimated their abilities and felt less confident than men, even with comparable or superior performance.
Ambition gap: Many women didn’t leave their current positions due to comfort or fear that balancing a new role and other life responsibilities would be difficult.
Life stages: Whether starting partnerships or families, many women found themselves reconsidering career goals.
Culture: In some cultures, men were considered for roles more often than women due to bias.
With this fresh perspective, Havas made a commitment to change the trend. Spearheaded by Patricia Clarke, Global Chief People Experience Officer, her team launched Femmes Forward as a pilot program, designed to provide women with the tools, inspiration, and support networks needed to develop their careers within Havas. The program was designed for senior manager and director-level women, typically with 9-12 years of professional experience and positioned for growth within the company. It was initially piloted in London and New York City, allowing Havas to test the format and gather feedback.
Lumina Spark was chosen as a core tool to help address these challenges, offering an accurate and inclusive way to identify and then develop personal leadership qualities. The program focused on building deeper self-awareness and helping participants understand how to act on the full range of strengths within their personal style. Havas partnered with Lumina Learning USA to build a program that combined self-awareness, leadership skills, and practical strategies for success.
Workshops
The program is delivered over three days, with specific modules addressing various leadership themes and personal growth.
The Femmes Forward workshops are delivered by Lumina Learning facilitators from the region, bringing their expertise to the table and ensuring all groups receive the same level of quality, regardless of location. Their local knowledge means they can embody the culture and tailor the workshops as needed to suit cultural or regional differences.
In addition to workshops, the program includes opportunities for connection and community building. Panels and fireside chats with senior women leaders provide participants with the opportunity to hear their candid career journeys and the challenges and lessons learned along the way. Femmes Forward fosters a strong network of women who continue to support each other, connect, and share experiences long after the program ends.
Throughout the program, participants consistently reference their Lumina Spark Portraits and the Spark framework to learn and shape their leadership ideals. This shared “Lumina Spark language” creates a common ground for participants to communicate and connect, even in diverse groups.
The success of Femmes Forward has led to the creation of two spin-off programs to support the progression of other women audiences. FF Academy targets women early in their careers through a virtual learning series on confidence, strengthening their voice, stress management, and leadership inspiration. FF FRIDA focuses on creative-director-level women as part of Havas’ commitment to reach gender parity in creative leadership roles. The program offers leadership insights, inspiration from women creative leaders, advancement planning, and the opportunity to attend the prestigious Cannes Lions Festival. These initiatives further demonstrate Havas’ commitment to developing a diverse pipeline of women leaders across all career stages.
The program was recognized in the 2024 ABP Awards and Havas was Highly Commended in Excellence in Learning and Development for Excellence in Facilitating Inclusion.
Within just 6 to 24 months of completing the program, 65% of participants are promoted, and 74% remain with Havas for at least two years, a retention rate that significantly outpaces industry norms. These outcomes underscore the program’s effectiveness in developing future leaders and retaining top talent in a competitive industry.
Since its inception, Femmes Forward has impacted over 500 women across 43 countries, creating a truly global network of emerging women leaders. Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with many citing the program as a pivotal moment in their professional journeys. Participants consistently report increased confidence in their leadership abilities, enhanced skills in navigating complex conversations, and a stronger sense of connection with peers across the organization.
Havas’ collaboration with Lumina Learning has become a cornerstone of its talent development strategy. By continuing to invest in Femmes Forward, Havas is not only advancing gender equity, it’s cultivating a more resilient, inclusive leadership culture for the future. The partnership with Lumina Learning remains instrumental, equipping women with the self-awareness, tools, and support they need to unlock their full leadership potential and thrive in today’s dynamic workplace.