Programs and Policies for Working Parents Put Booz Allen on Working Mother’s ‘Best Company’ List
At Booz Allen, a working parent can lead teams for the US Air Force, take on assignments around the world, shape company policy, and much more. Possibilities like these earned the firm its 21st consecutive ranking on Working Mother’s annual Best Companies list, plus the honor of Lead Associate Lidija Franklin named Working Mother of the Year for 2019.
“We want our employees’ lives with their families to be as rewarding as their careers,” said Shannon Fitzgerald, senior vice president at Booz Allen. “Our hiring practices and advancement programs, benefits for families, and flexible schedules, work locations, and career paths are all a commitment to our BE3 Promise: be you, be Booz Allen, and be empowered to change the world. We’re thrilled and proud of this continued recognition.”
Empowering employees and families
For Franklin, Booz Allen’s flexibility has enabled her to relocate to Southeast Asia and the Middle East, build teams, and deliver solutions to international clients —while raising a family. And Lead Associate Christina Babcock, 2016 Working Mother of the Year, has been able to recruit, train, and lead a high-performing high-velocity analysis team that supports the United States Air Force, while parenting her young son.
One critical component of such flexible career paths has been giving employees the tools and resources for continued growth. In 2018, Booz Allen:
- Launched Degreed, an online educational platform that lets employees learn anywhere, anytime, and on any device
- Expanded the firm’s FlexEd tuition assistance program for academic assistance, certifications and licenses, and other job-related and technical development
- Introduced Job Leaders who work with dedicated Career Managers to give employees support as they pursue their ambitions
Expanding possibilities for other working parents
Booz Allen also expanded its parental leave over the past year in response to focus group feedback—just one way working parents support each other at the firm.
Associate Gof Adam, 2017 Working Mother of the Year, started her family via gestational surrogacy. When she learned that Booz Allen’s adoption benefits would not apply to her situation, she reached out to leadership at the highest level: the CEO. Her advocacy led to extra paid time off and financial support for herself—and an extension of parental leave and financial benefits to others in similar situations.
Telework has been the cause of Senior Lead Technologist Marie Risser. She’s spent most of her two decades at Booz Allen working remotely from Hershey, PA—and advising others on how to transition to remote work.
“Booz Allen has support for families of all shapes and sizes and styles,” she said. “It’s their flexibility, their adaptability, that allowed me to succeed in this.”
Senior Lead Technologist Tuyet-Anh “Anh” T. Nguyen, 2015 Working Mother of the Year, is one of many who’ve benefited from such flexibility. “My first pregnancy was high risk, and my son was a preemie. My team allowed me to work remotely and with a flexible schedule throughout that critical time.”
Read more about Working Mother’s Best Companies for 2019 and how Booz Allen supports working parents.
