Chalhoub’s inclusive workplace redesign expands women’s employment across the Gulf region

In this episode Florence Bulte, Chief Sustainability Officer at Chalhoub Group, shares how the family-owned luxury retail and distribution company in the Middle East embeds gender equality in its sustainability strategy. Since joining the UN Global Compact in 2014 and signing the Women’s Empowerment Principles in 2017, Chalhoub has implemented inclusive policies, real-time diversity dashboards and pay parity assessments, reducing the pay gap to below 5%. Notable efforts include integrating women into the workforce in Saudi Arabia (70% of employees by 2023) and warehouses in the UAE. 

The company fosters an inclusive culture through Chalhoub University and a women-in-leadership program, while engaging supply chain partners with a sustainability scorecard. Bulte emphasizes a cross-functional approach and continuous adaptation to overcome challenges, such as the gradual pace of change in a diverse environment, and encourages companies to join the Forward Faster initiative to advance gender equality.

Disclaimer: This case example is intended strictly for learning purposes and does not constitute an endorsement of the individual companies by the UN Global Compact.