SHI

SHI International in Somerset, N.J., claims status as the largest minority- and women-owned business in the United States. Over the past five years, it has doubled its headcount to more than 2,500.

The reseller is gender-neutral when it comes to new hires but leans heavily on government programs created on behalf of women, minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities, said Ed McNamara, director of marketing and communications. "As we onboard diverse groups of new employees, these groups organically bond and develop informal support groups, virtually none of which are formed based on gender," he said.

When it recently pulled together a meeting of its 102 sales and operations managers, the company discovered there was an even split: SHI CEO Thai Lee broke the tie on behalf of the women.

SHI does embrace some internal policies that demonstrate its heightened sensitivity to women. There are only three sorts of reserved spots in its parking lot: those for visitors, drivers with disabilities, and expectant mothers. Plus, it has set up designated "Pump Rooms" for employees returning from maternity leave who are still breast-feeding. "SHI understands that the majority of our new employees will be starting families within a few years of starting their careers at SHI and we make every effort to support those new Moms—and Dads—accordingly," McNamara said.