Pay transparency is the practice of revealing salary information in a company. It means giving employees access to their own wages and that of their peers – creating an open and equal environment.

Skills-based hiring is a strategic approach that evaluates candidates on their skills and abilities, instead of traditional qualifications. This helps employers find the best people for the job, and build a diverse, skilled workforce.

To extend the impact employee resource groups can make beyond company walls, consider providing opportunities for members to drive business outcomes.

Dawn Klinghoffer, vice president for Microsoft's HR Business Insights, stumbled into HR but is a natural fit in her people analytics role at the $2.4 trillion software giant.