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It has been proven that a diverse organization would experience a higher level of innovation, performance, and better business results. Though diversity extends beyond gender to nationalities, generations, etc. gender equality remains one of the most discussed topics across different culture and geographies. In fact, this is set as a transversal goal in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing the statement that there cannot be sustainable development without gender equality.
Over the past years, much has been said and taught about diversity, and there has been strong progress made. However, when we look at where the world stands today, we have some ways to go. As a recognized leader in diversity, we do feel the need to act more boldly and urgently.
Not only do we need to achieve better diversity in our workplace, but also foster and sustain a culture where inclusion is real. It starts with each and everyone of us. This is why we want to engage you in this journey of exploring how we can achieve this ambition together, to create a more balanced workplace where women rise, we all thrive.
In this Schneider Electric podcast series, you will hear real stories of our colleagues across the globe, both female and male, on how they commit to being part of the solution and driving changes from the inside out, starting first with their mindset and beliefs.
By showcasing how women rise at Schneider Electric, we hope that we can inspire more women in energy to step up and engage more men as allies. Everyone does play a part in achieving gender equality.
Episode One: Are Women Holding Themselves Back?
While the majority of gender equality interventions address the external factors, e.g. making policies and physical workplace more inclusive, tackling unconscious bias and non-inclusive behaviors in people practices, we may have overlooked the other half of the equation.
As our guest speaker has pointed out in her sharing: The long history of being contained by societal and cultural norms results in an invisible mental barrier that women set for themselves. In the professional context, this invisible barrier is holding women from rising to their fullest potential at work.
In this very first episode of the Schneider Electric podcast Women Rise We All Thrive, we will try to provide a helicopter view of Gender Equality progress in the workplace, and discuss some of the major challenges, both from the external environment and internal mindset, that are preventing women from rising in their career, especially in a historically male-dominated industry. Joining this episode, we are glad to have Joon Tan, Vice President of Talent & Learning for International Operations at Schneider Electric.
Guest Speaker
Joon Tan leads the Talent & Learning function for the International operations, which comprises of 5 very diverse zones (East Asia & Japan, Pacific, South America, India and Middle East & Africa) while being based in Singapore. Over the past 25 years of her HR career, she has worked across diverse sectors, including Education, Consumer Electronics, Airline, Media, High Tech & HR Consulting before joining Schneider in 2014. She helped start a female mentoring circle in 2018, based on a bestseller “How Women Rise” by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith – 2 renown executive coaches – aiming to help women realize and overcome self-limiting beliefs that are most commonly seen in themselves. The program has now become a global initiative at Schneider Electric with participants coming from Pacific to Africa, South America to Europe, to China.
Your Host
Gia Duong (GD) joined Schneider Electric in 2019 as our Internal Communications & Employer Branding Manager in Vietnam. Since August 2020, he has expanded his role to lead the overall strategy for Employer Branding and University Relations for 14 countries in East Asia & Japan, one of our most diverse and dynamic regions. In his role leading a strong local team, he seeks out the most authentic, impactful and compelling ways of telling stories about our unique culture and fostering meaningful partnerships to help attract more #SEGreatPeople. He is also a Certified Facilitator on #GenderEquality via a program coordinated by USAID and Fulbright University Vietnam!
When and where can you listen to our Schneider Electric Podcast?
We will release a new episode every three weeks starting from this one onward! You can find our podcast on Google Podcast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Deezer! Don’t forget to subscribe, like, share and join our conversation!
Also, join our Talent Community to get the latest updates on career opportunities and be part of the solution for a more sustainable world!
