As a woman with a career in the oil and gas industry and a mother of three, it is of the utmost importance that I belong to an organisation that values the progression of gender parity. I want to see the change we seek in my lifetime, and I want my children to experience the benefits of equality as they explore education, careers and have families of their own. Through raised awareness of the importance of gender parity and purposeful actions to support progress, my sons will grow up to be men that value the contribution of their female counterparts, and my daughter will walk through boardroom doors, instead of hitting ceilings.
For the last decade, the World Economic Forum has been quantifying the magnitude of gender disparities with focus in four key areas: health, education, economy and politics across 107 countries. The 2016 report revealed that the progress is too slow for us to realise the full potential of one half of humanity in our lifetimes.
The projection puts us at realising parity at the year 2186…that’s in 169 years, which is, quite frankly, too long to wait.
Amec Foster Wheeler’s women’s resource network, Moxie1, with support from our executive team refuse to wait that long. Talent and technology will determine our success as a company, and if half of the world’s talent is not integrated into the transformations underway, we compromise our ability to be an innovative organization.
Still not convinced? A 2016 study by the Peterson Institute for International Economics and professional services firm, EY (Ernst & Young), found that companies with a greater percentage of female leaders had increased profit margins in comparison to companies without any women in the top ranks.
So, in support of International Women’s Day on March 8th 2017, we will #BeBoldForChange.
From 6-17 March, internally, in Amec Foster Wheeler, we are running a #BeBoldForChange campaign by focusing on important women in our lives. International Women’s day will also kick off our annual Dress for Success Suit Drive, which supports the professional development of Houston area women.
For more info on how to #BeBoldForChange and bold actions to take, follow the link below: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/BeBold