Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management and automation, honors the 40th annual International Women’s Day, a day observed on March 8 to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women worldwide, while calling to action the acceleration of gender parity.
In recent years, Schneider Electric has undertaken business-wide transformation in developing a proactive strategy to include women at every level of the organization, based on four pillars—commitment by leaders, women empowerment initiatives, change management campaigns and the alignment of inclusive human resources practices, including the creation of a pay equity barometer to eliminate any distinction between men and women in its processes.
In North America, Schneider Electric has prioritized its dedication to recognizing women and promoting inclusivity through commitments to pay equity, female representation in leadership and leadership advocacy. Partnerships with diversity organizations such as Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and Women in Technology International (WITI), have resulted in an increase in the representation of women in their workforce.
“Our diversity and inclusion strategy places key issues such as gender equality at the top of our agenda, making diversity a key business strategy—not a human resources focus,” said Annette Clayton, President and CEO, North America Operations and Chief Supply Chain Officer, Schneider Electric. “We will continue to accelerate our efforts along the path to gender parity in the workplace by working in partnership with initiatives like the UN HeForShe program and living the values set forth in the Women’s Empowerment Principles from UN Women and the UN Global Compact.”
The company has also increased its Schneider Electric Foundation investments to prioritize science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and continuing to attract more women to STEM fields. This has included sponsoring 15 For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics teams, including all-girls teams and SE female mentors. In addition, sponsoring Go Red Goes STEM has created an opportunity for members of the company’s women’s business resource group (WiSE) to partner with the American Heart Association, driving STEM education and wellbeing.
In March 2015, Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Schneider Electric, was recognized by the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), a joint initiative of UN Women and the UN Global Compact. Mr. Tricoire was awarded WEPs’ CEO Leadership Award in the Business Case for Action category for its “Diversity and Inclusion” policy. Schneider Electric is a UN HeForShe IMPACT 10X10X10 Champion, signifying that it is one of 10 corporate champions for the United Nations’ HeForShe global solidarity movement.
