#InspireInclusion IWD 2024
Is the International Women’s Day (IWD) just another 24 hours of fame for a topic that is marginalized for the rest of the year? Reality is more complex – but the IWD is a great opportunity to ask ourselves if we persist on building a workplace that nurtures female talent, supports careers, and champions equality.
Remember the last time when you talked to someone about a company with a female CEO and you felt this unspoken “Wow, how extraordinary” vibe in the conversation? I usually think: “Yes, they have a woman boss. So?” Such a human reaction illustrates more impressively than any statistic that the issue of inclusion remains an unresolved challenge.
Maybe it is a matter of generations. When I talk to students or job starters there is more of a sense of matter of course as far as female leaders are concerned. As we celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day, I wonder whether my children’s generation will still need this day. Personally, I think we are not done with that day yet. Although there are voices who argue that on this day, all debates about what still lacks on the way to equality get their 24 hours of fame – and are quickly forgotten again tomorrow.
But every IWD is a reminder not to let that happen
In Germany, women continue to be significantly underrepresented in research and development. In 2021, the proportion of women in the research departments of German companies was particularly low at only 16 percent. Inclusion means taking the next step, every day. Start in meetings and take a look at research and project groups: Are women and minority groups represented? Are their contributions heard, valued and encouraged? Whenever we witness discrimination, we must speak up.
Covestro is dedicated to recruit, retain, and develop female talent. We make sure talents get the support and resources they need to build their career. To foster a culture of equality and equal chances, it is important that also and especially top management shows strong support for the company’s measures to drive inclusion. At Covestro the share of women in the total workforce is rising constantly towards our goal to reach a quota of 40% by 2029. In the upper management levels, we have already achieved a share of women of 24%.
As I am a strong advocate of mentoring culture, I am proud to say that Covestro fosters mentoring and development schemes for women at every stage of their career. Why is this so important? Because sometimes young women don't realize what they can achieve. As leaders we must become allies of young talents. When I talk to women who have just started their career journey, I ask them: What do you want to achieve? What can only you do to make that impact and why can't you do it? As much as every person is unique there are also traits and attitudes that a lot of women share or can identify with. For one, women tend to be rather modest about their talents. Be bold about your talents! Women, for example, see crises more often as an opportunity to do things differently. And in my experience, women are often more flexible since they must balance the professional and private world of their lives. I have two boys and I had to rely on this flexibility. As long as we do not embrace equal opportunities and incorporate them into our lives with all their consequences, there will be no real progress towards equality for all.
This year’s IWD can be a good reminder to be bold – about your talents, about your career plan, about the work-life-balance that you wish for.
Let's seize this IWD as a catalyst for bold action – and #InspireInclusion!