Senior Advisor
Madrid
Related Expertise: Leadership Development
By Iván Martén and Katharina Rick
Over the past two decades, women have taken on more prominent leadership positions in the energy industry:
Despite these encouraging examples, women are still a minority in the energy industry’s top ranks. Current statistics regarding the average representation of women in energy companies show that we as an industry still have a long way to go. At the top 200 utility companies, just 5% of executive-board members and 13% of senior management are women, and almost 99% of energy companies are led by men.1 Notes: 1 Chris H. Reinsvold, “ The Oil and Gas CEO,” Oil & Gas Financial Journal, September 2014. So what can companies do to further promote talented women into top jobs?
Diversity in the workplace is not only a boon for social equality—it can be a competitive advantage. When both genders are well represented in leadership positions, they bring diverse experiences and perspectives that challenge long-held assumptions and lead to more innovative solutions. Hiring and promoting more women sets in motion a virtuous cycle, since highly qualified women will be more attracted to a company that routinely promotes talent to leadership positions regardless of gender. If energy companies continue to make a conscious effort, the industry will lengthen the list of its women leaders and build a more balanced, diverse, and inclusive workforce.
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