Today is a day of mixed emotions

I truly love International Women’s Day because it fills me with immense pride and admiration as we celebrate the countless achievements of women globally.

At the same time, it is a stark reminder that we are still far from achieving gender equality. Women are still underrepresented in the global workforce. They earn less money, and they are still a minority when it comes to leadership positions.

Our failure to provide equal opportunities not only marginalizes women and leaves them out of decision-making but also deprives us of the creativity and innovation they can bring to the table.

We have made progress over the past years. One good example is the DAX40: almost a quarter of Executive Board Members in the DAX40 are now women and the absolute number has doubled since 2020. The German gender quota has inarguably been a catalyst in this development. However, one quarter is still far from true parity, and we have to push beyond the quotas and toward true equality.

The energy sector is lagging behind in terms of gender diversity

When looking at the energy sector, the picture is less encouraging. Women make up 39% of the global workforce, but only 16% of the energy sector’s employees, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Women hold just 14% of senior management roles and earn almost 15% less than men with the same skill level. This makes the energy sector one of the least gender-diverse sectors of the global economy.

The obstacles that women are up against in the energy sector are similar to those in other sectors: They range from societal stereotypes that influence hiring or promotional decisions, a lack of role models and mentorship, to the prevalent expectation of women as primary caregivers. Or, as a colleague in Siemens Energy recently wrote: “Women regularly have to fight harder and shout louder to be heard”.

The need for more diversity in the energy industry is concerning, especially considering the monumental challenge we must solve: transitioning to a sustainable energy system. Such a complex undertaking needs diverse minds and ideas. We cannot afford to exclude anyone.

Companies must play their part to improve gender equality

At Siemens Energy, we are working hard to create a more inclusive workplace for everyone. We believe in the power of female role models. For Siemens Energy (excl. the wind business) we managed to increase the share of women in top leadership positions to 28% at the end of the last fiscal year, compared to 22% the year before. We’ve worked hard to identify and reduce gender pay gaps, bringing the (adjusted) pay gap down from 5.16% to 4.81%.

Yes, we are making progress, but there’s still much more to do. It starts with ensuring that women have access to education and vocational training to allow them to thrive. We need female role models to inspire and encourage girls and women to realize their dreams, whatever they may be. Companies should transparently disclose data on gender representation and pay gaps and be held accountable by their employees and stakeholders. This is why at Siemens Energy we report the metric on gender pay gap – we are one of the first companies in the DAX to do so. We must also create safe spaces for women to speak up against unfair treatment at work, address unconscious bias, and foster a culture that values diversity and inclusion. We must allow for a better work-life balance by offering flexible working conditions. Specifically in the energy sector, we need to attract more women and provide them with attractive career opportunities within the industry. In the end, everyone will benefit from these measures.?

I am grateful to have fantastic colleagues at Siemens Energy, men and women, role models and allies, all joining in our efforts towards creating a more inclusive workplace. Thank you for your dedication and passion. We could not do it without you.

We know we aren’t there yet. But we keep going.

My wish is we would not need International Women’s Day. I wish that one day, we can celebrate “Equality Day” – a day that reminds us that everyone, regardless of gender or any other characteristic, is equally valued, respected, and given the chance to thrive. ??