"Digital is inherently unbiased in terms of gender"
This year the UN’s theme for International Women’s Day focuses on digital innovation and technology for gender equality. We are using this occasion to ask women professionals in the water industry about their experiences and their views on women’s participation in digital innovation and the opportunities it might bring to achieve gender parity.
Cynthia Haddad is Head of Sales and Marketing Support for the digital business of Veolia Water Technologies. She has been with Veolia for over eight years during which she has also worked as an energy engineer and as a digital business development manager. Born in Lebanon, she now lives in France and is a firm believer in strength through diversity.
The UN’s theme for this year’s International Women’s Day focuses on innovation and technology for gender equality. To what extent are women participating in digital innovation in the water industry?
At Veolia Water Technologies, we have been investing a lot of effort and resources in developing our digital offering called Hubgrade. And we are lucky enough to rely on a mostly female team to lead this effort. The expansion of digital solutions can translate to fewer manual interventions, less traveling on site and faster decision-making: these are all factors that can favour diversity of all kinds.
Women bring a unique perspective and ways of thinking that can be very valuable, particularly in the constantly evolving digital world
When it comes to innovation, it's important to think outside of traditional business strategies. Women bring a unique perspective and ways of thinking that can be very valuable, particularly in the constantly evolving digital world. In this field, the ability to adapt quickly and efficiently is crucial, and having a background in business and development strategies may not be as crucial as possessing creative problem-solving skills. Therefore, it is essential to have highly skilled collaborators, regardless of their gender, to achieve success.
According to the European Parliament Research Service, women currently make up only 20% of ICT specialists and 33% in STEM-related careers
If women had a low presence in STEM-related careers, their presence is even lower in ICTs. Do you think there is a risk that gender gaps will be perpetuated in the digital age?
Yes, I think there is a risk for that, especially in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). According to the European Parliament Research Service, women currently make up only 20% of ICT specialists and 33% in STEM-related careers. Additionally, the fact that women are more likely to leave their careers to take on caregiving responsibilities, earn 20% less than their male counterparts and face fewer opportunities to advance to leadership positions is concerning.
However, there are some encouraging signs of progress which hopefully will colour a brighter future for women — and men — in the digital and technology fields. For instance, the French government extended paternity leaves in July 2021 and social media has increased awareness about women’s experiences in the tech industry. I also believe that the major shift in the attitude of millennials towards gender equality will bring on positive change and help us reduce this gap in the future.
The digital age is changing the way we work and technology provides greater flexibility in terms of forms of employment. Do you expect this will have an impact on gender parity?
There are some encouraging signs of progress which hopefully will colour a brighter future for women — and men — in the digital and technology fields
In the wake of the COVID crisis, we have adapted to working remotely, reduced travel and focused on the essentials of life. Climate change is now calling for the same principles with fewer restrictions. To take one example, working from home may be convenient for many, yet it can disproportionately burden women with the mental load of managing both work and personal responsibilities, leading to negative impacts on their mental health. This increased flexibility in work arrangements may have adverse effects on gender parity as it may result in greater pressure for women to work longer and harder while also fulfilling caregiving responsibilities; it is crucial to recognize that addressing this issue is a shared responsibility between partners to avoid undermining gender parity.
Therefore, it is important to ensure that flexible work arrangements are designed to promote gender equality and not reinforce gender biases. This includes measures such as providing equal opportunities for career development, promoting diversity in hiring and leadership, and addressing gender stereotypes and biases in the workplace.
How can digital innovation be leveraged to address some of the specific challenges facing women, such as access to mentorship opportunities?
Digital is inherently unbiased in terms of gender. It is the result of a combination of imagination, logic, practicality and determination. In that respect it places women and men on an equal footing, where social network connections do not distinguish genders; the differences come solely from skills, recommendations, experience and achievements. This ensures equal access to mentorship opportunities for all genders.