“ A FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY OFTEN REQUIRES A SHIFT IN CORPORATE CULTURE TOWARDS A BROADER VIEW OF SUCCESS . SUCH CHANGE CAN OPEN THE DOOR FOR DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP STYLES , PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN TO CONTRIBUTE IN MEANINGFUL WAYS ”
ESG LEADERSHIP
not shy away from challenges or barriers – all the while being able to communicate clearly so stakeholders don ’ t lose sight of the ultimate goals .
“ When I think about women ’ s business leadership more broadly , women are only going to continue to grow into more leadership positions ,” says DeLuca .
“ We are no strangers to doing hard things , we are often great communicators and have historically been strong people leaders , especially through transitional and evolving times .”
Cykoski says that while there are positive signs , more companies need to ‘ walk the talk ’ when it comes to recognising diversity .
As the significance of ESG continues to grow , and sustainability ingrains itself into the core of company strategy and culture , Cykoski says she has observed an increase in the elevation of women to senior leadership roles , including board seats .
“ Nevertheless , during my mentoring sessions with Advancing Women Executives ( AWE ), we continue to discuss the need for greater representation of women on board seats . It can be irksome for me when companies assert a lack of qualified individuals , especially considering there are undoubtedly highly qualified women available ,” says Cykoski .
“ I firmly believe that it requires a company to recognise the significance of diversity , and actively demonstrate this belief through actions – a commitment to walking the talk , so to speak .”
Cykoski is quick to add that Schneider Electric goes beyond just talking about its commitments . The company actively seeks partnerships that embrace diversity , making inclusivity a priority in collaborations .
“ It ’ s not just a pledge ; we ’ re taking real steps and consistently measuring
“ A FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY OFTEN REQUIRES A SHIFT IN CORPORATE CULTURE TOWARDS A BROADER VIEW OF SUCCESS . SUCH CHANGE CAN OPEN THE DOOR FOR DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP STYLES , PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN TO CONTRIBUTE IN MEANINGFUL WAYS ”
HEATHER CYKOSKI SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT , INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION US AND PROCESS AUTOMATION CANADA , SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC
102 February 2024