International Women's Day | Empowering Women in Data Centres
In an industry which has been traditionally male dominated, we now see an increasing number of women breaking those molds and stepping into more technical positions. Women today are on the move and that is great news for a business like ours! This is the first of our three-part series featuring our leaders who are championing inclusivity and diversity in our organisation. Featuring We Lin from Human Resources and Wai Meng, our Chief Executive Officer, read on to find out their thoughts on International Women's Day, why it matters and what they are doing to embrace gender equality.
Q. What does International Women's Day and its 2021 theme, #ChooseToChallenge, mean to you?
It places importance of raising awareness and taking an active approach to reduce gender biasness and stereotyping at the workplace.
Q. As a leader in Human Resources, how do you see that women can contribute to the data centre industry?
The data centre industry has been expanding over the past few years and the demand for skilled workers have outweighed the supply. This has led to the industry looking beyond traditional sources of talent resulting in a window of opportunity to tap on alternative talent pools or groom /develop employees within the organisation.
In the past, women were generally applying for roles in corporate or support functions (eg. finance, hr, procurement). However, the women of today are taking alternative routes, stepping out of their comfort zone and are becoming increasingly versatile and resilient, as seen from the increasing number of women taking on technical roles (engineering, project management, 24/7 facilities mgmt.) in this male dominated industry.
Q. On International Women's Day, what advice will you give to women who are considering a career in the data centre industry?
Look for an organization that has the right value systems and an inclusive and supportive work culture. I will also encourage one to have self-confidence and a Can-Do! attitude, that is important and will go a long way. Also, when the right career development opportunity is presented to you, be bold and step forward!
Q. What does International Women's Day and its 2021 theme, #ChooseToChallenge, mean to you?
IWD is a significant day as it raises awareness that we are all working towards gender equality. It is a day where we remember that everyone, regardless of your gender - has something to contribute. Whether it be in our homes, or work environments, gender should not and is not a factor of consideration and should not put anyone in a disadvantaged position.
Q. As a leader in the organisation, how can we ensure diversity and inclusion in all areas of the business?
Keppel Data Centres is committed to workforce diversity. As an organisation, we place great importance in treating one another with mutual trust and respect, in promoting an inclusive and harmonious workplace, where everyone, regardless of their gender is given equal opportunity and recognised based on their merits. Gender diversity has to be in our DNA so that we can be bringing in more talent into the industry. We believe diversity should be embraced as a competitive advantage in our organisations.
