International Women’s Day, taking place on 8 March, is a time to celebrate women’s contributions to the workplace. At East-West Seed, we also see it as an opportunity for us to make our workplaces more inclusive and address barriers to women’s success and well-being.
The theme of this year’s IWD is #EmbraceEquity. We therefore are inviting our colleagues across all functions at the East-West Seed headquarters to embrace gender equity and share their experiences on this and other relevant topics at the workplace.
What is equity? According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, gender equity means fairness of treatment for men and women according to their respective needs. This may include equal treatment or treatment that is different but which is considered equivalent in terms of rights, benefits, obligations, and opportunities.
Dee Porntipa Niyatanon, Executive Assistant to the EWS CEO, said the term equity to her refers to the act of respecting individuals and providing fair treatment to everyone according to their needs. She added that she believes equity is a fundamental component for achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace.
East-West Seed is proud to take firm action in providing fair and equal opportunities based on our people’s needs, regardless of gender. We work to ensure our family of employees have equal access to opportunities, helping us work toward an end to gender imbalances. This is not empty rhetoric but a core foundational belief that we consistently put into action.
Rowena Francisco, Group Head of Rewards and HR Operations, said during a discussion with Chief People Officer Lea Barote that: “at the end of the day, it’s not about gender. You’re a girl, a woman. But the capabilities, credibility, and the respect you earn from your colleagues are more important than anything else.”
We believe that it is respect that not only lies at the heart of gender equality in the workplace, but is also a key component in making a company successful.
As part of internal research, we found that gender diversity has a positive outcome on the effectiveness of our teams EWS. A work group with a balanced gender mix may offer a better representation of varied knowledge and skills. However, diversity is not just about having the right balance between genders — we must also ensure there is no room for unconscious gender bias in the workplace.
Rosa Villanueva, EWS group head of legal, said that more than just seeing women as equals in the workplace, men should view women as their partners.
“When you see each other as partners, you can see how you can better collaborate and that you will have something to contribute,” Villanueva said. “And this contribution is unique not just because of your gender, but because of your personality as well.”
At East-West Seed, we are creating a safe working environment to empower all of our people.
At East-West Seed, we believe diversity and inclusion can help lift up the lives of millions of smallholder farmers. We continue to create a safe working environment to empower all of our workers and stakeholders. See below to learn how inclusion inspires us at work.
Be a part of a team that helps you grow. Check out career opportunities at East-West Seed: https://lnkd.in/gPS3sQgg
