The centenary of powered flight is an outstanding opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our industry. It should also be an occasion to reflect on important issues presently facing the aerospace industry. This thought gave birth to the idea of gathering 100 Women in aerospace to reflect on the role of females in our company and to collect their experience as a feedback for future policies.
Béatrice Viale started her carrier as Co-Pilot. In September 2001 she was the first women in France to flew the Concorde.
Under the direction of Jacques Massot, head of HR France, this idea became a reality on Friday 20th June 2003 at the 45th Le Bourget Airshow in Paris. 82 female employees, representing a cross-section from the more than 15 000 women working for EADS, accepted the invitation to a symbolic meeting under the patronage of CEO Philippe Camus and the French Minister of Research and New Technologies, Mrs Claudie Haignere. They represented several nationalities, languages, agegroups and educational backgrounds. Additionally, female personalities in European aerospace joined the group, thereby enriching the experience with an external perspective. Amongst them were: scientists, an astronaut, pilots and various managers.
100 women at the EADs stand. Mrs Claudie Haigneré, minister of "Research and new technologies" is speaking.
Today women represent approximately half of the worlds population and nearly half of the workforce. General predictions on demographic evolution are expected to increase pressure as of 2006. It is getting more important for industries to acknowledge this as the supply and demand of professional skills on the aerospace labour market will soon develop a serious unbalance sparking a 'war for talent'. "In this new talent war, women constitute an important pool of skills and talent. This is already true today, but it will be even more a key factor tomorrow", says Jussi Itävuori, Group VP Head of HR EADS. "Women represent approximately 30% of the total workforce in industrial and commercial private sector companies. Moreover, in engineering- driven industries the figures are much lower. In Germany, women represent 14% in aero space and 12% in the automotive industry. In Europe, approximately 15 % of scientists in research and development are female, while in the US the figure amounts to 19%. The figures speak for themselves. In the future, jobs in aeronautics should not be seen as only a male domain. In general, the aeronautics industry has a need to make itself better known and to present itself as more attractive for women as a working environment and as an industrial challenge." Indeed EADS has made some notable achievements in this area. Erik Pillet, Airbus HR Director reports that the number of female engineering graduates recruited exceeds a share of 20%, while the overall share of females in aerospace engineering education is only about half this figure.
Mrs Claudie Haigneré, minister of "Research and new technologies", and EADS CEO Philippe Camus
Reinhard Havers, Head of HR Germany provided a handful of examples about areas in which efforts should be devoted in Germany such as: flexible workplace, part-time working or reintegration after parental leave. "We have already taken significant steps, but nevertheless we are aware that this is still not enough."
"The real break-through for women in this company would be to see enough of them in top positions. Living example motivates stronger than any programme." This is the vision expressed by EADS General Secretary, Laurence Dors during one of ten heated working-lunch discussions at the Musee de l'Air.
The aim of these discussions was to collect first hand experience, views and ideas from participants. "Actually, the last thing women want is women's programmes," says Birgit Quecke, Senior Vice President and head of Management Development EADS, "if the company provides an adequate development framework and deals professionally with specific women-related issues, good women will make a career on their own".
In his key-note speech during the afternoon session at the auditorium in the EADS main stand, Philippe Camus emphasized the role of females within EADS, "Ladies, you represent a major issue. We must widen the scope of actions and careers that allow you to fulfil your potential, while ensuring a satisfactory private life/work balance. You will be right if you are demanding. You will be right if you set high standards. That is how previously unthought-of steps are taken. The female personalities in the aerospace and scientific world that have agreed to be part of our initiative can attest to that. They are pioneers." Jussi Itävuori was very clear in terms that this forum was not a one time firework, but a firm commitment of the group to this initiative made visible. He concluded by summarizing EADS policy:
"We have recognised the potential of women in the aerospace industry, and we are active in attracting more of them into our pools of talent and skills:
Our first objective is to achieve at least 20% of our annual graduate engineering recruitment as women.
We will communicate actively in universities and schools - targeting more than 50 educational institutions - to make the aerospace industry a known and more attractive employer for women.
As EADS is committed to increasing female employment in aerospace we must achieve these goals. We need to take all the necessary measures to retain and women in the company and develop them into top positions.
We will actively participate in the debate and current initiatives in the area of educational and social policy promoting female participation in the workforce.
We will continue to focus internally on all those HR policy areas which will enable a balance of family and working life constraints and to create a real equal opportunity working environment.
This is a major internal development issue for our group and we have work to resolve it!" Finally, a highlight of the day was without a doubt the participation of the French Minister of Research and New Technologies, Mrs Claudie Haignere who addressed the group with a closure speech in the afternoon.
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