Gender diverse teams

Diversity makes a difference

In her experience, the advantage of working in a gender diverse team is that you get more points of views, because men and women act and think differently. For the customer, it makes a difference, too. The tone of voice changes and the usual ways of interacting often changes for a more polite and professional way of working together. "It all comes down to having a good connection with the customer and making sure that they feel comfortable," Louise says. "I like my job at Solar because there is a great degree of freedom to manage my own work as well as good help and support from the team." Her advice for others is that the best way to learn is to just try. "You might fall sometimes, but then you get up and you learn," she says.

Employ your successor

Robert concludes: "Whether you are hiring a man or a woman, it's about the person's ambition and qualities. I have a motto: 'Employ your own successor'. As a manager, you need to develop the talents you have and keep them interested, so they stay. Women are underutilized talent, but you shouldn't depend on them applying themselves. You also have to find new ways to generate candidates."

Educating managers

Louise agrees: "In order to attract more women in the traditionally male dominated jobs, we need to start educating the hiring managers in companies and teach them to use their personal network to identify the relevant candidates. An emphasis on the soft values of the job and the company, also in the job ads, is important for women. Focus on the personality and the person – that's the most important part. The rest can be taught."