ABB has launched it’s new ‘Global Diversity & Inclusion Strategy 2030’ through which it plans to double the proportion of female managers worldwide over the next ten years. With this step, ABB aims at reaching a 25% share of women in senior management positions from currently 12.5%.
Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, ABB is a global technology company operating mainly in robotics, power, heavy electrical equipment, and automation technology areas. ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels by connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation, and motion portfolio. With a history of more than 130 years, ABB has a presence in more than 100 countries, including India.
The target forms part of ABB’s broader ambition to foster inclusion and equality across all diversity areas, including gender, abilities, generations, ethnicity, and LGBTQ+. ABB said that it would be offering employees inclusive leadership training and development programs, mentoring programs, and learning interventions to foster an inclusive culture.
“Building and fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion is a key priority for ABB and represents a foundation for innovation and better decision making,” said Björn Rosengren, chief executive officer of ABB. “This is not only the right thing to do, but also a means to further improve our business performance as diversity becomes increasingly important for both internal and external talents, customers, as well as investors.”
Recently, ABB was among more than 50 leading European companies in the industrial and technology sectors to reaffirm a pan-European commitment to diversity and inclusion in the context of the initiative #EmbraceDifference. Spearheaded by the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), of which Rosengren is a member, the effort is designed to create an environment suitable for promoting inclusion and diversity in the workplace.
This summer, ABB signed the Standards of Conduct for Business, Tackling Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex People, put forth by the United Nations High Commissioner’s office for Human Rights. The standards of conduct offer five concrete steps that companies can take to align their policies and practices with international standards on the human rights of LGBTI people. ABB expects these standards to be followed by its suppliers to generate a real impact in the more than 100 countries the company operates in.
Furthermore, it has signed a partnership with Europe’s largest LGBT rights organization, Stonewall, to develop a roadmap on LGBTQ+ for employees.
