Organized, prepared, without self-barriers or self-imposed limits are some of the features of the various women working at Iberdrola México who boost the company, every day.
At present, they account for 20% of the workforce and participate in all the areas of the business.
At Iberdrola México we are committed to women’s professional development in an environment that will allow them to strike a balance between their personal and work life. Equity is a priority for us and thus we have a global equality of opportunity and balance program.
Selene Jerezano, 27 years old, is a clear example thereof. She studied mechanical engineering and has been working in the company for two years. First, she worked at the Procurement Area and then she joined the global Review Department, where she became the first turbine female supervisor across the Iberdrola Group.
You must focus on what you really want and how and through which means you will achieve it. Work full time and make sacrifices, Selene explained.
This tenacity earned her the job, as well as the motivation and experience that her own bosses found in her attitude and performance.
As turbine supervisor, she spends plenty of time away from home, working in plant maintenance across the territory with up to 12-hour working days and surrounded by men. Nevertheless, this has never been an obstacle.
You earn respect when you work politely and cordially with them, Selene stressed, reflecting the amazement of many of her workmates caused by the presence of women in certain labor sectors.
Women must not be typecast, Selene contended. She now has a new challenge: to study a master’s degree in Thermodynamics and Materials and use her skills in Iberdrola.
Developing professionally is also the goal of Carla Hernández, a mechanical engineer and administrator, director of Photovoltaic Projects at Iberdrola Renewables Mexico. In 2009, her life gave a turnaround when she decided to leave the automotive sector and study a master’s degree in renewable energies.
Carla, who leads a team, contended that this is not a “closed sector”, because there are increasingly more women in men’s jobs as a result of the labor demand in the industry.
One of Carla’s great achievements within the company is to have led Iberdrola’s largest photovoltaic project in the world: the 750 hectare Santiago photovoltaic farm in San Luis Potosí, with an investment of over $250 million dollars. Additionally, through her job, she conveys the company’s commitment to care for the environment generating renewable energies.
Leticia Mijangos, head of the Commercial Systems Support and Operation Area, is one of the company’s pioneers. She is part of the team since Iberdrola’s arrival in Mexico.
Her first project was the combined cycle plant Dulces Nombres I, which entered into operation in March 2002. She moved to a cabin in front of the project site and handled a lot of things. “From installing a small cable on a network… she did everything”, Lety remembered. She is also very proud of the company’s evolution and commitment to its employees.
After a long career, she admits that striking a balance between her work life and her personal life is still a big challenge. This year she plans to enjoy friends and family more, without neglecting the company. “You have to make a mark in your life (…) I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to build a team and make this company better”.
This March 8th, we celebrate International Women’s Day, an important moment to reflect on advances in gender equality in the workplace. In the fourth quarter of 2018 the employed population totaled 54.2 million, of which 33.3 million are men and 20.9 million are women. Although there is a long way to go, at Iberdrola México we believe that every step we take gets us closer to achieve gender equality in employment.
