The automotive market is still mostly occupied by men. According to data from the Automotive Business portal, the presence of women in the Brazilian automotive industry has been stagnant at around 20% for five years. In leadership positions, the number does not reach 1%.
In pursuit of equal opportunities between genders, the IQA – Automotive Quality Institute has made changes in its own organizational culture to promote diversity and inclusion in the automotive sector. Currently, 61% of the institution’s staff is made up of women, who also represent 45% of leadership positions.
The superintendent of IQA, Alexandre Xavier, points out that the promotion of equal rights and opportunities between men and women is one of the strategies of the ESG Agenda that, currently, should be a priority for the automotive sector.
“We want to build an increasingly plural corporate environment, because we believe that diversity brings new perspectives and innovation to quality”, says Xavier.
UN Women
In 2019, IQA committed to the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), UN Women’s commitment to gender equality around the world, which provide guidance on how to empower women in the workplace and in the community. . With that, the Institute became the first entity in the automotive sector to be part of the movement in Brazil, according to the United Nations.
The WEPs provide for seven principles that outline actions to promote female participation in the corporate environment. These include establishing corporate leadership that is sensitive to gender equality, respecting and supporting human rights, promoting education, training, professional and business development for women.
Principles that are seen in practice at IQA, which remains engaged in promoting inclusion and diversity actions to collaborate for an egalitarian society and a more equitable automotive industry.
Marina Nomura, who has been an IQA collaborator for three years, says that the Institute provided her with an opportunity for professional growth. “I arrived in March 2020 in the position of commercial manager and, following a year, I also took over the management of the marketing area”, she recalls.
For her, the rise of women is essential for the success and development of automotive quality. “It’s important to have women present in all areas and give them the opportunity to be where they want to be. They are occupying more and more of the automotive sector and, when we talk regarding automotive quality, being the focus of IQA’s activities, women have great representation”, highlights the commercial and marketing manager of IQA.
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