International Women’s Day 2023
#EmbraceEquity
Caribbean women are playing an increasingly important role in the energy industry. Companies are leveraging women in positions of leadership and technical roles, making women integral to energy operations. From geologists to engineers to drilling personnel, Caribbean women are working hard to break new ground and make their mark in the sector. They bring enthusiasm and drive to all areas of the business, pushing challenges aside as they strive to build successful careers.
Our region is quickly becoming a leader when it comes to hiring and retaining female employees in this field, with many businesses actively seeking out talented Caribbean women to join their teams and work together towards progress. This is reflected in the increased number of women working at the executive level, participating in research and development initiatives, and engaging with government policy formation in upstream exploration and production, downstream refining and distribution, and services sectors across the region.
In addition, women’s unique perspectives on the energy industry are being embraced throughout the region. Women bring expertise and insight to the energy sector that can drive solutions and create new opportunities in a region that needs them.
The Strengths embodied in our Caribbean women have been influenced from generations of cultural repression of our gender (through our ancestors whether indigenous to the islands, or brought to this region through slavery and indentured labour from various Colonial occupations.) And even post independence, our Caribbean women still thrive despite coming from and/ or running single parent households – of which our Region demonstrates a higher than average count.
This has enabled the Caribbean to give rise to some of the most inspirational, hardworking and highly educated women who have made a name for themselves within the oil and gas industry.
On March 8th of 2023, people around the world will come together again to celebrate International Women’s Day. The event serves as an important reminder of how far women have come in terms of achieving gender parity and gaining recognition in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Earning a seat at the Executive Level is no easy feat, as we all know that we have had to work thrice as hard as our male counterparts, and even moreso as Caribbean women. Let us ensure that in our positions of leadership, we do not simply satisfy a quota for gender and diversity, but lead and influence using the qualities unique to our gender. Qualities such as:
- Our maternal instinct which allows us to offer an ability to nurture and care for all – A woman’s nurturing character is now seen as the reason why she is just, fair and capable of seeing how to mentor, develop and hold people accountable for their actions.
- Our strengths in cultivating interpersonal relationships – Women are good listeners, better at displaying empathy, therefore enjoying stronger social connections and meaningful relationships. Our naturally generous nature allows us to easily feel how much others need something, which allows us to be trusting and trustworthy as well. This helps our women leaders excel in the art of influence. Most female leaders are great at connecting with other people and getting them to understand their point of view since women tend to take more time to listen and understand people’s needs, which enables women to be more persuasive communicators.
- Inclusive Leadership Style – one of the characteristics that make female leadership unique is the emphasis on inclusivity and team-building. Women tend to have a more collaborative approach to leadership than our male counterparts, which makes it easier for us to work with our team members to solve problems and make important decisions.
- Calculated risk taking – studies have shown that women tend to take more calculated risks than men do. The key word here being calculated – less likely to shoot from the hip, reasoned based rationale also enables women to ignore unnecessary rules or expectations that hinder progress. We want to get things done and will take the initiative needed to do this.
- Resilience – Women tend to be highly resilient in the face of hardship, rejection, or failure. Because we have determined, can-do attitudes, we try harder to learn from adversity and mistakes. When things get hard, we push through and make the situation work to our advantage. We are less likely to give up or shift the blame when things don’t go the way we expect.
Caribbean women can truly excel in an area that was not long ago perceived as strictly male. With strong networks of ambitious women, the Caribbean is setting an excellent example for other countries around the world when it comes to getting more females involved in oil and gas operations. By embracing them, Caribbean countries are positioning themselves as global leaders in the empowerment of women in action, and it is inspiring a new generation of women to become involved in the energy sector.
This shift to embrace women has been a long time coming and will continue to be an important part of the regional energy industry for many years to come. By supporting women in energy, we are driving progress across all sectors of the Caribbean energy landscape. As women continue to make their mark in the energy industry, each of us has a role to play in supporting women’s advancement and celebrating their successes. Together, let’s work towards a future where women are full partners in building a more sustainable and prosperous Caribbean energy sector.