Our I&D Executive Sponsor answers our questions this International Women’s Day.
Jen Wylie, Regional Chair, was appointed as the our Inclusion and Diversity Executive Sponsor in 2023.
Jen is passionate about driving greater inclusion and diversity across Cala and works closely with the People team and the I&D Forum to ensure that we are all working on ways to encourage diversity into our business and create a more inclusive environment for all.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Opportunity. To make others feel they can take their space and that we can help each other. In answering this question, it also took me back to IWD 2021 when the theme was #choosetochallenge. For me, this is about you and how you feel. We can all help each other, with empathy, and respect each and everyone. Here is a piece that shares some of how I feel about this question.
This year’s theme for IWD is #InspiringInclusion. How can organisations like Cala forge a more inclusive environment for women?
Each and every one of us can be an inclusive colleague and take little actions every single day to improve our culture.
I believe Allyship plays a big part and equity provides fair opportunities to all. In short, be a better ally. That should not be a challenge in a business. Let’s judge everyone on their potential. It is about people at the end of the day. Every single day. Listen to the people whose unique differences you desire to value. By doing this, we will create a culture where woman feel confident and supported and where they are encouraged to take risks and challenge themselves.
It’s also very important to address the unconscious biases and barriers that can prevent women from succeeding in the workplace.
Everyone can do something. Everyone owns some responsibility for the culture.
What is the purpose of the I&D Forum?
The vision is simple:
“We value and involve a mix of people to build dreams and aspirations for everyone.”
I genuinely believe the forum provides a platform for individuals to come together, share experiences, exchange ideas, and collaborate towards creating a more inclusive Cala. I think it is so important for people to be able to share their personal stories, challenges, and triumphs.
By listening to diverse perspectives, we all gain a deeper understanding of the unique barriers and opportunities faced by various groups, leading to increased empathy and compassion.
What’s more, by bringing together passionate individuals, we can inspire more people across our business to take the learnings and insights and implement them. This way, our forum members (or changemakers as I like to refer to them) can provide some spark to help the drive meaningful and sustainable change.
Hear from some of our women about their roles in the construction industry.
Find out more about culture at Cala.
