Promoter – Natixis in Portugal
Action – Champion For Change
Description – Starting from a reality observed at Natixis in Portugal in 2018 – among the almost 600 employees, only 20% were women – Senior Management realized that something was wrong with the team’s gender balance and quickly identified that the problem was in the market technological work, nationally and globally.
A study by Microsoft in the European market indicates that the reasons that explain the lack of interest of girls in pursuing careers in the area of Technology are directly related to the lack of female role models, few opportunities for practical experiences in the educational curriculum and little stimulation in the school environment. This results in a total of only 33% female professionals in technological areas, 75% of whom perform support functions such as Human Resources, Administration and Marketing
Thus, we decided that our intervention should focus on the Educational Community, with the aim of, from an early age, working on issues related to unconscious bias, enhancing the dissemination of information about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) areas. We have designed a diversified program, which includes numerous actions and events with the aim of bringing together Companies and Organizations, Schools (Students, Parents and Teachers), Young People (University and Professional Education) and Technological Communities. Thus, in January 2019, the Champion For Change appears.
Involving not only employees, industry professionals, students and public organizations, our mission is to stimulate and encourage the presence and work of girls and women in the world of technology, reinforcing the message that STEM areas are not a monopoly of any kind.
In the search for an Inclusive, Quality and Equitable Education, aiming at the achievement of Gender Equality, Natixis in Portugal has been promoting several initiatives, internally and externally:
Natixis Hello, Tech: Natixis employees go to schools to present students from 7th to 9th grade, through a group dynamics, the main functions inherent to a technological company, demystifying the range of possibilities in this area;
Shadow Day: Opportunity for students between the 7th and 9th grades to interact with Natixis professionals in Portugal and learn about their daily routine and career opportunities, spending a day at the company;
Close-up: Consists of an informal conversation between the Senior Management of Natixis in Portugal and leaders in the national technological and business ecosystem;
Empowered Tech: Technological Communities, Students and Women in Tech Communities are invited to participate in these educational and informative meetups, promoted in an informal environment that facilitates the exchange of experiences, good practices and learning;
In 2019, the project was distinguished with the APPDI Diversity Seal.
Champion For Change aims to show the entire community that IT is indeed an option. For everyone.
More information at : https://youtu.be/25ZBJAx-v4I