Fostering global success through diversity

In the effort to encourage women’s participation in male-dominated sectors of the economy, global engineering consultancy SRK Consulting asserts that it is vital to start with company values that prioritise personal and professional growth, while embracing the power of diversity.

Although SRK Consulting was started 50 years ago by three men, its inclusive vision, from day one, has been integral to its global success. By 2014, the organisation employed almost as many women as men, and in the decade since, there have often been more women among SRK’s scientists than men.

SRK Consulting partner and principal environmental scientist Philippa Burmeister highlights that this stems from SRK’s key objective of maintaining a progressive work environment in which employees can develop satisfying and challenging careers.

“As more women over the years have pursued scientific and engineering qualifications, this kind of workplace has proved very attractive for many talented and ambitious professional women,” Burmeister says. “The founders’ visionary approach implicitly recognised the value of diversity, as they welcomed anyone with the necessary high level of expertise and professional curiosity.”

Having a diverse employee profile – whether in terms of background, gender, race, nationality or other characteristics – facilitates good technical decisions, she notes, adding that it ensures that any problem is considered from different viewpoints. Encouraging a culture of respect and excellence gives every staff member the confidence to contribute to team decisions and client engagements. 

“A conducive space allows everyone, including women, to grow and this is what builds the expertise that becomes invested in each project we conduct,” she explains. “The variety of inputs and perspectives adds to the quality of each project outcome.”

Mentorship

An inclusive and supportive culture will also steadily transform an organisation’s leadership structures in positive ways. Over the past decade, SRK has seen the ranks of its partners being filled increasingly by women – having grown from 12% in 2014 to 33% today. 

SRK Consulting partner and principal environment scientist Franciska Lake points to the vital role of mentoring – not only in professional development but in achieving work-life balance. 

“We have found that mentors help build the confidence needed [for career progression], as it is important to be able to stand your ground as a consultant,” Lake says. “More than this, a mentor is also important in navigating the difficult balance between a demanding job and other responsibilities.”

With women still tending to assume more of these family and housework responsibilities, companies that provide the necessary support and flexibility will generally be better positioned to retain women employees throughout their various life stages. By being open to flexible working arrangements, women can be kept within the business to continue developing their careers, and this, in turn, assists in building the experience that leadership roles require. 

“This [experience] is particularly relevant in the highly technical fields in which many consulting engineers and scientists operate,” says SRK Consulting associate partner and principal environmental scientist Avril Owens. “Recent decades have seen how women have progressed and grown into senior roles, in which their abilities and experience give them the right and confidence to express their technical opinion.”

SRK Consulting principal environmental scientist Natasha Moodley notes that being a woman of colour in a male-dominated environment 20 years ago was challenging. However, Moodley witnessed this dynamic evolving dramatically through the guidance and mentorship provided by SRK. 

“SRK has provided its staff – especially women – incredible opportunities for growth and development that were previously limited,” she says. “Over the last decade, SRK has afforded me significant opportunities to learn new technical skills, travel to interesting places, and work on projects that I did not foresee or believe possible. Opportunities like these allow women to break down barriers and make valuable contributions.”

Conducive Environment

A conducive culture within an organisation generally allows professionals to be themselves, rather than being forced into another persona to succeed, SRK Consulting principal environmental scientist Tania Oosthuizen comments. 

She adds that, in the traditional corporate environment, it was often only the most assertive women who could carve a place for themselves within the prevailing culture.

“Within the supportive culture of SRK, it is easier to be heard and to make your contribution,” Oosthuizen says. “This culture recognises that talent comes with a range of different personalities, and each brings its own strengths.”

Lake reflects on how company culture and leadership play a defining role in creating a positive environment in which women can thrive in industry. 

“Over the course of my career to date, our leadership at SRK taught me that I deserve to be treated and respected – and today I expect nothing less,” she says. “I was lucky enough to engage with one of the founders, Oskar Steffen, who set a great example in showing respect to all colleagues, irrespective of their gender or level in the firm.”

The early vision of SRK is well expressed in its objective of allowing ambitious individuals to grow their client bases and reputations in directions of their choosing. It has also become  clear that women desire the promise of the journey into engineering and scientific professions as much as men.