It was the giving of a simple gift – a box of personal care products – that brought home to energy professional Laura Sandoval the importance of her work with vulnerable young women and girls. And how this was possible thanks to a company which champions female leaders above and beyond their day jobs.
Sandoval and her colleague Andrea Nicole Arispe, both female leaders at Siemens Energy’s Santa Cruz headquarters in Bolivia, have been able to translate the goodwill of their colleagues into practical steps to support their community. In this case it was in donations and support for women and girls at a local refuge, who received boxes containing scrunchies, hair clips, a water bottle, soap, moisturiser and a wash bag. “These girls live together and don’t have anything they can call their own. To the boxes, we added a message: ‘I am loved’ to remind them that there are people who care about them.”
They were able to do this as part of a company-wide development programme, Energy Without Limits, which aims to foster female leaders. Part of this programme encouraged employees to channel concerns around gender equality into concrete actions. About half of employees at Siemens Energy in Bolivia are women, says Sandoval. “As a company we are already very inclusive.”
And the company put its support behind the efforts of Sandoval and Arispe to develop their “Sisterhood of Energy” initiative when they discovered the existence of the nearby shelter for victims of abuse and sexual violence. “The company [trusted] our vision and [provided] the flexibility needed to plan and execute the activities,” says Sandoval. “This support allowed the initiative to grow from an idea into meaningful sustained impact.”
As part of their volunteer efforts with the refuge, the Siemens Energy team devised a range of workshops, from first aid through to basic carpentry, even painting and dance. As the employees forged friendships with the residents, the young women’s confidence and skills grew.
These women had faced unimaginable challenges, says Sandoval. “[We helped] them rediscover their confidence and potential. This was made possible thanks to the incredible teamwork, empathy and commitment of colleagues.”
Their efforts have also brought recognition to the company, winning a global in-house award as a strong example of corporate social responsibility – and recognition from Bolivia’s German ambassador. Colleagues from around the world have been curious and inspired.
“In Bolivia, we’re a small company – just 55 staff – tiny compared to Siemens Energy in the rest of Latin America. Winning this global award, having such a big impact without a big budget, has opened doors for us to take the programme further,” says Sandoval.
As part of her role in business operations and compression services across Latin America, Sandoval liaises with teams in Brazil and abroad, translating information into practical strategies. “We have factories in Germany, Sweden, the US and India – I love getting to know the different cultures … I help connect teams and build our culture through clear communication. Every day I focus on making sure everyone has what they need to do their job and stay aligned with business objectives.”
Arispe works alongside Sandoval, managing orders, liaising with international colleagues, coordinating with factories and meeting operational goals. She’s also involved in efforts to digitalise business processes. “It’s a dynamic, rewarding sector – you have to be curious and open-minded. Your decisions will have a great impact in the longer term, for our future.”
She’s keen to help create more routes within business for women to succeed. “Throughout my journey towards leadership, I’ve benefited from strong mentorship and an environment where my strengths were recognised and developed. As a young female leader, I am motivated to contribute by building development paths that enable more women and youth to grow, perform and lead.”
This year the team will continue to work with the women and girls in the home and encourage them towards university and careers, particularly within science, technology and engineering, and help them achieve independence. “We don’t want to just leave them,” says Sandoval. Three-quarters of the women aged over 17 from the refuge are now taking up university studies or technical careers – proof that the initiative is having a longer-term impact.
Carving out the time required to support the girls and women in the shelter has been a company-wide challenge. “This volunteering programme changed us too – it transformed us into better people,” says Arispe “The Sisterhood of Energy was an extra mile for all the people who got involved … but when you have a purpose, you can commit to your end goal.”
Rather than distracting from their work, the wider development programme has inspired both women in their ambitions to progress within the company. They both relish the dynamic nature of the energy sector, as targets and technologies within the industry evolve.
