Empowered Women Empower Others. A Generational Discussion of Women Leading in Today's Digital Solutions.

Empowered Women Empower Others. A Generational Discussion of Women Leading in Today's Digital Solutions.AbstractIt's no secret that women are underrepresented in engineering and technology workforces, including in the water sector. Only 25% of computer science jobs are held by women. In engineering, women make up an even smaller segment of the workforce, at just 15%. In machine learning, only 12% of researchers and practitioners are women. Studies have proven the benefits of gender diversity in business outcomes. According to the Center for Creative Leadership, a higher percentage of women in the workforce leads to more job satisfaction, more organizational dedication, more meaningful work, and less burnout. Companies with a greater degree of gender diversity perform better financially as well. The benefits of gender diversity extend beyond simple business measurables and into culture and workforce. Emerging research demonstrates the game-changing role of women in digital solution development. Adoption of digital solutions has the potential to transform operations for water agencies by reducing operating expenses up to 25%, and lead to performance gains of 20% to 40% in safety, reliability, customer satisfaction, and regulatory compliance. This tremendous potential, coupled with the critical role of women in the digital revolution, make the discussion of gender diversity more relevant than ever for the water sector. This presentation will focus on the 'why' and 'how' behind the contribution of women to better performing organizations, and will explore how organizations with more gender diverse teams and women in leadership positions deliver superior digital solutions to the water industry. Authors include three different generations of women in the water industry with a diverse range of technical skills from coaching to leadership to technical analytics and machine learning. The presentation will explore the different characteristics and styles of women and men in communication and management. Attendees will leave with knowledge on how these differences impact culture, product and service delivery, customer satisfaction, and ultimately financial performance. Additionally, we will explore how existing gender inequities are impacted by an increasingly virtual workforce. Most importantly, we will provide practical guidance for water agencies looking to improve gender diversity in their workforce and celebrate the technical accomplishments of women. This presentation will inspire more women to confidently enter the digital revolution that will drive water innovation going forward.This paper was presented at the WEF/AWWA Utility Management Conference, February 13-16, 2024.SpeakerDeheer, KatiePresentation time15:30:0017:00:00Session time15:30:0017:00:00SessionDiversity, Equity, and Inclusion from a Water Utility's PerspectiveSession number25Session locationOregon Convention Center, Portland, OregonTopicDiversity, Equity, and InclusionTopicDiversity, Equity, and InclusionAuthor(s)Deheer, KatieAuthor(s)K. Deheer1, C. Christy1Author affiliation(s)Trinnex 1; Trinnex 1;SourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Feb 2024DOI10.2175/193864718825159308Volume / Issue Content sourceUtility Management ConferenceWord count15