Safran at IAWA conference: prioritizing gender equality in the U.S. and around the world

January 25, 2020

Safran’s diversity was emphasized during the recent International Aviation Women’s Association (IAWA) Aerospace & Defense Leadership Conference – which brought together industry leaders, company executives, educators and students for discussions in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Taking part in a men’s panel, Safran USA President & CEO Peter Lengyel explained that gender equality has been a major theme at Safran for many years – as evidenced by the GEEIS (Gender Equality European & International Standards) certification the Group received in 2018.

Safran’s related diversity programs are backed by a commitment to supporting equal opportunity and professional equality between male and female employees. Reflecting this focus, the percentage of women recruited by the Group in recent years has grown considerably – currently representing between 30% and 36% of all new hires.

Safran supports women

Safran’s internal initiatives are guided by an international working group and steering committee composed of senior managers and corporate executives. They include training programs specifically designed to help female managers and early-career employees realize their full potential.

Supplying further resources, the Group launched its Women@Safran initiative in 2016 to retain and elevate female talent; while the North America Mentorship Program offers mentorship pairing among women to provide guidance on career development and advancement.

Encouraging the next generation

Externally, Safran promotes the role of women in industry and actively encourages young women to pursue scientific and technical careers. For more than a decade, the Group has supported France’s "Elles Bougent" association and its European equivalent “Girls on the Move,” with more than 300 Safran employees currently engaged in mentoring roles.

Safran also is committed to advancing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education among younger generations of women. For this goal, the Group sponsors such programs as the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum’s “STEM in 30” webcast program, while also organizing local events and facility tours for those interested.