International Women's Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
In celebration of International Women’s Day on 8th March 2023, we asked the women in senior leadership roles here at Daikin to share their thoughts on some pertinent issues.
Here’s the first of our interviews; featuring the excellent Karen Perry, Head of Customer Service and Giulia Kapp, Head of Marketing and Communications.
Karen Perry, Head of Customer Service
What makes Daikin a great workplace for you?
I have been at Daikin for nearly 24 years, so I feel like I have grown up in the place. I’m working with great people, some of whom I have known for over half my life.
I have had many opportunities to develop my career through new challenges and self-development, which has always been supported by the business.
I love seeing new people come into Daikin and find a passion for what we do. Working for Daikin gives you a great sense of pride within the industry.
What is it like to be a woman in the engineering industry?
I think it is really important for teams and companies to have a diverse workforce as it does bring a wider perspective and more creativity and innovative ideas.
Women still only make up about 16% of the engineering sector. This is slowly increasing, but it will take decades to bring this equal to our male counterparts.
Networks like the Institute of Refrigeration Women in RACHP celebrate diversity and work with schools and colleges to try and capture girls’ interest in STEM subjects in school so that we can attract all potential workforce for future careers in our industry. There is a huge skills shortage in the UK; if we do not become more diverse, we lose a huge amount of potential.
I do hope that being a senior manager at Daikin, other women can see that there is an opportunity to develop a career in a male-dominated industry.
I have always felt respected at Daikin for what I do and not what I am, and I believe that we nurture strong core values throughout the business.
What advice do you have for women interested in engineering?
Our industry is a great one, and if you find a passion for what we do, then embrace it and learn more about it. Challenge yourself, be confident and ask questions.
Always support other women around you and champion them. Look for opportunities to network with other women in the sector.
Favourite quote?
And though she be but little, she is fierce – Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Probably something to do with me being fairly short 😊
Best way to spend a day off work?
Driving out to the countryside with my campervan and my dog and just relaxing, preferably with the sun shining.
Giulia Kapp, Head of Marketing and Communications
What makes Daikin a great workplace for you?
It provides the security of global business, with the entrepreneurial instincts (and sometimes chaos) of a start up! So it offers fantastic opportunities to experiment and try out new ideas, within a supportive environment.
What is it like to be a woman in engineering industry?
I’m not an engineer, I’m a creative at heart. So that probably gives me more of a different perspective, professionally speaking, than gender differences. Having said that, as a woman at Daikin you’re in the minority. So you have to work at being comfortable and confident being the only woman in the room. Sometimes that can be tough, especially on Teams, but if you focus on the individuals rather than the genders, you can do your best work.
What advice do you have for women interested in engineering?
Go for it! Speak up. Put yourself forward. Innovate. Challenge yourself and other people. Enjoy yourself.
Favourite quote?
My new mantra is “Pressure is a privilege” (by Billie Jean King, tennis legend in her book about the battle of the sexes. But I heard it in The Expectation Effect, which I’m currently listening to on Audible.)
Best day to spend a day off work?
Probably the best way to spend it would be having fun with my tribe of loved ones. But what I’m doing at the moment is clocking up (not enough) miles training for the London Marathon in April. Find out why and help cheer me on here!