Empowering Women in Leadership: Celebrating Women at Panasonic North America
Empowering Women in Leadership: Celebrating Women at Panasonic North America
4 minutesIt's March, which means it’s Women's History Month and March 8th is International Women's Day, and at Panasonic North America, we believe in supporting and empowering women at every level of the organization. We understand the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, and we strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.
In celebration of Women's History Month and International Women's Day 2023's #EmbraceEquity theme, we are proud to amplify the voices and perspectives of women from Panasonic on what embracing equity means to them.
Developing Women Professionally
What does it look like when a company supports the professional development of women? One way is through bringing in outside voices and perspectives to share learnings, experiences, and perspectives with employees that they might not have discovered otherwise.
"The ability to make connections with peers at all levels or the organization no matter the geographical location is so powerful, it’s helped open doors for additional networking/mentorship opportunities," shared Charlene Ragin, Group Marketing Manager of Strategic Solutions and RISE Co-Chair.
This year Panasonic’s RISE Business Impact Group (BIG) is hosting Meredith Grundei for a motivational coaching session for Panasonic’s women.
Embracing Equity
How does a company cultivate a community for women? For Panasonic, that starts with RISE.
Panasonic North America is proud to support the RISE Business Impact Group. RISE works towards positively shaping the career growth and development of female employees at Panasonic. RISE creates a safe space for female employees and male allies to discuss the challenges women face in the workplace while building a strong community for networking, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.
The theme for International Women’s Day in 2023 is “Embrace Equity”, a powerful call to action. We asked members of RISE what Embrace Equity means to them, and they share their thoughts below.
“When I think about equity, I immediately associate it with the concept of having a sense of belonging and being provided with the necessary resources to thrive. But how do we achieve this? Firstly, it is crucial for each of us to understand the distinction between equality and equity and then strive to adopt an equity mindset within our own spheres of influence. Rather than treating everyone the same way and adhering to a uniform set of rules and requirements, we must acknowledge and accept everyone’s unique background and life circumstances and provide them with the best tools to help them realize their full potential and achieve success. It is important to recognize that embracing equity is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but rather a continual and evolving process.” - Sandra Purkovic, Senior Digital Designer, Panasonic Canada
“Embracing Equity means acknowledging and understanding that each individual is unique, and therefore has unique strengths, weaknesses, needs, goals, and experiences. Equality doesn’t address the barriers that some people may face in their lives due to gender, race, religion, social class, financial status, and more. That’s why we need to #EmbraceEquity and ensure that everyone is receiving the tools, support, and resources they need in order to achieve their potential. Together, we can work together to create more equitable environments, lift each other up, and help everyone succeed.” – Ashna Haji, Marketing Alliances Manager, Panasonic Canada
“Spending close to two years in Panasonic's High Performance Culture program and DEI initiatives has taught me a few things. First off equity is different from equality and knowing the difference can assist with embracing the concepts of equity. Differences in culture, ethnic backgrounds, physical or mental abilities should be welcomed, encouraged, and embraced, not shunned. The differences we each offer in the workplace makes our impact as a group stronger AND more equitable.” – Donna Miller, Territory Account Manager, Panasonic Connect
“To me, embracing equity is about doing more than just allowing women and other minorities a seat at the table. It’s about really leaning into the different perspectives that people bring and leveraging the strengths of all members toward the best outcome possible. Nobody accomplishes anything alone and embracing our differences is key to improving the world around us.” – Tara Meisinger, Sr. Maintenance Manager, Panasonic Energy
“Women’s History Month is a reminder to reflect on and appreciate the countless advancements women have made to society. It is also time to be curious about what we can do to pave the way and continue to inspire the next generation of women.” - Melissa Wehrle, Manager, Talent Programs, Panasonic North America
"To me, equity means having a shared stake in an outcome. All people are more alike than they are different, and to Embrace Equity means to actively pursue solutions from those who will have a stake in the outcome. My experience as a woman of a certain age will afford a different life path than someone with different physical abilities, than someone who is an immigrant, etc. Keeping the solution as the end goal, any challenge can be met by seeking input from as many “sources” as possible. The movie “Hidden Figures” is a perfect example!" - Michelle Tucker (She/Her), Operations Manager, Panasonic Industrial Devices Sales Company of America
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At Panasonic North America, we are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and empowering women to reach their full potential. Whether it's through our leadership panel discussions, our support of the RISE Business Impact Group, or our commitment to diversity and inclusivity, we are proud to be a company that supports women's growth and success.
RISE is one of five Business Impact Groups at Panasonic North America. Learn more about our Business Impact Groups here.
Join us at Panasonic North America, where diversity and inclusivity are at the forefront of everything we do. We are dedicated to empowering our employees to reach their full potential and offer numerous opportunities for growth and development. If you're ready to be part of a dynamic and supportive work environment, explore our career opportunities today.
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