Diversity the key says Phelan

Diversity is the key to making sure there are opportunities for men and women in the workplace, according to PayPal Vice President Louise Phelan, who told a major International Women’s Day conference that diversity is ‘non negotiable’.

The CIF International Women’s Day Breakfast Briefing, which took place at CIF headquarters in Construction House in Dublin last Wednesday, was held to address the chronically low levels of female participation within the industry and heard from a number of speakers including Paypal Vice President Louise Phelan.

Ms Phelan said: ‘ At PayPal we make sure that we have a diverse slate when we are hiring people and that is non-negotiable, that is the start of making sure that you are opening up the opportunities to both males and females.

‘Ultimately then the best person should get the job and I have no issue with that, but if you don’t have that diverse slate, we are never going to break that ceiling and make sure that women are at the table’.

‘Often you hear men that men are persuasive whereas women are pushy or men are smooth, but women are showing off; we get that kind of information all the time and it is up to us to stop it. We all need to make sure that we are clear in the language we are using amongst both our male and female counterparts’.

While female participation continues to grow across many sectors in Irish society, from politics and business to sport and technology. Construction appears to be a last bastion of male-domination in business, however, there is a strong tradition of female leadership in the industry.

The CIF event celebrated the achievements of women in the construction industry, while providing a forum to discuss issues facing women in Construction and an opportunity for those entering the industry to network with female leaders in the area.

As construction continues to expand strongly, the CIF is keen to see more women involved in the construction industry at all levels and every sector.