The Women’s Network Kicks Off 2023 with a Spotlight on Talent and DEI

The Women’s Network at GFG Alliance had a big start to 2023 with a presentation and discussion on Talent and the importance of DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) in the workplace.

Marian D’Auria, Global Head of Risk and Sustainability, who leads the Women’s Network on Yammer, hosted the online session for staff, which is a part of an ongoing series aimed to create awareness amongst employees on DEI related topics. The first session for the year was presented by Mariia Lytvyn, Global Head of Reward at GFG Alliance, who currently works on developing new initiatives within the Rewards & Talent space to attract and retain diverse staff.

The Women’s Network aims to provide support, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for women within the company, and staff of all genders are encouraged to participate in their educational sessions.

I learned a lot from this session, particularly the importance of identifying the regional (and personal!) differences in the factors which drive satisfaction at work. Accessing a wide range of diverse talent and helping our employees to thrive at work is crucial to our business. This isn’t easy to do, and we will need to adapt and evolve our approach over time. That said, it’s great to see the debate starting and the level of engagement we’re getting on this topic across the organisation.

– Marian D’Auria, Global Head of Risk and Sustainability

DEI has become increasingly important for organisations seeking to create a more inclusive and equitable environment and attract and retain a range of talented employees. This, in turn, leads to a more innovative and productive workforce. There is a strong argument behind the fact that DEI initiatives can help to build a positive and inclusive culture, which can lead to increased employee engagement and satisfaction.

Global Talent Trends

The workshop on Talent and DEI covered global trends across steel-making and broader manufacturing industry and its impact on GFG Alliance’s philosophy.

The steel manufacturing industry has undergone significant changes in recent years, with a shift towards automation and digitalisation leading the way. As a result, the talent trends in the industry have also evolved.

One trend that has become increasingly prevalent is the need for workers with advanced technical skills, such as programming and robotics. With the increasing use of automation and enhanced industry technologies, manufacturers are looking for employees who can operate and maintain these systems, as well as those who can design and develop new technologies. This is not an easy task, with the scarcity of talent being reported across the globe and the speed of new technologies being developed, Leadership & Development professionals often cannot keep up with the upskilling strategies at the same pace.

Many workers are nearing retirement age and not enough new workers are entering the field. To address this, manufacturers are focusing on developing their current workforce through training and education programs, as well as investing in apprenticeship programs to attract new talent.

So, what are our priorities?

• Upskilling our critical talent to keep up with future requirements.
• Training to be able to adapt to new technologies and processes.
• Stay agile and remain competitive and position our production for long-term success.

The workshop also covered the importance of sustainability and environmental responsibility across the production and manufacturing industries, which has a knock-on effect when it comes to finding the right talent. As manufacturers look to reduce their environmental impact, they are seeking employees who have knowledge of sustainable manufacturing practices and technologies.

In the manufacturing industry, ‘Revolution’ refers to a holistic approach of revolutionising and transforming the way that companies operate. For us, this includes rethinking key areas such as processes, investment, automation, agility, culture and values, and new ways of working.

– Mariia Lytvyn, Global Head of Reward at GFG Alliance

• Processes today involve more efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Investments ensure new technologies and people deliver efficiency, with primary focus being not only automation, but also people training and development.
• Automation is a primary driver for talent up-skilling.
• Agility is essential to understand on how we implement flexible methodologies in our people offering.
• Culture & Values is an essential building block to creating a more inclusive and equitable work environment, as well as promoting a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
• Finally, new ways of working is all about innovative work arrangements to improve work-life balance and attract and retain top talent for years to come.

Overall, the recruiting trends in the manufacturing industry are shifting towards the need for workers with advanced technical skills, strong problem-solving abilities, and a focus on sustainability, data analysis and culture enhancement. As the industry continues to evolve, these trends are likely to become even more important.

What does this mean for us at GFG Alliance? We need to ensure that everything we do takes into account these new trends and is reflective of differences in culture and people needs and the spirit of DEI.