As we are celebrating the International Women´s Day worldwide we would like to highlight some of the women in our company who is changing the steel industry to something more modern and relevant. The steel industry has historically been male – dominated given that production was heavy and demanded a lot of physical strength, but with today´s technology the industry is very different from how it used to be. One of Ovako´s goals is to increase the number of women in the company and the journey has just begun. We ask some of our women what their view and thoughts are on this topic:
Johanna Haapasalmi
Title and department: Manager Technical Customer Service at Imatra
Age: 37
Years at Ovako: 12
What is your story and background? How come you chose Ovako?
I am originally from Helsinki, and I have studied Materials Engineering in Helsinki University of Technology. Especially my father encouraged me to choose technical studies. Already in the last years of my studies, I was interested in working at the steel industry. I started as a summer trainee at Ovako, and appreciated the pleasant team atmosphere and interesting work topics I found from Imatra.
How do you notice that gender equality work is important for your company?
It is important to have an effect on society structures, when it comes to work towards gender equality, and companies have an important role in this. Studies have shown that equal workplaces are happier and more productive. I think diversity and equality is important and beneficial for successful innovative business.
How do you think situation would look like within 5-10 years, when it comes to women in the industry?
Already during my short 12 years’ time with steel industry, I have seen increase for women working at Ovako and other companies. I believe this trend will continue. At Ovako, I have always felt the workplace to be equal, and I expect we will continue this great work also in the future.
Lena Magnusson
Title and department: Raw Material Coordinator at Smedjebacken
Age: 27
Years at Ovako: 5
What is your story and background? How come you chose Ovako?
Previously I worked at a restaurant for almost four years. I was told by a friend who worked there that Ovako was looking for people. Since I wanted something different, I gave it a chance without knowing what it was I was looking for and I haven´t regretted it at all. I started out on “strängen” for couple of years where I worked as head of casting, casting assistant and sometimes also as machine controller and since 2022 my new role is Raw Material Coordinator.
How is it to be a woman in the industry?
I rarely think about the fact that I am "a woman in the industry". What feels good, however, is the knowledge that I can contribute to dynamics in groups and to be able to share new thoughts and experiences to a place where everything is “as it has always been”.
The industry is fun, it's challenging and a place I never thought I've end up in. Work can be hot and heavy sometimes, but it´s the same for everyone, and I think it's important not to assume which gender can handle it and which can't.
We are all different, we are good at different things and we have to help each other regardless of gender, age, ethnicity etc.
How do you notice that gender equality work is important for your company?
I experience that we are getting more and more girls working in the field, which is fun. We would perhaps have to catch girls earlier during their schooling and show them that the industry is available to them too.
Otherwise, it feels like the attitude and the way we talk to, and about, each other is changing for the better. But it is not a job only for the company, we all have a personal responsibility.
Emilia Elovaara Södergård
Title and department: Warehouse worker at PRECO, Hällefors
Age: 20
Years at Ovako: 1
What is your story and background? How come you chose Ovako?
I studied to and started working as a hairdresser straight after graduating. However, after maybe six months in the job, with commuting to and from Örebro as well as a fading interest for the business, I decided to look for a new job that I could enjoy more as well as being closer to home.
It was the perfect timing as Ovako was looking for summer interns at the time. I quickly got an interview and they must have been happy because I got the job on the spot! To me, Ovako seemed like a big and friendly place to work and as I enjoy working together with a lot of different people I thought it would suit me well. Now, I´m so happy that I ended up right here, where I am today!
How is it to be a woman in the industry?
Personally, I don´t think that often about the fact that there are “only” two women working in my department. I´m a person that has an easy time talking to everyone and I really enjoy my time spent here at work. But, of course overall there should be more women in our industry.
How important are female role models?
For me, it doesn’t make any difference if you are a woman or a man, as everyone is equally important and therefore should be expected to carry the same influence and perform their respective duties - no matter who you are. But, I can also understand around a topic like this, that I, as a woman myself, could have more of an influence and help inspire other women to apply for a similar line of work inside our industry. But it is a very difficult question.
Elin Evertsson
Title and department: HR Business Partner at Ovako in Hofors
Age: 29
Years at Ovako: 4,5
What is your story and background? How come you chose Ovako?
I studied Human Resources at the college in Gävle. When going to the college I passed by the Ovako plant and was intrigued by what was behind the gates. When the opportunity came to work for Ovako, I was quick to apply.
What initiatives do you think we need to do to increase the number of women in the industry?
In parallel with continuing to highlight the topic and continuing to do things to promote the number of women in the industry, I think we need to be visible and be seen earlier.
We also need to show today´s industry to girls at younger ages than we do today and highlight women´s different career paths in the industry so that they can become role models. We must also remind ourselves that every active action makes a difference and not only thinking about it!
How do you think situation would look like within 5-10 years, when it comes to women in the industry?
I am convinced that in 5-10 years the proportion of women in the industry will have increased and the more women we have, the faster the increase will also be
Sofia Hiller
Title and department: Production laboratory at Hofors
Age: 50
Years at Ovako: 24
What is your story and background? How come you chose Ovako?
I was going to start working again after I was on maternity leave with my second son and my father how worked at the steel mill advised me to apply for the vacant job. I applied and got the job! My first job was in the furnace hall crane and since then I have been in most departments at the steel mill.
As from 2018 I am at the production laboratory which I enjoy a lot. I am also active within “IF Metall” and a member of the club board.
What initiatives do you think we need to do in order to increase the number of women in the industry?
To work actively for equal workplace where men and women have the same opportunities to develop and reach the better paid positions and roles, such as coordinators. Promote the possibility of combining professional life and parenthood, e.g. working for childcare at inconvenient working hours. We should also visit junior high schools and give information to students and organize girl´s evenings where we present our business and give the possibility to come and see how we work.
How do you think situation would look like within 5-10 years, when it comes to women in the industry?
I hope that we have got that far that 15-year-old girls see the industry as an obvious place to work at in the future. I also believe that the sexist outdated jargon in coffee rooms is a thing of the past.
Phetra Ericsson
Title and department: EVP Group HR, Communications & EHS
Age: 53
Years at Ovako: 11
What is your story and background? How come you chose Ovako?
I have worked in two industrial companies before entering Ovako and I find the industry interesting and challenging, and that makes me engaged. My background is within HR for the last 18 years and working for and together with people makes my work great. It goes very much together with safety which is Ovako’s number one priority and communication. I chose Ovako because of the people I met at the company and the possibilities to develop
What can and will you do to increase the number of women in the company, both short-and long-term?
We have set a diversity target focused on more women in the company and added different activities to support our target. We will have that top of mind in everything we do in attracting and recruiting our future employees. That also includes working with inclusion and our culture and values to be able to use the strength of us becoming a more differentiated company in many perspectives. Full support and commitment from top management on the topic is a prerequisite for succeeding and a systematic work with follow up and actions.
What is your best advice to leaders/managers in male-dominated industries to work effectively with these issues?
To be brave enough to complete your team with people that are different from yourself. That also includes involvement and inclusion before decision making to create engagement from all employees. That will make you as a manager succeed within your responsibility.
Ines Sassi
Title and department: Hot Straightening Operator at Boxholm
Age: 40
Years at Ovako: 2
What is your story and background? How come you chose Ovako?
I am a mother of 3 children and educated as an assistant nurse with focus on emergency health care. I chose Ovako because I wanted to try something else and different. I enjoy working both practically and physically.
What initiatives do you think we need to do in order to increase the number of women in the industry?
I believe that that many people think it is a heavy job with a lot of lifting and many risks. But it is not the case, as we undergo thorough safety training and learn the techniques of safe production. There are risks at all workplaces but with good training you don´t expose yourself to it. I feel safe at my workplace, and I believe we have become more women workers at Ovako lately. There is no difference between woman and men at work, we all have equal responsibilities, and it is great fun.
How important are female role models?
It is very important to have female role models and we need to secure competence supply.
We are identifying us with other women in the industry and it is important to tell the young women about the possibilities and how great it is to work in the industry!