It could take a number of years to achieve parity at the top, but if companies like DIMO continue to provide opportunities for women to move up the ladder, we might already be one step ahead.
“One thing we (women) fear is engineering. We also think it’s a man’s world,” opines Dilrukshi Kurukulasuriya, General Manager of HR at Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO). But that’s
about to change.
DIMO recently graduated its first batch of female mechanics from the DIMO Automobile Training School (DATS). DATS is a privately-owned training school where students are exposed to global automobile technologies through a curriculum set by Mercedes-Benz. Started in 1990, DATS provides free-of-charge education necessary for an aspiring career in automotive engineering and mechanics. Its latest programme, which commenced in 2013, provides training for females who are keen to enter the industry. The programme is focused on training female students in automobile technology, qualifying them as technicians or mechanics. Dilrukshi says this not only qualifies them to repair vehicles and find employment in workshops, but also explore other avenues within the sector such as spare parts sales. A majority of DATS’s first batch of female mechanics are now employed by DIMO. Dilrukshi jokes that a female mechanic at the workshop a few years back would have caused jaws to drop, but this is not the case anymore. Female mechanics at DIMO’s workshops are now clad in overalls and doing the same job that primarily employed men a few years back. She commends these women for having broken through this barrier.
“We need to educate men, more than women, and condition them to accept women doing different things,” she comments. There are many people who want to put a woman down, therefore, it is necessary to create awareness within the organization. It’s much more than implementing policies and having programmes. It’s about gaining acceptance. In this regard, DIMO has zero tolerance of harassment or sexist remarks, which Dilrukshi says has not been reported yet, but will receive severe punishment.
Operating in a co-called male-dominated sector, DIMO hopes to break this stereotyping of jobs by increasing its female workforce from 7% to 15% by 2016. Currently, they are at about 10-11%. “We can’t be more focused on females, because it will be unfair by the men,” she adds. In this respect, DIMO is an equal opportunity employer, awarding hiring, advancement, training and promotion opportunities to people with the right capacity or competency rather than based on their gender. “It’s not whether you are a man or woman, but if you are intelligent, competent and able to create an opinion.”
Dilrukshi stresses that diversity at DIMO also means people who are differently-abled and of any religion or race. “Diversity brings a different perspective to the table. Not only as a woman, but any diversity is good if it makes business sense,” she says. As the only female on the group’s management committee, she uses her voice to give the women in her organization their due place. But she lauds the company, for although she has heard much about glass ceilings and women having to work extra to get into a top position, it has never been an obstacle for her. She believes that what matters is your credibility and competence. It is equally important not to compromise on your values. If you possess these attributes, nothing can stop you. “At DIMO I have never seen this label come into play where opportunities are concerned,” she adds. “But that’s not a difficult task at all because DIMO is driven by meritocracy.” She says that there are many women at manager level at DIMO, and no barriers hinder them from going up the ladder, provided they have the competency.
Sitting in an all-male committee, she jokes that although she tries not to ruin their fun, there is pressure
on the men to be disciplined. “They also learn to accept differences,” she adds. “Women naturally have a different tendency; they are more considerate, they have a lot of perseverance and a sixth sense.” So in a company of men, where their perspectives are often alike, being a woman means bringing in a totally different perspective.