NEWSROOM

By Daria LaValle, Director of Project Management at ENTRUST, and Cecilia Hall, GIS Consulting Specialist at ENTRUST. 

Establishing gender equity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields remains a significant challenge worldwide. Despite progress, women continue to be underrepresented, particularly in leadership positions within technical industries like utilities. However, organizations like ENTRUST Solutions Group are breaking barriers and redefining the narrative with initiatives like SPARK, an empowering program designed to enrich, engage, and encourage women in STEM.

This blog will explore what SPARK stands for and how it is fostering a community of women professionals, amplifying their voices, and creating equitable opportunities in the utilities sector.

What is SPARK?

SPARK is a signature initiative of ENTRUST Solutions Group aimed at supporting, mentoring, and inspiring women in STEM, particularly those working within the utilities industry. The program focuses on three guiding principles:

• Enrichment through professional development and educational opportunities.
• Engagement by fostering meaningful connections and collaboration among women professionals.
• Encouragement through mentorship and shared experiences to help women thrive in their careers.

Beyond just being a network, SPARK is a dedicated space for women to exchange ideas, share solutions, and support one another in overcoming the unique challenges they face in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Women in STEM and Utilities

Progress for women in STEM has been steady, but challenges persist. Representation remains an issue, with women often becoming “one of the few” in their teams or departments. If team members don’t see people like themselves in STEM roles, they may not visualize those opportunities for themselves.

Additionally, relational and cultural challenges within male-dominated environments often require women to adopt additional efforts to be seen and recognized. Programs like SPARK create a counterbalance, providing women with the representation, mentorship, and training needed to not just survive but thrive across various business functions in STEM.

How SPARK Makes a Difference 

SPARK doesn’t just talk about change; it actively creates it. Here’s how the program drives impact across ENTRUST and the utilities industry:

• Enrichment Through Knowledge and Growth

SPARK organizes events to build technical and professional skills. For example, a recent speaker session on financial literacy enabled participants to better plan for emergencies while expanding their understanding of key financial principles. These events go beyond professional development and touch on personal growth, ensuring women have the tools they need for both work and life success.

SPARK also empowers women through continuous learning opportunities, ensuring their skill sets remain competitive in a fast-evolving field.

• Engagement Across the Organization

Colleagues can often seem separated by teams or geography, but SPARK bridges those divides. Regular events and mentoring opportunities bring women in the utilities industry together to share knowledge and build supportive professional relationships.

• Encouragement through Mentorship and Role Models

Mentorship lies at the heart of SPARK’s mission, with a specific mentor program tailored for the group. This creates a space for junior professionals to learn from seasoned leaders, fostering a culture of continuous support and improvement.

SPARK provides a safe space where people can share challenges without them being discounted. It also offers insight into how leadership can differ for women, creating a roadmap for success.

The Value of Investing in Women-Driven Programs 

The impact of SPARK isn’t limited to the women who participate; it resonates across ENTRUST and the wider industry. Research consistently shows a strong correlation between gender diversity and business success. Diverse teams are more innovative, solve problems faster, and contribute to better organizational performance.

Furthermore, opportunities like those within SPARK align with a growing trend of female leadership in STEM. Fields like engineering and project management are seeing an increase in women stepping into leadership roles, blending people skills with technical knowledge to solve complex challenges.

Highlights of SPARK’s Success 

SPARK’s influence was recently recognized when ENTRUST received the Excellence in Women’s Development Award at the prestigious MEA conference. This acknowledgment highlights the program’s success in elevating women in the industry. Beyond awards, testimonials from participants reinforce its value:

“The financial literacy session genuinely shifted how I think about my personal finances,” noted one participant.

“Having a network of women who ‘get it’ makes navigating this industry feel less lonely,” shared another.

Such feedback underscores how vital programs like SPARK are in shaping the future of utilities and STEM.

Looking to the Future 

The utilities industry is at a critical inflection point, with increasing innovation and new challenges requiring diverse perspectives to develop solutions. Women are no longer just contributors to this field; they are essential leaders, designers, and deciders driving it forward.  SPARK’s ability to foster talent, create connections, and empower the next generation of women professionals is setting a precedent for the wider industry.

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