Jennifer Webster is a Senior HR Business Partner at Schneider Electric and a mother of two children, describes herself as being positive, passionate and humorous.
Where Women Work wanted to learn more about Jennifer's fantastic career at Schneider Electric - and how the company has supported both her work and home life, and what advice she'd give to further women aspiring to be leaders in their industry. Here's what Jennifer told us.
How would you explain your job to people from outside your industry?
Creating the best possible team and environment for our people and business to succeed.
What interests you in your role at Schneider Electric?
The variety! While I have worked at Schneider Electric, my role has evolved and changed substantially over that time and given me the opportunity to learn, develop and continue to challenge myself.
What makes it exciting working in your industry?
We are genuinely contributing to making the world a better, more sustainable place for the future – there is nothing more exciting or relevant than that!
What impresses you most about Schneider Electric?
We are ambitious about what we want to achieve in terms of our people, our business and our impact in the world. This means that there are always opportunities to develop yourself and your career if you demonstrate the ability, agility and ambition.
What's a big challenge for you right now?
How to create a more inclusive culture for all our people so they feel their thoughts, views and interests are respected and valued.
How do you maintain a good work/life balance?
I enjoy running outside of work but need to make more time for it! We also enjoy going out as a family so the children can burn off some energy and see new and cool things.
How has Schneider Electric supported you?
Having two children under the age of 5, Schneider Electric has supported me through enhanced maternity pay. They've also provided a supportive environment when I was ready to return to work and have given me the opportunity to work flexibly. In addition, the team around me is incredibly supportive of each other and always willing to share experience, provide advice, be a sounding board or discuss ideas.
Who has supported you in being a guide or role model?
There have been so many people supporting my career that it's difficult to focus on just one person. There are always people with different experiences, backgrounds or perspectives who you can learn from. I enjoy listening to other’s perspectives and exploring some of their ideas further to provide me with a greater appreciation of differing viewpoints or experience.
Who has been your greatest support at Schneider Electric?
I feel I have had a lot of informal mentors during my time at Schneider Electric who have helped to guide me at certain points in my career and who have given me the confidence to push myself further, including my current and previous managers.
How can Schneider Electric support the progression of women's careers?
We need to continue to invest in their development and supporting them in transitioning back to work after starting families. It's a pivotal point in women’s lives where confidence can dip as you explore the new version of yourself, balancing your work and family commitments.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Have more confidence in yourself and don’t be afraid to speak up and make yourself heard - and this still applies today by the way.
What's the one best piece of career advice you've been given?
When I started one role, the HR Director told me to always speak up if I’m stuck or if something has gone wrong and we would solve it as a team, she created an environment where we could open up and learn from setbacks. This feels pertinent to Schneider Electric and our ambition to create a learning, collaborative and innovative culture.
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Disclosure: Where Women Work researches and publishes insightful evidence about how its paid member organizations support women's equality.